Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-19
JAPs OCCUPY MARCUS ISLAND.
Capt. Rosehill Made No Effort to
Take Possession.

A dispatch to the New York Herald from
Honolulu, Hawaii, dated September u,
says: Captain A. A. Rosehill returned two.
days ago from his Marcus ISLAND eXpedi-
ton. He met Japanese, landed on the is
land and sailed home again without any
bloodshed, leaving the japanese in undis-
puted possession of what Is believed to be
a remarkably rich island.
The romantic phase of the struggle for
possession of Marcus Island has closed.
Backers Of the enterprise now declare theic
intention of appealing to the State Depart
ment at Washington to help them obtain
the disputed land. To the surprise of
everybody here the little schooner Julia E.
Whalon, bearing the Rosehiil expedition,
arrived Wednesday afternoon, having made
the round trip in exactly two months.
The party sailed from Honolulu July 10
and sailed to Marcus Island, distant TWEEN
ty-siX hundred miles. in twenty-nine days.
Captain Rosehill knew that there would he
Japanese on land, but had no idea that
there would be Japanese marines to dispute
his claim.
I'VE arrived at Marcus Island,'' said
Rosehill,, ''the day after the Japanese war
ship had left. I had no idea that there
were any marines on island but all of them
were on watch for me. We came to anchor
on western side of island and about the
same time the japanese lieutenant, who
was in charge of marines, put out in a row.
boat from the south side of island to meet
us. In company with the chemist and the
naturalist and two sailors. landed before
seeing the officer. and We walked overland
to the Japanese settlement that is on the
southern side of the island.
"I was surprised when l got there to see
how those Japanese had built up a regular
settlement. They numbered between thirty
and forty coolies, and besides there We're
two officers and sixteen marines. 1 went TO
a house where the marines were CHARTERED
and met the officers. The Japanese fol-
lowed us about the place. There was no
attempt to hurt US. They knew all about
me. for when that lieutenant went along
side the schooner he called out to know IL
Captain Rosehill was aboard This sur
prised the mate. VINO could not imagine
how they had learned my name.
Il showed my documents to the lieutcn-
ant Of marines. in order to let him see the
purpose of our trip. 1 did not go there for
any trouble with the japanese. and 1t would
have been useless to have attempted any
thing of the sort had l wanted, for there
were enough of them on hand to have eaten
up If they had wanted.
my papers We're from the State Depart
ment and the japanese consul at Honolulu.
The papers from the State Department ex
planned that had come to remove the guano
deposits. while those from the Japanese
consul explained that had landed for sim
liar purposes, and also to collect fauna for
museum. but would not interfere with The
right Of Japan or Japanese fishermen on
the island.
..The Japanese are killing and stuf1ng
birds by thousands. While we were there
two schooners came from Japan to,take the
birds away. The birds were sent to Paris,
/ was told. to decorate women'S hats.
There are fishing boats and the Japaass9
could see they did not work the gnano beds
ION the fifth day the Japs must have
got worried over something. for the iieaten-
ant sent me letter, telling me would
have to sail on the next day. We tried to
nera,,ade him to let us remain longer spd
make an examination of the guano beds.