Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-03
TRINIDAD ISLAND
a New Phase as to the Ownership
of It.
TIqLELEGALLY IN THE UNITED STATES
Was Taken Possession Of by the
Late Confederacy.
MR.. MORO ANS STORY

Perhaps the United States owns the Is
land of Trinidad off the coast of Brazil,
now claimed by Brazil which has become
greatly excited by the suspected purpose of
the British government in taking possession
of 1t for use as a cable station.
When the subject of the ownership of the
island was brought up some days ago. Mr..
H. H. Aarmaduke of the bureau of Ameri-
can republics wrote to an old friend, J. NJ.
Morgan. whom he knew to be an ex-mid-
shipman In the confederate states navy,
and who had visited the Island of Trinidad
during the late war. Mr.. Morgan was con-
sui general Of the United States at Mel
bourne. Australia, under Mr.. Cleveland's s
first administration, and is a brother of
ex-Minister Morgan, who filed the Mexican
mission under the Harrison administration.
Mr.. Marmaduke is an ex-lieutenant in the
confederate states navy, and has been a
close personal friend Of Mr.. Morgan ever
since the two served together in the con-
federacy. Mr.. Morgan was asked to tell
what he knew about the Island of Trinidad
and the following is his reply:
Belongs to the United States.
I'm reply to your inquiry concerning the
Island Of Trinidad, the title of which is
now in dispute by Great Britain and BRAZIL
I would state that 1t does not belong to
either of them. Strange as it may appear
the title legally rests with the United
States, as the Iesiduary legatee Of the late
southern confederacy.
I'm the summer of 1868 was a midship-
man on board of the c. S. cruiser Georgia,
then lying in the harbor of Bahia, Brazil
in company with the Alabama. Capt
Semmes decided to cruise to the southwark
OF Rio Janeiro. and thence to the Cape of
Good Hope. while the Georgia was to fol-
low as far south as Rio and then proceed
to the Island of Trinidad for coal, our col
lier hav'rg been ordered there, and also for
the purpose of making a depression in favor
of the Alabama.
'The Island of Trinidad is a very pic
turesque spot. 1t is six miles in circumfer-
ence and 800 feet high. Alongside of it, az
the eastern end, and helping to form the
little harbor, .S the monument which is
some $50 feet in diameter, and rises out
of the sea to height of 200 feet. Here
the Georgia lay for some six weeks. Yes
sels after rounding the Cape of Good Hope
or Cape Horn, endeavor to sight Trinidad
for the purpose of seeing If their chronom.
cters are all right, and then shape their
courses for New York OF Liverpool, and
while we lay in this cove. or harbor. we
brought to- many merchant vessels. The
first intimntion they would have that a con-
federate cruiser was in the neighbornood
Here It was that we captured and burned
in the hafb -sthe ship Constitution of Bos-
ton, and also captured and bonded the
City o. Bath Of Bath, Me.
An Ideal CoaIfng Station.
Trinidad is an ideal coaling station for
commerce destroyers or a naval for the
protection of commerce. 1t is habitable,
although not inhabited when the Georgia
took possession. A few wild hogs and
millions of Sea fowl We're the only living
things to be seen. A frisate bird one day
a orly cd tha an hnf fnray ack
tree, and oelng cut in the wing with
knife. dropped TO the deck. 1t measured
over seven feet from tip to tip.
Trinidad could be easier defended than
Gibraltar, and Is naturally a stronger posi-
ton. In certain winds the waves, with the
full sweep of the Atlantic, strike the island
and send the spray some 800 or 400 fee. into
the air. The sight beggars description
'At the time the Georgia took possession
and made 1t confederate coaling station
the Island of Trinidad was not claimed by
any nation. Had it teen SO Capt. Mitury
was much too careful commander to
mission, and 'heaving to- neutral ships as
he lay at anchor in the harbor.''
A New Phase of the Question.
This communication of Mr.. Morgan
places a phase On the subject of the pos
session of the Island of Trinidad and of
the uses to which thaS island may be put
that have not before received attention.
1t has been stated that Great Britain will
offer to buy the island from Brazil, but
it is not likely in the present condition of
excitement under which the people of
Brazil are laboring that they would con-
sent to transfer the title of the island to
a country which they are now denouncing
as being arbitrary and grasping. The Island
of Trinidad has been generally regarded
as unfit for any use, except as cable sta
ton, especially as it has been represented
that 1t was Impossible for vessels to land
there. Mr.. Morgan, who is a man of intel
ligence and who had had full opportunity
to know the facts that he states. shows
that the island may he made very formid-
able. AS coaling station for vessels in
time of var the Island of Trinidad might
become of vast Importance. and it might
be easy, though very expensive, to trans
form it into Gibraltar, where English
ships might coal in safety at all times.
Being but five hundred miles from Rio
Janeiro, the Island Of Trinidad in the pos
session of hostile country might prove
exceedingly harmful
Never Laid Claim to 1t.
Although Mr.. Morgan states in his letter
that the title to the Island of Trinidad
rests in the United States, this govern
ment has never in the remotest way laid
claim to the island. and people acquainted
with the subject do not think there is the
least possibility of such action. There is a
controversy that Brazil will not part with
the title to the Island of Trinidad if it is
proven that she has undisputed title, but
will probably permit England to make
cable station of it, just as the shores of
any country might be used as a cable sta
tion. This would obviate any danger in
the future of having the island turned into
fortified coaling station.
1t is not thought likely that England
will prolong the dispute over the Island of
Trinidad, as there is now much talk In
Brazil of discriminating against English
iinportations. England sends to Brazil
yearly more than the combined exports to
that country of Germany and France, and
more than five times the amount exported
to Brazil from the United States. Eng
lands exports to Brazil aggregate SS0,000,-
COO. England's commercial interests will
probably be the greatest factor in bringing
a prompt settlement of the dispute over
the Island of Trinidad.
Revenue Marine Not of the Navy.
Assistant Secretary REYNOLDS of the Tn.