The National tribune., 1900-02-22

The entrance is very narrow, the natural
| breakwater of coral on the north, said tc
be some five miles long, extending around
| below the surface to within few rods Of
| the opposite shore, its diverging branches
! being dscernible as yellowish green lines
under the waves.
The coast here is a bold headland known
as Point Orote, where the Spaniards are
| said to have had a fort. II is crowned
with vegetation, and the shore line at its
base is thickly covered with groves of cocoa
nut palm and apparent jungles of yam,
banana and other tropical vegetation.
In fact, the entire island of Guam as seen
from the port of Apra on a bright, clear
morning appears as pleasing example OF
| tropical luXuriance and beauty
The coral reef barrier to the harbor of
| itself alone would fill an artist with envy.
and the picture it presents, because of its
varied and rich coloring, really surpasses
aii attempt at description. Beginning
| With the water in which the Sherman lies
| for base, we have a pure indigo hue.
changing at some distance from our shin
| INTO an irregular strip of emerald-green.
extending out to sea for several miles, or
nearly the whole length of the reef Pass
ing this, broad stretches of brilliant opales-
cence, abruptly bounded by ghostlv lines
OF foamlng white breakers, sharply mark
the harbor from the deeper blue of the
open sea, which is as sharply bounded at
the horizon by the clear azure and purplish
fleeces of the sky. Green lines indicate
other growths of coral within the strip of
breakers and are noticeable here and there
throughout the harbor.
Gho6tly-maned serpent waves con-
stantly chase each other from the sea over
the plain Of iridescent colors and along
its outer edge, and occasionally start up
like living objects from within its area,
while the line Of white foam is constantly
changing its appearance, now a thin and
broken rank; and then, as broad sheets of
foam run rapidly along and join. it dashes
in united array, as if to then break down the
barriers.
The shore end of the reef has accumulated
earth and is covered with shrubbery. 1t is
practically an island, as passage exists
between it and the beach, along which a
road runs to Agana,. the capital.
The small Spanish fort of Vera Cruz
which was fired into by Capt. Glass, of the
Charleston, June 81, 1898, when the Govern
or apologiZed for not returning the salute
appears well back in the harbor, and a
native village is visible on the coast to the
south. Chaplain McKinnon. who was on
the Charleston, says that the Governor,
after discovering his mistake, kept delaying
his promised visit to the American vessel,
until Capt. Glass ordered him to come at
once or he would be brought by force.
which differs somewhat from the accounts
published hitherto.
A trading vessel, the Esmeralda. from
Shanghai, was lying in the north side of
the harbor as we entered, but soon weighed
anchor, and doubling the reef sailed away
eastward.
Now came the startling information that
We are not to procure coal here; but the
apprehension that we should on that ac-
count be compelled to remain was dis
pelled by the QuartermaSter's announce
ment that we still had enough coal to reach
Manila.
Orders issued by Maj. Kirkman were
posted to the effect that passengers would
be allowed 10 go ashore on Dee. % and 2S,
and accordingly party of us arranged to
go ashore. ride in a bull-cart to Agana, and
return to ship next day at 4:30.
Shortly after this a quarantine flag
on our vessel, and it was an
nounced that no one would be allowed 70
go ashore. Though some ascribed the rcG-
son for this to "other causes. Capt. Grant
explained to the writer that il was due TO
the fact that we have measles on board.
which act with great virulence upon the