The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-07-04
MARCUS ISLAND IN
HANDS OF JAPs

If Captain A. A. Rosehill. the King
of Marcus Island, hopes to gain pos
session of his kingdom in the far Pa
cific he will probably have to secure
the services of an American warship
when he lands, for there are probably
a small army of Japanese on the island
ready to resist all attempts to GUST
them from the place.
In fact, it is more than probable that
the present expedition to Marcus Is
profit to the company, as it would not
be in the least surprising if Captain
Rosehill were not forced to turn around
after he makes Marcus Island, and re-
turn to Honolulu without even as much
as setting his foot on his property.
From information which Captain Rose
hill received in San Francisco during
his recent visit there, it is more than
likely that Marcus Island will become
the subject of international CORE
spondence between the United States
and Japan, before Captain Rosehill
company can begin to operate the qua
no deposits.
When Rosehill took possession of the
island years ago, there was absolutely
no one residing on it, nor were there
any evidences of people ever having
lived on the place. Within recent
wears, however, the Japanese have evil
IDENTIFY seized the island for about four
teen months ago they made a very pos
tive demonstration of their presence
This incident occurred to Captain
Pierce, the commander of the transport
Sheridan. 1t seems that Pierce, finding
his vessel near the island, decided to
run over close to it, in order to ADJUST
and regulate his navigating instru-
nents. He went ashore with small
party, and, to his surprise, was met by
about twenty Japanese, who ordered
the crowd off the place. Some of the
Japanese carried guns and they acted
as if they intended to use them one
of the japanese who could speak ing
hsh, showed Captain Pierce a docu-
ment evidently from the japanese gov
eminent, which, in the eyes Of the Jap
lanSS1, gave lt1Siii liz rs - - - - 49,
lIbody off the island.
! Pierce explored the island and saw
unrnistakable evidence that the Japan
| csc had established a settlement there.
| Houses had been built and wells sunk.
Pierce warned Rosehill when the latter
| was in San Francisco Quitting the
| present expedition to Marcus Island
| that if the japanese We're still on the
island. and they had no doubt been
| increased by fresh laborers, they would
| certainly make trouble for Rosehill II
he attempted to land, much less take
possession of the island.
| Rosehiu went ahead with securing
his outfit and came to Honolulu. Ii
/ was first decided by his hackers that
he should take a couple of white men
and a few Iaborers and leave them on
| the island and bring away a few tons
| Of samples of the fertilizer. If the Jap
i anese were in possession of the place
| and refused TO permit him TO land, ne
was to sail al once to Manila or foko-
| hama and try to get United states
! warship to accompany him to Marcus
Island and eject the squatters- Sub
sequentiy it was decided that it would
| be wiser for him to return TO Homo
lulu if the Japanese refused to permit
| him to land, so he will do so if there
is any opposition.
l--Rosehin says that he is not goins
II down to have any fight with the Jap
anese. If they viii not let him lane
he will come home at once. In such al
II event, the matter will be taken to th'
II authorities at washington. RosehilPl
title to the island has been recognized
L by the United States Government
which also claims sovereignty over thu
| island, so the State Department viii
probably have to put Rosehill in pos
session.
A meeting of the company will b.
held on Monday, when the various de
tails of the business win be discussed
Rosehill will probably sail with tn
schooner Julia E. Whalen next Wed
nesday. He will make the round tril
in about four months.