The age-herald., 1898-03-04
An Exaggerated Sense of Duty to
 Blame, Though.
DESERTED BY COMPANIONS
Cussman Refused To Be Rescued, But Bees to 9e neIeved-Has Been Isolated for Months-He Is Afraid That
 He Will Go Mad.

1T
 Alone on a coral reef in the Pacific. hum dred of miles from any other land and out of the usual course of vessels, Theodore Gussmann Is waiting to be rescued. Noth- ing more solitary than his present position could be imagined. letter to a friend here, Capt. Charles Baettge, which he sent by a French man-o'-war that chanced to cruise in his locality, describes the awful solitude in which he has been isolated for months.
 Gussmann might have left his imprison- ment by the vessel which brought his let ter, but to have done so would have been to desert his post of duty. He would not do that. He is one of three men sent down to Clipperton Island last July by the Oceanic Phosphate company to keep pos- session of the companys property and of the island. His companions deserted him at the time the Mexican man-o'-war Dem- Ocrata hauled down the American flag and hoisted the Mexican standard. Guss- man refused to leave then although an effort to hanghai him was made by the Mexican captain. Indeed in order to re- main at his post of duty, Gussmann prac- tically marooned himself, and to escape from the Mexican man-o'-war he per formed a feat as perilous as itw as dar- ing.
 when the MeXlcan war VeSSei nOVe Tn sight of the island, months ago, Guss- mann and his companions dipped the American flag in salute. The Mexicans, however, instead of acknowledging it, put a boatload of marines ashore. In attempt- ing to land the Mexicans caught on the reef and, but for the aid afforded them by Gussman and the others they would have been drowned in the surf Then the stars and stripes was hauled down and the Mex ican tri-color was run up, and the island was claimed in the name of the sister res public.
 The three men were invited on board. Once there, they were told that they must stay on board and leave the island. Guss- manns companions, generously entertained with liquor, agreed but he refused Then the commander of the Mexican insisted that he give up the papers he held show ing the title of his employers to the prop erty on the island. This he refused to do, and in order to save them he tied them up in his shoe and threw them overheard Then jumping overheard himself he picked up the shoe and swam with it through the surf to the island.
 Before leaving the Mexican man-o'-waf he had written a long letter to his em- ployers, describing the events which had just taken place. This letter, however, has never been received. In its place the Mexican commander sent a brief abstract to the company's officers in San Francisco.
 Harry Smith and Fred Nelson, Guss- mann's companions made their way to this city after being landed by the Mex fcan man-of-war and gave some account of what had happened. No further word was received fro Gussmann until within a day or two. This letter was written Nov 2 last year. A French man-of-war on that day hove in sight. He signaled it and was able to get the commander to take a letter addressed to his friend, Capt. Baettge. The letter is written in German and is very brief. In explanation of it's brevity he says that he had opportunity to write only few lines. He speaks of the oppressive solitude and urges Baettge to do what he can to have him brought off. There is in the letter, however, no hint that the writer intends to desert his post if opportunity arises. What he wants is leave to come away.
 Clipperton Island lies almost under the equator. It is coral reef inclosing la- goon, which has no communication with the sea and which is stagnant and guano impregnated. During the dry season the water has a strong odor of ammonia. To partly by his sense of duty and partly by the fact that opportunities to leave it are of rare occurrence.
 According to the state department. the island belongs to France by the right of discovery, the French claim dating form the middle of the last century. Capt. Ba- ettge hopes to be able to procure a sloop and go to Gussmann's rescue. He shares the fear for his friend of those who know the effect on the mind of the kind of sol- itary confinement Gussmann is undergo ing. Few can stand the strain without giving way.