The herald., 1898-01-01
TOOK DOWN OLD GLORY
AND HoIsTED MExICo's FLAG IN
ITS PLACE
A Mexican Gunboat's Crew Takes
Formal Possession of Clipperton
Island and Its Guano

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 31.-The steamer
Albion arrived today from a months
cruise down the coast, and her passen-
gers tell of rather high-handed pro-
ceeding on the part of the Mexican
gupboat Democratic, being no less than
the hauling down of the Stars and Stripes
by an armed force landed for that pur-
pose, and 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 San
Ito Domingo was void of any particular
incident" said Roscoe Howard. "On our
return we took on sailor at Acapulco
and from him I learned that he had been
brought to that port by the Mexican gun
boat Democratic, from Clipperton island.
He, with two other men, had been en-
ployed by a guano company to take
charge of about 1000 tons of guano that
was stored in the warehouses on the
island, and when they were landed there
some nine months ago they hoisted the
American flag and notified the Secretary
of State of their action.
On December 18th the Democratic
dropped anchor a short distance from
the island and sent boats crew of mar
ines to the island, but on attempting to
land the boat was dashed against coral
reef and suffered considerable dam
age. Finally the marines were landed
and after an official ceremony the Stars
and Stripes were hauled down from the
flagpole that had been erected by the
Americans and in it's place the Mexican
flag was hoisted. Having taken formal
possession of the island the marines
withdrew and notified the man who re-
mained on the is'and not to allow any
one to take away the guano under pen
atty of violating the Mexican laws. i
The island is about 800 miles off the
main coast, almost due west OF Acapul-
co, and is known az an s.toil, tfI ~ =
reef. II is about four a9iiss g a,ctsrss.
ference, with a larg ~ q iTae c1e
center. Two palm tIe S c1NaHiate she
sole vegetation on ths lsiAnd, which j.
made the home of ,nili.c 81 of eea foWi
Thousands of tons of t. -leneat stap1
are to be gathered on 1ha s.ocj FRA
this represents its sole W. Il ,,l' rom
the value of the coral
When the marines lanued to take pos
fse--ion Of the island on hehaif of Mexico
they we're fully armed and prepared TO
do battle with whatever resistance
might be offered
MEXICAN PROPERTY
CITY OF MEXICO, Dec. 31.-Oficia
intelligence received from Mazatlar
shows that when the Mexican gunboat
Ell Democratic arrived at Clipperton Is
land, which is 30 miles west of Acapulco
it was found that party OF American:
had raised the American flag and hat
coolly appropriated all the guano beds
which they were operating. They had
built houses and permanently estab'
| lished themselves.
The Democratic had a very stormy
passage and found the island very diff.
cult of access, and a boatload of marines
was upset in going through the surf, the
men losing their rifles and swords. They
saved themselves by swimming to land
A Mexican flag was carried ashore by
Julian Santos, 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 f1as
raised, there being little protest on tho
part of the Americans representing {
guano exploring company. This formal
ity having been accomplished the gun
boat returned to Mazatlan.
There are about 10000 tons of guant
on the island valued at 100000 in gold
Representations showing that the
action of the guano company is one Of
mere usurpation will be made
Clipperton island is undoubtedly il
Mexican territory, although not settled
by Mexicans. There has been no ex-
citement over the matter.