The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-07-03
JAP SQUATTERS
MAY SHOW FIGHT
MARCUS ISLAND BELIEVED TO BE
IN POSSESSION OF LITTLE
BROWN MEN.
ORDERED AMERICANS AWAY
OVER YEAR AGO.
New Guano Company May Have to Call
On United States to Send Warship to
Their Island.

1t is more than probable that there
will be international complications be-
tween America and Japan over the
claim of Captain A. A. Rosehill to Mar
Gus Island. At the present time the
island is thought to be in the possess
sion of the Japanese and if they con-
duct themselves in the same way to-
ward Captain Rosehills expedition as
they attempted to do toward a landing
party from the transport Sheridan
about IA months ago, the aid of a Unit
ed States warship will have to be called
for 'by the new guano company
When Captain Rosehill was in San
FHncsco several months ago he had
an interview with Captain Pierce, the
master of the transport Sheridan. Cap
toin Price then expressed the opinion
that Rosehill would have some trouble
and meet with considerable opposition
in taking possession of Marcus Island
1t appears that about IA months be-
bore, Captain Pierce sighted Marcus
Island and, desiring to adjust his in
struments, he came to anchor on the
lea side of the island and went went
ashore with small party in the steam
launch. The party was met on the
beach by about twenty japanese, some
of whom were armed with guns. The
japanese were at first disposed to make
hostile demonstration and in fact,
Went so far as to order Captain Pierce
off the island. He told them that he
was from an American vessel and add
ed that it made no difference whether
they wanted him to land or not, they
had better not try to eject him, for he
had about 1,SOO soldiers back on the
vessel to back him.
brief exploration of the island was
made. A large number of houses had
| been erected on the island, wells had
been bored and every evidence of the
| island being inhabited by the Japanese
was to be seen. One of the japanese
showed Captain Pierce a long, official
document, evidently from the japanese
government which the japanese seemed
to think gave them the right to the
possession of the island. Captain Pierce
was upnable to translate the document,
- could not learn upon what grounds
the Japanese laid c'aim to their pusses-
sion of the islands.
Captain Pierce expressed the opinion
that Captain ROsehill would expert
ence trouble if he attempted to land on
the island, If there were only twenty
japanese on the place IA months ago
and they were disposed to fight 1900
soldiers, it is certainly probable that
| the number will have been augmented
| by other laborers, by the time Roshill
reaches the island and his expedition
Will no doubt meet with opposition.
meeting of the company is to be
| held on Monday when final plans will
be determined. 1t was the original in
tention to send Captain Rosehill's ex-
| peditiOn to Marcus Island and in case
he found the place in the possession of
Japanese he was then to go to Kokoha-
ma or Manila and get an American
| Warship to return to Marcus Island and
eject the japanese squatters. After
| some discussion, this plan was chang
ed and 1t was decided best for Captain
Rosehill to return to Honolulu in case
ne found the japanese on the island.
The cable would be landed here by
the time he could make the round trip,
1t was argued and the matter could be
| more satisfactorily conducted from this
point, than If Captain Rosehill We're in
a strange country
Captain Rosehill says he Is not look
ing for any trouble. His idea at the
present time, is to go down with sew
eral white men and some laborers and
place them in charge of the island His
vessel Will bring away about to 10
| tons of samples but he will not try to
get full load for the vessel If the
! japanese prevent the landing or make
any trouble, Captain Rosehill will not
| scrap with them at all but will simply
return to Honolulu without delay. The
new company will look to the United
| States authorities to give them possess
sion of their island, if the japanese are
still squatting there.
The job of working the guano depo-
sits is a very difficult, arduous one,
! Captain Rosehill says. and he will not
| attempt it, until a railroad from the
| deposits to the sea, shall have been
constructed. The present expedition is
merely preliminary to the other work.
1t is probable that the schooner Julia
e. Whalen, with the members of the
expedition, will sail about next Wed
| nesday for Marcus island. If Captain
| Rosehill returns to Honolulu instead of
| going to Yokohama, he will make the
| round trip in about four months.
A NEW COMBINATION.