The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-20

miles to the west and thirty miles IN the
southerly direction The island itself was
about four miles in circumference, anu
close to it on the east lay smaller Isl
and. also surrounded by reers
Another story goes further and says that
there was once a small settlement upon
the island consisting of a church anu
three dwellings; the church was erected
as a gift TO Providence by a grateful ere"
of sailors who drifted 10 the island after
floating for over three days in an open
boat
OFTEN SIGHTED.
Since that day the island has been re-
ported more than once, and the descriptions
have agreed well with the story told by
Captain SIorreli. Others have seen the
cliffs and the low lands and the protect
ing guard of reef. Others have witnessed
the sea fowl and sea elephants that lined
the coast when Captain Morrell first
sighted it three-quarters OF century ago.
and. as ti1e result, it is only within
comparatively short time that its existence
has been questioned
OF late however. the arguments that
have been raised to prove that the island
it not deserving OF a place on the map
have been SO conclusive that the Hydro
graphic Office has been compelled to pay
more than ordinary attention to them
1t was only a short time ago that Cap
tain Cobb. of one of the Pacific Mail
steamers, reported that he had passed over
the spot supposed to be occupied by Nor
rell Island, and had seen nothing of it or
its reefs. Lieutenant Miller. of the United
States flagship Omaha. could not find it.
and Captain Cavalry. OF the City Of Pekin,
could obtain no trace of the island. al
though he made a special effort to locate
it while on his way from the Sandwich
Islands TO China
Still later several inquisitive seographers
who met at Honolulu chartered vessel
and went out to look for it, but, like all
the other recent navigators. they failed TO
tind TIE land OF which they were in search
AT present the officials of the Hydro
graphic Ofhce will not commit themselves
TO an opinion as to whether the island ever
existed or was simply another instance in
which navigators have been mistaken by
q mirage.
IF the island was of a nature described
by Captain AIorrell. was probably OF
volcanic origin and may recently have sunk
beneath the waters Of the ocean and
completely disappeared. or it is also pos
sibie that the discoVerer may have been
mistaken in his latitude. in which case it
is possible that he may have been some
hundreds Of miles to the northeast of the
spot in which ne imagined himself to be.
II this theory is correct it is not iInpos-
sble that he may have mistaken Bryce
or Pearl Island or some one of the Mid
way Islands for the one that he described.
While such a mistake would be scarcely
possible to-day, with more perfect
instruments, the navigators of half a.
century ago made even greater errors.
Whatever the explanation may be, now
ever, It will not be many months before
the mystery will be solved The expedition
that is to make the search for the lost ISL
and will make the Investigation thorough
one Careful soundngs Will be made at
the spot indicated by Captain Aiorre!l, and
other tests will be resorted to to prove
whether or not an island has ever existed
in that locality SO that when the final re-
port is made there will be one mystery of
the Pacific less to trouble the minds of
geogsaphers and navigators-