Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-01
%HIGH-HANDED WORK.
sNDrGytry OFFERED ouR FLAG by
MEXICAN MARINES.
STARS And STRIPES HAULED DOWN.
THE Mexican EaSspn Hoistcd in Its
S~tcad-Sccsc of the Performance
nm Island Many Miles to Westward
of Acapulco.

SAN DIEGO. CAL. December SL.-ThC
steamer Albion arrived to-day from a
months cruise down the coast. and her
passengers tell OF a rather high-handed
proceeding at Clipperton Island on the
par. OF the Mexican gunboat Democratic,
being no less than the hauling down OF
the Stars and Stripes by an armed force
landed for the purpose. ana in spite OF
the protests Of the men there employed,
and the raising Of the Mexican flag. The
story told is as follows:
Our trip down the coast as far as
Santo Domingo was void Of any particu-
lar incident" said Roscoe Howard. one
81 the passengers. ION our return we
took on a sailor at Acapulco. and from
him ! learned tina he had been brought
10 tia port by the Mexican eunboat
Democratic. from Clipperton Island. He.
with two other men, had beer employed
by a guano company to take charge of
about 1890 tons Of guano that was stored
IN the warehouse on the island. and when
they were landed there some nine months
agc they hoisted the American flag. and
notified the Secretary of State Of their
action.
ION December 18th the Democratic
dropped anchor q short distance from
The island. and sent a boats crew OF
marines to the island. but on attempt
ing to land the boat was dashed against
n coral reef and suffered considerable
damage. Finally. the marines were land
ed. and after an official ceremony the
Stars n Stripes were hauled down from
the fag-pole hat had been erected by
the Americans. and in its place the Mexi-
ran flag was hoisted.
Having taken formal possession, the
marines withdrew, and notified the men
who remained on the island not TO al
low any one 10 take away the guano.
under penalty Of violating the Mexican
laws.
'The island is about 500 miles off the
Mexican coast. almost due west of Aca-
puico. and is known as Anatell. or Coral
Reef. When the marines landed TO take
possession Of the island in behalf of
Mexico, they were fully armed and pre-
pared to do battle with whatever re-
sistance might be offered"
THE MEXICAN SIDE.
MEXICO CITY. December Sl.-Ohicial
Intelligence received from Mazatlan
SHOWS mat Wne0 the MeNltdl SNHb'dN
FL Democratic arrived at ClippertOn Is
land, which is thirty miles west OF AGA
pulco. IL was found that a party OF
Americans had raised the American flag,
and had coolly appropriated all the guano
beds which they were operating. They
had built houses and permanently estab-
Jished themselves.
The Democratic had a very stormy
passage. and found the island Of very
difficult access. and a boat-load of MeXi-
can marines was upset in getting through
The surf, the men losing their rifles and
swords. They saved themselves by swim
ming. and a Mexican flag was carried
ashore by Julian Santos. the stoker OF
the gunboat. who ran the risk of being
devoured by sharks. that abound in those
waters.
Captain Genesta ordered the American
flag hauled down, and the Mexican flag
was raised. there being little protest on
the part Of the Americans. representing
a guano company. This formality having
been accomplished, the gunboat returned
10 Mazatlan.
There were about 10000 tons of guano
on the island. valued at $4,000. Repre-
sensations showing that the action OF
the guano company is one of mere usur-
patton will be made. Clipperton Island
IS undoubtedly i'm Mexican territory. al
though not settled by Mexicans. There
has been no excitement over the matter.