The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1906-09-18


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and 1900 steerage. She has four masts
one funnel and six decks.
In coming around to the Pacific from
Norfolk, Virginia. the Mongolia struck
an uncharted bar off the Brazilian
coast, staying on for twenty minutes
and twisting one of her propellers three
feet out of true. Once while on the
Oriental route she touched bottom at
Honolulu without injury. Since then
the harbor and entrance channel have
been extensively dredged
MIDWAY ISLAND.
Without this little coral and sand
island which pckes its nose out of the
brine to the north and west of the
Hawaiian Islands says the n. Y. Trib-
une the engineering features of the
Pacific cable would have been entirely
different, and negotiations for cable
station on the Pacific possession of
some other government would have
been necessary.
With the era of expansion which has
swept the United States into the COM
pany of the world powers the official
words of Captain William Reynolds,
of the navy, who under orders from this
governmental took possession of the
Midway Islands in 1861 seem prophetic.
1T is exceedingly gratifying to me F"
Captain Reynolds reported, after he
had planted the American flag on the
Midways, ito have been thus concern
ed in taking possession of the first is
land ever added to the domain of the
United States beyond our own shores.
and sincerely hope that this in
stance will by no means be the last of
our insular annexations."
The value to-, the government which
this first colonial possession has be-
come can readily be realized when 1t is
said that without the Midway as a
landing place for the cable, it's long
stretch from Honolulu to Guam could
not be broken, and instead of being able
to send twenty words a minute. the
speed would be reduced to six words.
and the service made proportionately
less satisfactory.
Since their discovery In 1859 by Cap
tain NJ c. Brooks, an American sail
ing from Honolulu on a sealing yoy-
age under the Hawaiian flag. and their
rediscovery and possession in the name
of the United States in 1867, as related
above, the Midway Islands have been
more or less neglected by this govern
ment. but never to the extent of being
allowed TO pass into the hands of any
other government, although Japan on
several occasions made inquiry of the
Hawaiian monarchy regarding their
title, with propositions to annex or
lease them. They were used for n time,
thirty years ago by the Pacific Mail
steamship Company to the extent of
storing there huge pile of coal. The
company left single man in charge of
the coal After a years lonesome So
journ on the islands this Individual got
tired of the albatross as his only COM
panions. and abandoned the coal for
a passing craft. Later, when coal was
high in San Francisco. an enterprising
who knew of the unguarded
coal pile, set sail in bark and secured
a full cargo which he sold to advan-
tage in San Francisco. The steamship
afterward learned of the
theft, and brought suit and secured
damages.
1t is to Rear Admiral r. B. Bradford
that credit is due for discovering the
utility of the Midway Islands as a ca
BILE station, and to his representations
that the two tiny specks on the map
Of the Pacific were transferred from
the jurisdiction Of the Interior Depart
ment 10 possession of the navy OF the
United States. The Pacific Gable Com
Danv secured the right 10 break its
ong stretch OF cable and land on one OF
he two islands. The United States will
fortify this island sufficiently to pro-
Lect the cable station, and hereafter
who is the rightful owner.
The islands are both OF coral fornla-
lion. One OF them. Sand Island, con-
aims $50 acres, while the other, Eastern
Island, has 1928 acres. A quantity OF
rich soil is TO be carried TO the islands
In order that the forces who will have
20 take their turn In manning the guns
IF the fortifcations may have some
TO divert their attention
rom sea and rock
Naval officers who have visited the
Stands say that the Midway harbor
the finest fishing ground in
he Pacific. The coral formation In
loses lagoon OF depth enough for an
,horage, but more shallow than the
waters, and makes an at
-ractiye feeding ground for fish. seal
md turtle. The fish belong to the null
ct. perch and mackerel families. Many
II them of brilliant colors seem to be-
ong to the dolphin family. The fish
lttract the birds, and the islands are
Covered with plumed tenants Some
'ears ago small band of Japanese
we're left on the island for the purpose
II gathering birds feathers. Their
PRESENCE was made known TO the navy.
md they were ordered to depart. !
Under the new order OF things the isl
ands win be made to bloom with fruit