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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



ists on the island, so that the little 



schooner that was used to bring supplies 

 and men had to be moored under the 

 rocky cliffs, when weather favored, and 

 the cargo hoisted onto the shelf above; 

 this small craft had narrow escapes from 

 hurricanes, and there were many days 

 when it was impossible to land. 



On one occasion, after being damaged 

 in a storm, the schooner with her load 

 of supplies put back to Jamaica, and there 

 was apprehension as to the food on Na- 

 vassa, but this reassuring report was re- 

 ceived : "The last flour was used for mak- 

 ing bread on Friday. There were suffi- 

 cient rations on hand to last through Sun- 

 day, and with goats, wild pigeons, fish, 

 etc., together with a pig and a number of 

 chickens which are kept here, we were 

 in no serious predicament." 



An unusual feature in lighthouse build- 

 ing, a radio equipment, much facilitated 

 construction. 



Men quickly tired of the monotonous 

 life. On account of climate and difficulty 

 of transportation, very little fresh food 

 was available, and the workmen persist- 

 ently grumbled. The excessive heat soon 

 diminished their efficiency. The trans- 

 portation of materials from the landing 

 place to the site was a most burdensome 

 task, as this had to be done largely by 

 men shoving the loaded cars on the work 

 railway. 



ISLAND RESEMBI^S A PETRIFIED SPONGE 



Navassa is one of the strangest pieces 

 of territory owned by the United States. 

 It is a remarkable formation of volcanic 

 limestone, completely riddled with holes 

 and pockets, some of great depth and 

 having no visible bottom. These holes 

 are so numerous that one can walk only 

 with great difficulty. 



There is a total absence of water, and 

 no watercourses or lakes, as rain is im- 

 mediately absorbed by the cavities. The 

 whole island has the appearance of a 

 great petrified sponge. There is a growth 

 of stunted trees and underbrush on the 

 high plateau, and the island has some ani- 

 mal life, wild goats and wild cats, doubt- 

 less descended from those brought here 



when the island was occupied, and numer- 

 ous seabirds and land-crabs. 



UNITED STATES' TITLE TO ISLAND RESTS 

 ON MURDER-TRIAL DECISION 



It is a curious fact that the title of the 

 United States to Navassa Island rests on 

 the decision in a murder trial. Although 

 uninhabited and long abandoned at the 

 time the lighthouse work was undertaken, 

 Navassa was for some years actively oc- 

 cupied. The pockets and surface of the 

 island contained a large deposit of a phos- 

 phate earth and guano. 



Under the guano act of 1856, one Peter 

 Duncan presented a memorial to the Sec- 

 retary of State stating "that on the first 

 day of July, in the year of 1857, he did 

 discover a deposit of guano on an island 

 or key in the Caribbean Sea not occupied 

 by the citizens of any other government, 

 and that he did take peaceable possession 

 of and occupy said island or key of Na- 

 vassa in the name of the United States." 

 These deposits were worked by a com- 

 pany for a number of years, up to 1898, 

 and the ruins indicate an elaborate plant 

 for this purpose. 



In 1889 about 150 men were employed 

 on the island, and on September 14 of 

 that year a riot occurred, in which the 

 superintendent and several of his assist- 

 ants were killed. The frigate Kearsarge 

 took the murderers off the island and they 

 were tried in Baltimore. 



The defense set up the plea that the 

 island was not an American possession 

 and that the court had no jurisdiction, but 

 the Supreme Court denied this plea and 

 the murderers were executed. 



A concrete dwelling, in . the Spanish 

 tyle, with a large open patio in the center, 

 furnishes comfortable quarters for the 

 families of the three keepers who care- 

 fully watch this, one of the loneliest of 

 the sea signals of this country. They see 

 many a passing ship, but can expect sup- 

 plies and mail only when the supply 

 steamer visits the island, a few times a 

 year. 



The matter of marking other danger- 

 ous reefs of the Caribbean Sea for the 

 protection of the increased shipping is 

 now receiving special consideration. 



