The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1905-09-28
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NJ The MIDWAY ISLANDS VIII
Hill .::.- Ill|ll
HUI BY Joseph A. arnold. l|IIll
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grees of the meridian which divides
the eastern and western hemispheres.
The Midway Islands were discovered
and claimed as possessions of the Uni
ted States in 1859 by Captain Brooks,
of the Gambia. The islands are two
in number, entirely encircled by a
coral reef eighteen miles in circum-
ference, with the exception of an open
ing on the northeast. which permits
the admission of vessels of less than
eighteen feet draft.
Sand Island the larger of the two, is \
about 900 acres in extent, and is aptly
named, it being entirely desert of
fine coral sand, upon the light surface
of which the sun shines with dazzling
brilliancy. Its companion island, oddly |
enough, presents another extreme OF |
barrenness = n rock, paradoxically |
named Green Island from its utter |
lack of vegetation. There are, how
ever, large deposits of gueno in its |
rocky crevices, and, as is the case with |
Sand Island, countless thousands of
birds find habitation on its surface.
The coral reef round the islands pro-
tects them in q measure from the high
seas of the deepest portions of the Pa
ciic. Soundings taken within the VI
entity have shown the depth OF 1900
feet, with vague and sudden fuctua-
tons of ocean bottom. The climate is
delightful, the temperature being mild
and not subject to great variations
| during the different seasons. 1t is per-
petual summer here, but without the
enervating effects of excessive heat.
| Sand Island is the better suited for
| human habitation, although its barren
surface offers but poor hospitality.
| The highest point, that on which the
| flag of the United States now flies, is
mere sand dune, ten feet above the
general level of the ground. There are
number of less pretentious dunes,
formed and held intact by the roots of
a small dense shrub, groups of which
are sparingly distributed over the rest
of the island.
In the thick shrubbery millions of
birds abound, and in nesting time lay
their eggs fat on the sand. Terms. of
several varieties, boatswain's birds,
gooneys. albatrosses, sea pigeons, plo-
yer and curlew are few of the spe-
cies which are found in great num-
bers.
In walking through these rookeries,
immense clouds of birds are aroused,
and their flight vertically darkens the
sky, while during the nesting season
eggs are demolished at every step. If
clouds of the birds are disturbed and
fly away at the approach of man, there
are as many more that prefer quietly
to sit at his feet, even sometimes snap
ping. as IL resenting his intrusion on
their sacred precincts. OF late years
the island has been frequently visited
by Japanese for the purpose of obtain
ing the birds feathers, practice
} which has resulted in the death OF
thousands of the beautiful birds.
The United States Government
however, proposes to put stop to this
indiscriminate slaughter of the limo
cents. Plover and curlew are two spe
cies of game birds, the flesh Of which
Is extremely palatable, and the egg
of the tern, closely resembling those o.
:. the bantam chickens, are also highl!
priced as food. When one desires
these eggs all that is necessary is t
clear space in one of the rookeries
where fresh laid eggs may be collected
every morning.
III the islands are barren and TN
fruitful and so sun-baked that tn
= glare necessitates smoked glasses o
the darkest shade, the marine lii
;. abounds in color and magnificence
/. Tropical fish in all the glory of multi
:, tudinous shades of vivid colors aboun'
: in the water, while sharks. sea ele
plants and setaceous animals are ais
70 be found. Fishing here is delightful
sport and some of the widest fish
stories are related of the sizes OF tn
catches.
The most recent chapter in the his
q tory of these two dreary isles, and III
e one which has directed public attentio
q more or less TO their strategic impoi
lance, was recently consummate
through the choice of Sand Island a
1t one of the relay stations for the nel
IS Pacific cable, which has united uncl
d Sans new possessions in the far Ia
cific with the seat of government.
g When Hawaii and the Philippine
came into the possession of the Unite
;" States, direct and efficient means
n telegraph communication was wanting
N President Mckinley was quick to rea
s. ize lust what such bond with OF
new possessions would mean both
rs the land and water forces of this coui
is try stationed there. In his message
q. Congress on February 10, 1899, he d
To rected attention to the necessity Il
6. such a bond, and urged the consider
n, ton of the matter by both house
The means of communication then
vogue called for at least fifteen or 81
N teen different stations, controlled II
err the most part by European corpor
70. tons. The rate charged was the
eO OK mar tunrd and the CiOVerDmel