The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-12-25
A LOST ISLAND.
Millions In GHano Await the Fortunate
IS DtscOyerer. T. = ~


80 DiscOverer. ~
The mysterious island Of the Southern
ocean whereon rich deposits OF guano are
said to be has not been discovered yet,
though the little schooner Moonlight that
arrived today from Mazatlan searched for
1t all seas over in the latitude and lOngi-
tgde where it is believed to exist. Out
OF the regular course of sailing and
steam vessels cruised the Moonlight for
days, but nothing occurred to break the
mOnotony of the Southern ocean save the
Well-kn0Wn high rock of aforementioned
SClippertOn. Treasure island and it's
wealth of phOsphates still exists merely
as an unknown quantity, for the rough
charts OF old Capt. Martin and his ad-
yenturous associates are either IN error
orr else some strange seismic phenomenon
caused the lost isle to disappear, years
ago, perhaps, for all that mortal sailor
knows. @z#
The Moonlight sailed from this port on
July 16 bound for Altata, Mex. with
general cargo. The vessel is the proper
primary object of her voyage was the
discovery Of the island mentioned. Mr..
Magee is one Of the company known as
the Oceanic Phosphate company, which
has shown considerable enterprise in
solving the problem of loading vessels at
Clipperton island with phosphates. After
an outlay of capital and frequent trials
the colony established on Clipperton sue
ceeded IN securing cargoes for the craft
sent out by the corporation from San
francisco, and having placed their Clip
perton business on paying basis a num-
per OF members of the company turned
their attention to the accounts of rich
guano island that mariners of the old
school have declared exists no so many
hundred fhe
tral American coast. The supposed loca-
ton is, of course, held a secret by the
promoters of the Moonlight expedition.
Though those who returned today on the
schooner are disappointed at not finding
the place, they still have hope of some
day locating the spot.
The Moonlight, after leaving San Fran
cisco, proceeded to Altata, keeping lit
tie out of the regular course in so doing,
and after discharging cruised again and
then put back to Mazatlan, Mex. From
MaZatlan the schooner sailed fifty-two
days ago. She cleared for this port, but
before Strengthening out on her north
ward trip looked the seas over for the
lost island; it could not be found, and
rearing to waste any more time, as pro-
visions and water might run short, the
vessel headed for San Francisco.
r. FOR number of years the lost island
OF the South Pacific has been searched
Tor by ambitious seamen. The stories
concerning 1t are various and romantic.
and to great extent conflicting. though
the narratives all seem to center on the
| fact that the place exists somewhere
about 400 or 800 miles southwest of Clip
| perton island. and is a low coral atol
which is covered with the richest phos-
pilates. The little unknown also has its
legends of pirates treasures. and ac-
cording to an old volume containing men
ton of Lord Clipperton's voyages, was
once the rendezvous of pirates.
| One OF the expeditions of recent date
! which have been fitted out to look for
the island was the Vine expedition. The
Vines owner, Capt. Burns, according to
the first officer of that craft, secured his
knowledge of the place from an old sea
captain named Martin, who died some
years ago, and who left all old chest
| small island in the South Pacific, not
down on the regular charts, enormously
| rich in phosphates. Martin claimed that
| his vessel was driven out of her regular
course by head winds, and came across
the island. which he described He took
a note of the latitude and longitude. hop
| ing some day to raise enough money to
! fit out a vessel to proceed to that spot
+ and take possession, but death put an
end to his aspirations.
The Moonlight, ON leaving Mazatlan,
| was in charge of Capt. Spencer and had
| number of local men on board who
still have faith in the theory. that the
island is still above water. and that the
old sea dogs who sighted it in past years
simply made errors in their reckonings
and have caused all subsequent failures
to find the land of fortune.-San Fran
cisco Bulletin.