The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-06-10
PROGRAM Of THE DAY OF CLPPR7M ISLAND
PHOSPHATE FLYSPErE JUST VS.
TIED BY HAWAIIAN STEAMER.
Peculiar Anchorage -Dancerous--A
Championship Shark Story Capt.
Tyson's-A Deal On.

The Kahului, which left here a few
days ago came from Clipperton Island.
That mysterious pin head on the Pa
cific, of which so much is heard and
so little is known, lies in latitude 10
n. and longitude 1863 W.. and belongs
to the United States. IL is an egg
shaped atol ten to fifteen feet high and
about eight miles long. The center
lake is circular and the water is al
most clear of salt. The island itself is
is loaded with superior phosphate
rock which constitutes it's only COM
mercial value. The beds are operated
by a San Francisco syndicate. Except
ing sea fowl and about dozen white
laborers employed in getting out
the phosphate for shipment, not liv-
ing thing is on the island.
Terrific storms frequently sweep
over Clipperton. Aside from this
anchorage is difficult and dangerous.
The only moderately safe anchoring
ground is on the N. +. side. Even
there vessel will lie in five fathoms
forward and have thirty-fve fathoms
aft. In this position the Kahului was
in nconstantdanger of being put inshore
by the heavy rollers. Of course only
few feet forward would have brought
her upon the rocks. While there all
the anchor chains were out constant
ly and the men stayed by the engines.
On land is to be found one of the
most remarkable caves in the world.
1t runs under great rock and leads
into a thick forest of rock needles pro-
jecting, most of them, thirty or forty
feet high. Smooth cut avenues wind
among them. Looking upward re-
minds one of the sight from the. bot,
! tom of well.
/ Sharks abound in these waters and
are exceedingly voracious. Schools of
them were always to be seen hanging
around the ship ready to snap up any
thing that might be thrown overheard.
And of course, Captain Tyson, Cover
nor reeth, who was passenger, and
the seamen of the Kahului gathered
a number of excellent shark stories.
Many of them are so remarkable as
to be hardly credible; but one told by
Captain Tyson smacks so faithfully of
the truth that it will perhaps bear
repetition. He says:
"One day | baited and threw out
a shark line. 1t was attached to the
KahuDuis stern post. Hardly had it
| touched the water when monster
nearly twenty feet long took it, turned
under a huge rock, braced himself and
sir, pulled in line stern post and all.
For moment | was perpleXed. In
the clear sea could see the brute
working at the tackle. He first extri-
Gated the line from the piece of wood.
In moment more he appeared on
the top of the water, back down, hold
ing the stern post up to us. We hauled
it in and were glad to have it back.
For long time ! wondered what
the shark was going to do with the
hook and line-thought perhaps he
would decide to return them also.
But two days after we had heavy
wind from the northeast. Seas washed
our decks and broke furiously on
shore. Once while forward | hap
pened TO look down in the trough be-
tween two rollers. and what do you
suppose ! saw? There lay that shark
lin three fathoms, coiled up in my line,
the hook securely fastened to a rock
anchored"
But the above general facts do not
compose all the interest Honolulu is
to have in Clipperton. A deal is now
in process of consummation which
may result in the property being soon
owned and operated by a Hawaiian
corporation. At present the full par-
ticulars can not be given. In event
the transfer is made a manager and
laborers will be sent down there from
here, and Hawaiian vessels will be en-
gagged i'm the trade. The island is
1865 miles from Honolulu, 1160 from
Guatamala and about 5000 from San
Francisco.