The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1899-11-24


appointment OF a governor over them
In fact. they are so far from anywhere
that even the most persistent Office
seeker would scarcely accept an APP
pointment there Rowland or Hol-
land island Ia the larger OF the two.
and Is separated from Baker island ny
an arm OF the sea about twenty-five
miles wide. II Is about two miles long
and n trife over a half mile In width.
IL was discovered by Capt q. T..
Neteher. OF the American bark Isabel
la. Sept. .. 1912, and was formally
taken possession OF by him the next
morning In the name OF the United
States. lie raised nag on the island
and deposited box at the foot OF the
stan containing record OF what he
had done. In 1857 the island was WIS.,
tied by the whaling bark Portsmouth.
The nag stan erected by Capt. Netcher
had been blown down by the winds.
but the bark's captain found the record
and promptly raised another nag. He
was determined that II should stand.
and how well he succeeded is shown by
the decayng stump which still stands
there, though another nag stan was
raised some fifteen years later. on a
higher part OF the island by Comman-
der Meade, United States steamer Mar
ragansett. Capt. Netcher also dis
covered another island. quite noun
famous and evidently OF volcanic orr
gin, about forty-iiye miles north OF
Rowland. and took possession OF this
also In the name OF the United States.
Near the center OF the island are
thlckets OF small trees covering
an area OF many acres. The
eastern side OF the island is composed
OF succession OF ridges, generally OF
sand and shells. Al earlier stages OF
the Islands growth these may have
successfully formed the weather shore.
Bits OF pumice and driftwood are scat
tered all over the island There arc
no springs on the island. but water
may be obtained by digging a few feet.
In the center the island spreads out In
a plain containing about 400 or 500
acres. This Is susceptible OF cultlva-
ton. but the island would be valueless
were Il not for It's coral and It's guano
deposits. The guano covers the entire
middle part. from north TO south. and
Is from six inches to four feet In depth.
At the time OF Commander Meade's
visit. In 1879, the guano export was
about 5000 tons annually. Consider
able coral was also being exported.
During the early hftles the British
ship Pelican was wrecked ON a reef
near Rowland Island. The crew man
aged TO get to the island In safety.
Some years later the huts they had
lived in and other traces OF the trip, in
1872. could not be found. The men had
disappeared. What had become OF
them will doubtless never be known.
Doubtless. tired OF the eternal soil
tude. and OF battling with sea birds
and rats. with which the Island
abounds. they built a raft or a boat
and put to sea, only to meet death In
the mighty waters.
Rowland island viii never be Wis
ited by tourists for the sake OF It's
scenery. Il Is almost nat. OF coral
formation. and rises but twenty feet
above the level OF the reef. only about
twelve or fifteen above the level OF the
high tide, The western side OF the
island is slightly depressed. and much
OF II Is covered with an abundant
growth Of vegetation.
sR~rtly after the civil war the is-