Evening star., 1897-07-28
SEIZED BY BRITISH
Occupation Of Palmyra Claimed by
the Hawaiians.
ANNOUNCED BY MINISTER SEWALL
Investigation Of the Title to the
AWAITING FULL REPORTS

Official confirrna ton Of the reported occu-
patton by the British of Palmyra, an island
claimed by Hawaii. is contained in a dis
patch received at the State Department
from Minister Sewall at Honolulu. The
dispatch was wired from San Francisco
by the dispatch agent at that city and
was a simple announcement of the fact
without any details. The subject is un-
doubtedly treated more fully in Minister
Sewaffs reports to the department., which
were forwarded from San Francisco by
mail and are due here about Saturday or
Monday.
Officials of the State Department do not
attach much significance to Captain Rose
hilfs representations. especially with ref
erence to the Palmyra group. 1t was ex-
plained that Palmyra was settled by the
British nine years ago, and has been in
constant possession of that government
ever since.
Disputed Ownership
Palmyra is in the Polynesian group, over
a Thousand miles southwest of the Ha-
Waiian group of islands, aud has not BEEN
IN the possession of the Hawaiians for
mary Years. Its sovereignty has long
been a subject Of dispute between Great
Britain an! Hawaii Heretofore the
United States has taken but slight inter-
est IN this territorial dispute, but in view
OF the probable. annexation of the Ha-
waiian Islands by the United States 1t Is
more than probable that the matter will
be thoroughly Investigated with a view to
the determination Of the facts and equities
or the case. As already jntimated how
ever. the State Department is at present
not strongly impressed with the Hawaiian
claim Of jurisdiction over the PALMYRA
group.
But should the proposed Investigation
strengthen Hawaii's claim to Palmyra Min
lster Sewall will undoubtedly be Instructed
to protest against the alleged arbitrary
SEIZURE of the island by Breas Britain
First Occupation
Palmyra Island was occupied a good
many years ago by a number of Hawaiian
citizens. who raised the Hawaiian flag over
the territory. The island was first discov-
cred by the famous British navigator Cap
tain COOK. who afterward lost his life in
the Hawaiian Islands. An American corpo-
ration known as the Phoenix Guano Com
pany located on the island some years ago,
therefrom all the guano deposits When
these deposits had been exhausted the COM
pany abandoned the island, leaving the
sheds and wharfs standing.
Palmyra Island has never been surveyed
so that its extent cannot be accurately esti-
mated. 1t was known some time ago as
Americus Island.
Hawaiian Dependencies.
According to the Hawaiian government.
this is list of the Hawaiian Islands and
dependencies
habited-Hawaii. Maui, Oahu, Kauai.
Molokai. Lanai. Niihau and Kahoolawe
Cninhabited-Nihoa, or Bird Island john
sons. or Cornwallis; Necker. French Fri
gate Shoals. Brothers Reef. Garden Is
land. Aliens Reef. Laysans Island. L.si-
ansky Island Philadelphia, or Bunkers:
Pearl. or Hermes Reef; Middle Island
midway, or Brooks Island), Ocean Island
Palmyra Island and all outlying and ad-
Joining reefs, atolls, islets and unnamed
islands.
Capt. ROsehill's Story.
According to mail advices from Honolulu,
under date of July II, Capt Rosehill Of the
schooner Norma, while cruising In the
South Pacific. secured evidence to warrant
the belief that England had taken formal
possession of number of small islands in
that portion Of the globe, without stopping
to inquire who the owners might be.
Il had not visited Palmyra Islands for
perhaps a dozen years until one Gos.ns, a
planter, who came with me from Hull
lsldHu. ana l went ashore there n few
weeks ago. said Capt. ROsehill. almost
the first thing that attracted our attention
on the island was the remnant of an old
flag pole. at the foot of which a proclama-
ton. written cloth, but for the most
part effaced by the weather, was nailed to
a stout piece Of planking.
I'VE could only n axe out enough Of the
wording to indicate that the sign was
proclamation declaring the Islands among
the possessions Of Great Britain. Evil
IDENTIFY party had landed from a man-of-
war there a short time ago, and remained
there for some time. for the camp stakes
were still in the ground and heaps of ashes
around which camp fires had blaZed. Bits
of clothing and trappings picked up about
the place bore the initials of the H. NJ. 8.
Penguin
Occupied by England Since 1883.
LONDON. July 2S.-With reference to
the reported seizure by Great Britain Of
Pylmara Island. Polynesia, 1t is officially
stated that the island has been British
since 1883 The report Is supposed TO have
arisen from the fact that the H. NJ 8.
Wild Swan called there last May on
periodical visit.