History of Nikumaroro: Difference between revisions
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== Niku: History == | == Niku: History == | ||
* [http://www.tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/Documents/laxton.html “Nikumaroro” by P. B. Laxton.] | |||
* [http://www.tighar.org/Publications/TTracks/12_2/yr1.html#1 "Paradise Lost"]--an extensive timeline of the island's history. | |||
Nikumaroro was known by sundry names during the early 19th century: Kemins' Island, Kemis Island, Motu Oonga, Motu Oona and Mary Letitia's Island. The first record of a European sighting was made by Capt. C. Kemiss (or Kemin, Kemish) from the British whaling ship Eliza Ann in 1824. On 19 August 1840 the [[wikipedia:USS Vincennes (1826)| USS ''Vincennes'']] of the [[wikipedia:U.S. Exploring Expedition|U.S. Exploring Expedition]] confirmed its position and recorded the atoll's name as "Gardner Island", originally given in 1825 by [[wikipedia:Coffin (whaling family)#Joshua Coffin|Joshua Coffin]] of the [[wikipedia:Nantucket|Nantucket]] whaler [[wikipedia:Ganges (whaler)|Ganges]]. Some sources say the island was named after U.S. Congressman [[wikipedia:Gideon Gardner|Gideon Gardner]], who owned the Ganges.<ref name="bryan p. 71"> Bryan 1942, p. 71.</ref> Since other sources say that family member [[wikipedia:Gardner (whaling family)#Joshua Gardner|Joshua Gardner]] was captain of the Ganges at this time, there is either some confusion in the historical record or both Gardner and Coffin were on board when the island was sighted in 1825.<ref>Dunmore 1992, p. 115.</ref> | Nikumaroro was known by sundry names during the early 19th century: Kemins' Island, Kemis Island, Motu Oonga, Motu Oona and Mary Letitia's Island. The first record of a European sighting was made by Capt. C. Kemiss (or Kemin, Kemish) from the British whaling ship Eliza Ann in 1824. On 19 August 1840 the [[wikipedia:USS Vincennes (1826)| USS ''Vincennes'']] of the [[wikipedia:U.S. Exploring Expedition|U.S. Exploring Expedition]] confirmed its position and recorded the atoll's name as "Gardner Island", originally given in 1825 by [[wikipedia:Coffin (whaling family)#Joshua Coffin|Joshua Coffin]] of the [[wikipedia:Nantucket|Nantucket]] whaler [[wikipedia:Ganges (whaler)|Ganges]]. Some sources say the island was named after U.S. Congressman [[wikipedia:Gideon Gardner|Gideon Gardner]], who owned the Ganges.<ref name="bryan p. 71"> Bryan 1942, p. 71.</ref> Since other sources say that family member [[wikipedia:Gardner (whaling family)#Joshua Gardner|Joshua Gardner]] was captain of the Ganges at this time, there is either some confusion in the historical record or both Gardner and Coffin were on board when the island was sighted in 1825.<ref>Dunmore 1992, p. 115.</ref> | ||
In 1856 Nikumaroro was claimed as "Kemins Island" by CA Williams & Co. of [[wikipedia:New London, Connecticut|New London]] under the American [[wikipedia:Guano Islands Act|Guano Islands Act]]. There is no record of [[wikipedia:guano|guano]] deposits ever being exploited, however.<ref name="bryan p. 71"/> On 28 May 1892 the island was claimed by the [[wikipedia:United Kingdom|United Kingdom]] during a call by HMS Curacoa. Almost immediately a license was granted to Pacific entrepreneur [[wikipedia:John T. Arundel|John T. Arundel]] for planting [[wikipedia:coconut|coconut]]s. Twenty-nine islanders were settled there and some structures with corrugated iron roofs constructed, but a severe drought resulted in the prompt failure of this project within a year. In 1916 it was leased to a Captain Allen, but remained uninhabited until 1938. | In 1856 Nikumaroro was claimed as "Kemins Island" by CA Williams & Co. of [[wikipedia:New London, Connecticut|New London]] under the American [[wikipedia:Guano Islands Act|Guano Islands Act]]. There is no record of [[wikipedia:guano|guano]] deposits ever being exploited, however.<ref name="bryan p. 71"/> On 28 May 1892 the island was claimed by the [[wikipedia:United Kingdom|United Kingdom]] during a call by HMS Curacoa. Almost immediately a license was granted to Pacific entrepreneur [[wikipedia:John T. Arundel|John T. Arundel]] for planting [[wikipedia:coconut|coconut]]s. Twenty-nine islanders were settled there and some structures with corrugated iron roofs constructed, but a severe drought resulted in the prompt failure of this project within a year. In 1916 it was leased to a Captain Allen, but remained uninhabited until 1938. | ||
== Chronological Synopsis == | |||
''Draft--lots more dates to add to this collection.'' | |||
{|{{Prettytable}} | |||
|- | |||
|align="center"|29 November | |||
|align="right"|1929 | |||
|Wreck of [[Norwich City|''SS Norwich City'']]. | |||
|- | |||
|align="center"|15 February | |||
|align="right"|1937 | |||
|HMS Leith visited to erect a flagpole and placard proclaiming the island property of His Majesty the King. | |||
|- | |||
|align="center"|2 July | |||
|align="right"|1937 | |||
|[[Amelia Earhart]] and [[Fred Noonan]] may have landed on the reef ([[Niku Hypothesis]]). | |||
|- | |||
|align="center"|13 October | |||
|align="right"|1937 | |||
|[[Maude]], [[Bevington]], and 19 Gilbertese “delegates” explored the island. | |||
|- | |||
|align="center"|30 November | |||
|align="right"|1938 | |||
|[[New Zealand Survey (1938)|New Zealand Pacific Aviation Survey Expedition]] team of 15 men arrived. | |||
|- | |||
|align="center"|21 December | |||
|align="right"|1938 | |||
|[[Maude]] and [[Gallagher]] dropped off a work party of 10 Gilbertese settlers. | |||
|- | |||
|align="center"|November-December | |||
|align="right"|1939 | |||
|[[USS Bushnell Survey (1939)|''USS Bushnell'' Survey]]. | |||
|} | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
== Links == | |||
* [[Visitors to Nikumaroro]] | |||
<!-- Please leave this Category tag at the bottom of this article. Thanks! MXM, SJ --> | <!-- Please leave this Category tag at the bottom of this article. Thanks! MXM, SJ --> | ||
[[Category:Nikumaroro|History]] | [[Category:Nikumaroro|History]] | ||
Latest revision as of 13:53, 23 June 2012
Niku: History
- “Nikumaroro” by P. B. Laxton.
- "Paradise Lost"--an extensive timeline of the island's history.
Nikumaroro was known by sundry names during the early 19th century: Kemins' Island, Kemis Island, Motu Oonga, Motu Oona and Mary Letitia's Island. The first record of a European sighting was made by Capt. C. Kemiss (or Kemin, Kemish) from the British whaling ship Eliza Ann in 1824. On 19 August 1840 the USS Vincennes of the U.S. Exploring Expedition confirmed its position and recorded the atoll's name as "Gardner Island", originally given in 1825 by Joshua Coffin of the Nantucket whaler Ganges. Some sources say the island was named after U.S. Congressman Gideon Gardner, who owned the Ganges.[1] Since other sources say that family member Joshua Gardner was captain of the Ganges at this time, there is either some confusion in the historical record or both Gardner and Coffin were on board when the island was sighted in 1825.[2]
In 1856 Nikumaroro was claimed as "Kemins Island" by CA Williams & Co. of New London under the American Guano Islands Act. There is no record of guano deposits ever being exploited, however.[1] On 28 May 1892 the island was claimed by the United Kingdom during a call by HMS Curacoa. Almost immediately a license was granted to Pacific entrepreneur John T. Arundel for planting coconuts. Twenty-nine islanders were settled there and some structures with corrugated iron roofs constructed, but a severe drought resulted in the prompt failure of this project within a year. In 1916 it was leased to a Captain Allen, but remained uninhabited until 1938.
Chronological Synopsis
Draft--lots more dates to add to this collection.
| 29 November | 1929 | Wreck of SS Norwich City. |
| 15 February | 1937 | HMS Leith visited to erect a flagpole and placard proclaiming the island property of His Majesty the King. |
| 2 July | 1937 | Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan may have landed on the reef (Niku Hypothesis). |
| 13 October | 1937 | Maude, Bevington, and 19 Gilbertese “delegates” explored the island. |
| 30 November | 1938 | New Zealand Pacific Aviation Survey Expedition team of 15 men arrived. |
| 21 December | 1938 | Maude and Gallagher dropped off a work party of 10 Gilbertese settlers. |
| November-December | 1939 | USS Bushnell Survey. |