Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-09-08

Sdpta1n GlaSS OF the UnlleQ states
cruiser Charleston on June II has
directed the American mind to a
heretofore almost unheard Of archi-
pelago in the southern Pacific. AS
Z will be remembered, the Charleston
stopped on her way to Manila in the
harbor of San Luis d'Apra, and fired
a dozen blank shots at the dilapi-
dated old fort over which flew the
Z blood and gold flag of Spain. Gov
/ ernor Marina mistook this threaten
ing fusillade for friendly salutatiou,
and sent apologies for not respond
ing ia kind because of lack of powder
In response to summons from Cap
tain Glass to come on board the
Charleston, the governor, who was
in entire ignorance of the state of
war between Spain and the United
States, courteously declined the 'in-
vitation" on the grounds that the
laws did not permit him to leave the
islands. When finally the truth was
disclosed to him through peremp-
tory command to surrender or suffer
bombardment, he was probably the
most surprised Spaniard on earth
and there are many of them The
governor and his command were
taken prisoners to Manila, and the
United States flag now floats over the
Ladrone islands.
Since their seizure atteGtion has
been called to the fact that they are
important stepping stones to Ameri-
Go
While little off the direct route
from San Francisco to Manila, San
Luis is the most convenient coal
ing port after Honolulu, and with
our naval station at Samoa it COM
pletes a chain Of islands across the
Pacific. Furthermore, the Ladrones
command the trade routes from north
China and Japan to Australia, and
are necessary to American sovereignty
over the Philippines. All these facts
have set many people to studying
up the location and history of the
Ladrones.
Look on any ordinary map of the
Pacific and you will see in the Pacific
ocean, some 1850 miles due east of
LiC SlIy vi hahiAup q Sloup Vi llLllN
dots labeled Marianne or Ladrone
islands (Spanish).
There are fifteen islands in the
Ladrone group Altogether they
have an area of AT square miles, or
about third as much as the little
state of Rhode Island, which contains
1850 square miles, counting water
surface as well as land, The Dis
trict of Columbia has an area of
seventy square miles, and Manhattan
island little more than twenty
miles. The British island of Jamaica,
in the West Indies, has an area of
4300 square miles, or ten times as
much as all the Ladrones,
The Ladrones are scattered over
about nine degrees of latitude and
three degrees Of longitude, or an area
about equal to that of the state
Of Montana. Only four of the islands
are inhabited. Most of the others
are merely the tips of volcanoes.
The total population was at last ac-
counts 1912. The principal islands
Of the group are Guam, Rota, Agul
jan, Saypan and Tinian. The largest,
Guam. forms nearly one-half Of the
land area Of the entire group. Lying
as the islands do close to the equa-
tor they have every var,etyof tropi-
cal product, and under proper condi-
tons their population might become
wealthy from agriculture alone, for
no finer cotton, coffee, sugar or to-
bacco can be grown IN the world
than is raised in the Ladrone islands,
out the curse of Spanish rule has
olghted every industry
The story of the discovery of the
Ladrones is one of the romances OF
history Ferdinand Magellan, Por
tuguese sailor. became convinced,
soon after Columbus great feat. that
the Moluccas, or Spice Islands. could
be reached by sailing directly from
Spain to the west. For a long time
he could not secure a hearing from
anybody, but after years Of waiting
his enthusiasm made an impression,
and he finally secured an appoint
ment as admiral in the Spanish navy.
with a feet of five ships. the crews
numbering altogether 236 men. and
on Sept. 20, 1919, he set sail on his
voyage Of discovery. rhe starting
OF the fleet was a great aay in
Seville a fete was held kigh mass
was celebrated in the cathedral, ard
all the captains and men OF the
ships marched in solemn procession
from the palace to the cathtdial.
escorted by nobles of the court and
he local military.
Magellan crossed the Atlantic AMI
.suched the coast Of Brazil thence
sailing to The south. looking for a
passage.
On Oct. q. 1920. he sailed into the
strait which separates the Island OF
Terra del Fuego from the mainland.
He called the passage Strait Of the
Eleven Thousand Virgins in honor
Of St. Ursula's feast. but It has ever
since been known by his own name.
o. Nov. IS. 1920. Magellan cleared