Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-11-23

and \ trifle over a half mile in width.
1t was discovered by Capt. IT, y.
Netcher. of the American bark Isabel
la. Sept. 8. 1912, and was formally
taken possession Of by him the next
morning in the name OF the Uhlleu
States. He raised a flag on the island
and deposited box at the foot OF the
staff containing record of what ne
had done. In 1857 the island was VS.
tied by the whaling bark Portsmouth.
The flag staff erected by Capt. Netcher
had been blown down by the WINDS
but the bark's captain found the record
and promptly raised another flag. he
was determined that it should stand
and how well he succeeded is shown by
the decaying stump which still stands
there, though another flag staff was
raised some fifteen years later, on
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-five miles north OF
Rowland, and took possession Of this
also in the name of the United States.
Near the center of the island are
thickets of small trees covering
an area OF many acres. The
eastern side of the island is composed
Of a succession of ridges, generally OF
sand and shells. At 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 are
no springs on the island, but water
may be obtained by digging few feet.
In the center the island spreads out in
a plain containing about 400 or 500
acres. This is susceptible of cultiya
ton, but the island would be valueless
sp'ere it not for its coral and its 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 1872, the guano export was
about 5000 tons annually. Consider
able coral was also being exported.
During the early fifties the British
ship Pelican was wrecked on 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 soli-
tude, and of battling with sea birds
and rats. with which the island
abounds, they built raft or a boat
and put to sea. only to meet death in
the mighty waters.
Rowland island will never be Wis
tied by tourists for the sake OF its
scenery. Ii is almost fiat. 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 it is covered with an abundant
growth of vegetation.
Shortly after the civil war the Is
taUQ WAS itdS6u W the american (ru-
ano company. There was no safe an
chorage about the island and the com
pany placed a buoy about mile and
half from the western beach. This is
the only anchorage today.
Baker island forms an irregular
quadrilateral figure about a mile long
and a fraction less than mile in
width. Ii is OF coral formation. There
IS absolutely no water on the island.
and drinking water can be obtained
only by distilling sea water. The to-
biography OF the island is somewhat
similar to that Of Rowland, save that
on the west side is small open bay,
in which is a boat anchorage.
The island is encircled by a reef
some 800 feet wide. and its jagged
heads are awash at high tide. a
strong current, running nearly four
miles an hour. sets in around the IS
land and makes navigation near ii ex-
tremely dangerous. The land slopes
away so abruptly from the reef that
an anchor will not grapple. and for
this reason a number OF large moor
ing buoys are anchored just outside the
reef.
Approaching the island from the
western side, the large white buildings
Of the Houlders Bros. guano firm. OF
London, to whom the guano deposit