No. 89.
Mr. Bayard
to Mr. Hall.
Department
of State,
Washington, January 25,
1888.
No. 540.]
Sir: I inclose for your information copies of
papers, under oath, in relation to the claim of Julius R. Schultz, under
Title LXXII of the Revised Statutes of the United States, as discoverer of
guano deposits on Vivorilla Key, off the coast of Honduras.
I have explained in a letter to Mr. J. Gorham Moale, of Baltimore, of
to-day’s date, that the decision of the Department upon the claim of Mr.
Schultz had been deferred, owing to a question of sovereignty over the
island, and promised to acquaint him of the result of the Department’s
investigation as soon as practicable.
Accordingly, I will thank you to ascertain whether Vivorilla Key is under the
dominion of the Government of Honduras, or other nation.
In this connection reference is made to your No. 41, of December 14, 1882,
upon the subject.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 540.]
Affidavit of Julius R. Schultz.
To the Department of State of the
United States of America, Washington, D. C.:
I, the undersigned, Julius R. Schultz, a citizen of the United States, in
accordance with and in pursuance of the provisions of the Revised
Statutes of the United States, Title LXXII, entitled “Guano Islands,”
and the amendments thereto, do respectfully give notice to the
Department of State that on the 20th day of March, 1886, I discovered a
deposit of guano, on a key of coral or limestone formation, on a reef
about 4 miles in length, running north-northwest by south-southeast, in
about latitude 15° 51’ north, and longitude 83° 19’ west.
The measurements of said key, called Vivorilla Key, are as follows, viz:
Height, 15 feet; breadth, 380 feet; length, 1,550 feet.
That on the 31st day of January, 1887, I took peaceable possession of
said key in the name of the United States and have since that time
retained, and still retain, peaceable possession thereof. That at the
time of the said discovery and of the taking possession of said key as
aforesaid, the said key was not in the possession or occupation of any
other Government, or of the citizens of any other Government. And I file
herewith my declaration, made before Robert Shepherd, acting consular
agent of the United States, Bluefields, Nicaragua; and the declaration
of Capt. Jacob A. Peterson, marked Exhibit J. R. S. No. 1,* and a
certified copy of the declaration of Capt. A. Hodgson, made before John
S. Augustine, consular agent of the United States at the same place,
marked Exhibit J. R. S. No. 2.*
All of which is respectfully submitted.
[Page 120]
United States of
America,
District of Maryland, City
of Baltimore, ss:
Before the subscriber, George Morris Bond, a commissioner appointed
by the circuit court of the United States for the fourth circuit in
and for the Maryland district, personally appeared before me, this
14th day of September, 1887, Julius R. Schnltz, and made oath in due
form of law that the matters and facts set forth in the aforegoing
declaration or instrument of writing are true as therein set forth,
and at the same time subscribed the same in my presence, “J. B.
Schultz.”
[
seal.]
George Morris
Bond,
United States
Commissioner for the District of
Maryland.
