i •<** 
!Ehe weather was oold and stormy during our work here and we were 
frequently glad to don Jacket life preservers for the warmth that they 
afforded, and the heat of small fires built on the beaoh to boil ooffee 
(which we drank from large sea shells in default of cups) was at times 
grateful. 
The atoll known as the Midway Islands, usually abbreviated to 
"Midway," held by the Navy Department, is now under lease to the 
Commercial Paolfio Cable Company and is operated as a relay station on 
the cable between Gunn* and Honolulu. Here reside twelve or fifteen 
whites, who operate the station and an equal number of orientals 
who aot as servants, in touoh with the world only through the long line 
of cable that reaches both east and west, except at intervals of three 
months when a supply boat brings taail and stores from Honolulu. At 
the time of our first visit wo were received with great delight as the 
cable boat had been out of Commission, and on April 15 we brought the 
station the first mail received since January. A week later we returned 
to spend three days ashore, where we were most hospitably received by 
the Superintendent Mr. E. Desnouee, r MrT S. Fraser ^hls assistant, ^ 
and other members of the staff# 
The lagoon at this atoll contains two main islands. Sand Island, 
on uhioh is located the oable station and Eastern Island, a mile or more 
« 
distant. Saoh of those is perhaps a mile long and rises well above the 
/ 
reaoh of the highest seas. 
