The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-28

ship returned and reported what it had
done.
A year later transport was sent to
Falcon and found nothing but "A low ly-
ing reef against which the sea beat incns-
sanity. The lofty elf had disappeared,
as had the palm trees and the sand beach.
Engiands flag had sunk with the land,
which appeared to have been swallowed
up by the ocean.
Very little attention was directed 10
Falcon until 1872 10 being believed that
the island had simply sunk into the sea.
as coral islands often do. Ships and trad
ing schooners passed the latitude and
some would report that the island was still
there and thaq its cliff had again lowered
heaVenWard, while others would note that
only fiat shoal marked the spot. These
reports were extremely confusing
France. in 1892, was looking for islands
70 annex ana so sent the cruiser Duchaf-
fault, Capt. MauCerOn, on a cruise after
territory The Duchaffault steamed to
Falcon. Then, instead OF finding SUNK
EN- reef, Whitened with the foam Of break
ers, the vessels crew discovered an island
almost the exact shape Of that found by
moutOry was but twenty-five feet and
twenty-seYen feet high instead of 1873 feet
The palm trees were gone, of course but
the rocks were covered with a. growth OF
green bushes and ferns. Ashore went
Mauceron. who. though he had not 1900
men, ordered his jack tars to draw their
swords and put them back again, claiming
the island at the same time i'm the name of
the French republic. The tricolor waved
from the 25-fOot cliff when the Duchaf-
fault churned north and homeward 70
the booming of a rifle gun.
Scarcely two years had passed since
the Frenchman's visit when the British
schooner Ysabel, borne along by an cast
erly breeze. came about al the easterly
end of the island. This was ON April ~
1891, according to the records kept blythe
United states government. The. Ysabel's
captain consulted his chart and found
that the strip of sand at his port beam
was all that remained. Of the elusive Eal-
con isle He was astonished;, he made
note in his log book and Later reported
TO his home government that Falcon
island now has the appearance of a low
} streak or reef and is dangerous u, nav3-
cation, as II cannot be seen on dark
night. Dangerous reefs and rocks sur
round IL.
French and English naval officers we're
much taken back by this report, but the
Tongan government was not daunted II
tions to solve the mystery. The expedi-
ton left Tonga last December and only
returned about one month ago, or in time
to allow Pilot Organ to write his letter
and forward IT by the steamer Australia
to this city from Apia. Perhaps English
men and Frenchmen viii smile when they
read that the expedition took possession
of the Falcon Island in the name of King
George Of Tonga" Several cocoanut and
other trees We're planted A hut was
erected on the southern, or raised end OF
the place, which Us a mass of rocks, shells
and queer red clay. The island was found
to have bold. steep sides, with deep wa
ter all around and no Shoal water in the
vicinity though discolored water extends
four miles sOutheastWard and three miles
northwest. The highest point Of the island
is fifty feet above the sea.
When Tongas claim to the jumping
jack of the tropics has been wiped out by
the sea- it is suggested that the United
States try to secure the island for a brief