The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-11

FROM nlTu ; point VI NltN w hhC
island looks like huge. irregular let
ter ~" with two detacher parallel
lines-subislands inclining from the up
per ends of the fork. The whole is
surrounded by shaggy coral reef The
surface above water consiets of coral
sand, pebbles and powders. Stunted
trees line the shore, while further above
are II few of the shrubs usually found
upon the low islands of the Pacific.
especially the tournefortia. which bears
n small, fleshy fruit. The inclination of
the entire island is from the northwest
to the southeast, while 1t is but five
miles by two a d a half miles wide.
Deep water exists Immediately off the
lining reefs there being no shallow an
chorage off shore.
y GREAT LAGOON.
TO one who lands and walks half
mile inland. Wake island appears to
have been built by the coral insects
as a protected harbor for vessels fa-
tigued by their long Journeys over the
Pacific. Indeed, practically all of the
dry land visible is no more than mere
rim or lining to Il great interior basin
or lagoon. containing possibly thous-
ing from its color, may be twenty faith
oms deep. This may be improved for
harbor and coalinE station, not only
for our war vessels, but our transpaci-
fic passenger steamers and merchant
men. The difficulty, as now presented,
IS that there is nc natural channel
large enough for any craft heavier than
a rowboat to enter. There are three
openings into which the sea water can
pour, but all are guarded by outlying
reefs one Of these inlets, at the OK
treme northwest end, is about 1000
yards wide but the Obstructing reef
/ is continuous and surf from six to
ten feet high breaks upon it.
The prospects OF finding a natural
channel here are believed to be Very
| good. OF course. the army engineers
could make short work Of the coral
Instructions at any Of these inlets, and
| the expense would be but slight. The
western reef could be easily blasted
through. az was done at Honolulu. The
location IS equally advantageous for a
cable station, harbor or coaling station.
If you look upon your chart which
rou have at home you will not find
this little dot Of coral, too insignificant
/ for notice when our maps, published
! before the war, We're made. But if you
| will draw a straight line connecting
| Honolulu and Guam, il will represent
| a distance of 1911 miles. This line is
! the great circle course between those
! two points. and Wake Island lies only
| thirty miles north OF it at distance
! Of zoos miles from Honolulu and 1906
! miles from Guam.
LACK OF FRESH WATER.
Not only its occasional submergence
! beneath the sea, but it's utter lack of
! fresh water emphasizes the impossible
! ity Of any previous existence of human
! life upon Wake Island How will the
! government agents installed there find
/ life possible under this condition
| When the army engineers improve the
| harbor, how can they install a COM
. plete harbor plant? Where can they
get fresh water for steam purposes?
| When these questions are put to them
| they point to the floating condenser
Iris" which distilled salt water into
! fresh water ut the rate Of go 900 gallons
a day during the war. A condenser can
be built upon stills as readily as can
! lighthouse. coaling station, a cable
station or any other of the necessary
! buildings.
At all events the occupants of this
lonely oasis in the great desert OF water
/ soon to TEEN with caravans bearing
our expanded commerce will find suf-
ficient animal food to appease their
appetites. Many birds inhabit the
dwarfed trees. returning to repair their
nests each time the mad sea subsidies.
Wnen Captain Wilkes was there he
noticed some short-tailed albatross
quite tame. The great interior lagoon
abounds with fish, especially some very
excellent mullet which have multipllel
for centuries without interference.
A LONELY LIFE.
Dreyfus' life upon Devils Island i.
scarcely more lonely than would be the
existence of a small group Of men sta,
toned at the top Of a tower far out IN
this isolated speck of land. But wher
the harbor is improved and the cable
station permanently established mill
tary force will be necessary for tn,
preservation of order during the LANDING
of foreign crews, while a vessel of wa,
will be essential to the protection o.
the cable station. Should a terrifi,
storm blow up at any time those afraid
to remain upon the island may tax,
refuge upon this.
There is a mistaken notion fostereC
by many that Wake Island belonged t,
Spain previous to the war, and that w,
viii come into possession Of it upor
the ratification of the treaty of Paris
As matter of fact this isolated sane
hill might have been dubbed "No Man.
| Land" rha daV bgfOrn GnnnroI CraopI
planted the American flag upon III
coral beds and deposited box ther
10 inform all subsequent visitors tha
he had explored it in the name of tn
United States.
QUESTION OF OWNERSHIP.
BY right of discovery the island be
longed to England, if reports be true
but by right of occupancy IL will be
long to us as soon as solitary either
or agent Of the United States govern
ment can be installed thereupon. 1t Il
a question whether the planting Of tn,
American flag upon the island and I
subsequent desertion without leaving
morse of humanity for defense or as
sertion of authority would be regarded
under the law of nations as an estab
lishment of sovereignty.
The discovery of this. our neves
possession, was purely accidental a
was also the selection OF the bistori
Fourth OF July for the planting of tn
stars and stripes thereupon. Genera
Greene was hurrying to Manila on tn
transport China" with the second ex
pedition for the relief of Admira
Dewey when his lookout sighted tn