The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-05
MIDWAY ISLANDS AND GUAM
HAVE UNIQUE INTEREST
FOR PEOPLE OF AMERICA

Washington, July As cable stations the
Midway Islands and Guam have unique
interest for the people of the United States.
Midway Islands are two small islands silt
mia and China coasts. They are surrouncG1
by n coral reef of about eighteen miles In
circumference. The reef protects the Islands
from the high seas
a rift in the reef admits vessels Of eight
cen feet draught into deep and safe har,
| Dor. The Wandering Minstrel was wrecked
crew lived for fourteen months ON the
Islands. subsisting on fish and the eggs OF
sea birds until they were rescued
The islands have been placed under the
jurisdiction of the Navy Department.
Lieutenant Commander Hugh Rodman, U.
S. N. has been appointed Governor: Tenn
porary buildings have been erected for the
accommodation of the little cable colony.
Permanent buildings will be erected before
For the present food will be supplied by
special steamer. but there is good reason
to believe that vegetables can be made TO
grow with proper cultivation. Fresh water
is obtained easily. The Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company at one time maintained
coaling station and a staff of men on the
satisfactory. and was. therefore. abandoned;
With this exception, the establishment of
the cable station Is the first attempt to in
habit the islands permanently: The japanese
have been going there to kill sea birds for
the sake of their feathers. but this traffic
will now be stopped.
sailed from Honolulu on April % on, the
steamship Hanalei. The. reached Midway
April %. and sent the following account Of
their landing:
"Wedne sday. April %. at 5:15 a. m. the
joyful news of land on Orr starboard bow
quickly spread through the ship, and all the
passengers soon appeared on deck to OBJ
tain the first look at lonely Midway. At
this early hour very little could be seen:
make things i more Distinctly d. and we could
see that Midway Islands were simply few
miles of sand. with few small bushes and
a reef of coral rocks around 1t. with tho
exception of an entrance at the northwest
part.
JAPANESE THERE
Much excitement was caused by the dis
covery Of a two-masted vessel at the
northwest part of the island, which we at
first thought was wreck, but as we ap-
preached nearer We found that the schoon-
er was at anchor in the harbor and proved
to be the japanese schooner Yeijumaru.
From what we can learn she has been
of thirty-eight men, who have been kill
ing birds.
AT a. m. We anchored in Seward
Roads, about two miles from Sand Island.
Coiley, accompanied by Captain Piitz of
Hanalei. and Mr.. Coath, the Guam SUI
perintendent; landed in small boat to de-
of our supplies, after which they returned
on board Hanalei and we commenced
landing our lumber and supplies: The Mid
Brooks of the Gambia, in the year 1859,
who took possession of them for the United
States. and they have since been used by
form depot here for transpacific steamers
instead of Honolulu.
The reef encrcling Midway Islands is
eighteen miles in circumference, and with
out an opening except on the western side;
at the northwest point is small patch of
breakers, few detached rocks, and then
n oh
feet high and from 6 to 70 feet WIDE
which continues for six and one-half miles
to southwark and eastward. when it loses
line Of detached rocks Ks very r.y9 little more
than awash for two and one-half miles to
the southwark there. OF the center Of
Eastern Island the rocks dip under water.
but reappear two miles to the westward
and northward, ending there and forming
Harbor This entrance is about three
quarters of mile broad, and from its
northern side to the northwest rocks there
is n bed of coral with from one to sixteen
fathofas. showing above water in one place,
with occasional breakers in the northern,
eastern aud southern portions of the reef.
is visible in two places only. near the north
west and southeast points. where the
soundings are shown on the chart.
LITTLE VEGETATION.
There is very little vegetation on The is
land. and the glare from the sand is very
trying to the eyes. The observation spot
near the southwest end of the island is in
latitude IS degrees u minutes % seconds
north. longitude Ia degrees % minutes %
seconds west. Wellees Harbor is formed by
a gap in the coral reef, and is roomv and
safe. with the entrance open to the west
ward and 80 yards wide where most CEN
tracted The bar. which is well within the
entrance and on which there is no swell
during the trade winds, is narrow, and has
an uneven bottom of coral rock and small
sand holes; Its depth varies from 15 to Fl
ieet, put changes so often and suddenly as
to make unsafe to count on crossing with
out getting a cast of is feet. Inside the
bar the depth for anchoring is from to I
tathoms, white sand: the harbor Is there
fore only fit for vessels drawing less than
in Seward Roads picking out a sandy bot
tom to anchor on.
Fish of many varieties are plentiful. MIL
mons OF birds are on the island. including
by digging from four to seven feet, and by
filtration becomes drinkable. AT present we
are sleeping in tents. but in a few days
expect TO have our sleeping quarters finished.
rary quarters. which consist Of an office.
storeroom, 6ining-room and kitchen. sleep
ing quarters for staff and Chinese quarters;
from April % to May % We experienced only
one stormy night. which was on May IL.
ana during that night the outer covering
of our tent blew away and we had to shift
our sleeping. quarters for that night to the
store room"
The latest news from the expedition to
Guam is as follows:
"On arrival at Guam the Hanalei was !
boarded by Health Officer Doctor Lees. of
the United States Marine Corps. who, after
careful examination. found ship and COM +,
pany In satisfactory condition. The super
drove to Agana. distance Of five miles, |
over a perfect road and Immediately called ,