The Hawaiian gazette., 1903-03-06
MIDWAY TO
GET CABLE
Rock Where Next
Landing Will
Be Made.

the tug Iroquois about two years ago, |
at which time the Importance OF the |
group suddenly became apparent, in
the knowledge of the fact that the
Pacific Gable would probably make
one of it's landings there. There are
eleven or twelve little rocks in the
Midway group, about 1.S00 miles in
northwesterly direction from this city,
and they became the property OF the
United States by the annexation OF the
Hawaiian group. The islands have
been visited but little. Sailors, in fact,
give them as wide a berth as possible
as they are most dangerous when
ships get close in.
Many maps have not even shown
them, because they are insignificant
islets. but they are likely to be of some
Importance to use as a cable station,
breaking the long distance of nearly
3 500 miles between Honolulu and Guam.
There Is no question but direct cable
from Honolulu to Guam might be sue
cessfully laid, but all agree that 1t is
better to maintain an intermediate
station at Midway Islands. Wake
island has also been mentioned as this
intermediate station, but Midway Is
likely to be chosen.
The report of Captain Pond is to the
effect that this little group got its name
from the fact that 1t Is almost in the
middle of the Pacific Ocean between
Asia and America. II Is nothing but
n low coral atoll, nearly eighteen miles
in circumference, inclosing two islands
known as Sand Island and Eastern
Island and two small islets.
Sand Island. the largest of the group,
one and a quarter miles west of East
ern Island is nearly one and three
| fourths miles long, about three-fourths
OF a mile wide, and forty three feet
high at its highest point. which Is the
top of a sand dune. The average ele-
walton of the Island above sea level Is
| from three to ten feet.
The island Is composed entirely OF
dazzling white coral sand. partly COW
| cred with bushes and some grass, the
| breeding ground Of the tern or sea
| swallow. The area of vegetation Is
| increasing The sand dunes are prac-
| tically a permanent feature OF the
| topography, being protected by their
covering of bushes; but gales some
times blow the sand in dense clouds
over the island.
| In 1887 the bark Wandering Minstrel
was wrecked on the reef that surrounds
the islands, and Captain Walker, with
| his family and crew, lived for fourteen
months on these coral sands. 1t was
a terrible experience. The party had
nothing to eat except fish, birds and
eggs, which they collected in the wa
tiers of the lagoon and on the islands.
| Several of the castaways who lived
on Sand Island died from scurvy, and
others We're sadly afflicted with this
dread disease; those who took refuge
on Eastern Island, however, We're not
attacked. Captain Walker and the
survivors of his party spent two
| winters on the islands. He re-
ports that in the winter months
| October to ApriD gales are OF
very frequent occurrence, and though
there are few days Of fine weather
occasionally, a rough. westerly sea Is
usually breaking against the reef.
| Eastern Island, at the southeast eX-
tremty of the group Is about one and
one-fourth miles in length and a halt
mile in width, from six to twelve feet
high and thickly covered with shrub
berry and coarse grass. The lagoon In
which these islands stand is filled with
dark blue water, varying from three
To twelve fathoms in depth. None but
small vessels can enter the lagoon.
Excellent water may be obtained OF
Sand Island by digging about five feet
but the well must be boarded up, sides
and bottom, to prevent IL from filllng
with sand. The well fills with water
rapidly the water being milky white
At first, but settling in few days anI
becoming perfectly clear. 1t Is slightly
sweet in taste.
| The water obtained on Eastern Is
land is not So pleasant In appearance
or taste, being tainted with a vegetable
matter; ana yet the castaWays OF IN
Wandering Minstrel who lived on SAM
| Island suffered severely IN health
while those ON Eastern Island, will
n poorer water were affected only by ia
i necessary hardships OF the situation
] Fish Of many varieties are found Il
me shallow waters of the lagoon. an
may De- caught with hook and line,
few turtles ARE found along the rect
4. ana ulaWnsh ana prabe. sharks ar
numerous, rra binds abound Ia gTra
numbers ana are easily caught b
hand
- Tho a. = s. krw. which ln lsi
made % survey ~ rhr bed of iho Paclh
alonH ihH proposed route ~ the pabl
nom ihr Hawaiian Islands 60 ~
Philippines ana Japan. discovered a
unusual physical fHurr q short dli
10 llnrr a. thr wrfi ~ ihr Midway IL
lands N nas 10 submarine mnuuiai
nslnH from lhr nuuI NJ ihr nornn
Tho lup "a TILE mountain 10 Hlihl
F'fhl} $50 faihnUH ~ ihn ruTsar
NhiH ht lntr frriH upnn ihr rra No.
~ "a hrpln ~ tem hihumH purln
40 sauF tunrY h. hrfa discover,
IA one m ihH drrpHHi HHlWHInr ahlffi
lw iNNll in 100 Nafli aiuairi ahnl
w H.'l.t iat' ~ lnam ani moli lhs