Show TO CAPTURE AN ISLAND Attempt to Force Claims at the Cannons Can-nons Points San Francisco May 9What is said to be a bold attempt to capture an island has been brought to light by a suit filed in the superior court by the Oceanic Phosphate company The latter lat-ter people claim that F W Permien and William Johnson are organizing an expedition to g to Clipperton island and sieze the same by force of arms under the apparent authority of a prior claim The land in question is little more than a big rock in the north Pacific but it is covered by a rich guano deposit which makes it very valuable There is said to be 50000 tons in sight which is estimated to be worth 1250 a ton John Magee manager of the Oceanic Phosphate company said this morning that it had been discovered that Per mien Johnson and others had chartered the schooner Star of Freedom which they are fitting out for a trading voyage voy-age ostensibly They are going down to attempt to take the island by force of arms said Mr McGee but I think that we have put a stop to it They claimed that they have some prior right I the court do not stop them we will endeavor to do so ourselves Should the courts not grant the injunction in-junction prayed for i is said that if the charterers of the Star of Freedom attempt to take Clipperton island by force somebody will be hurt The Oceanic Phosphate company heard of the intended expedition before their own schooner the Volante sailed While the company will say nothing about the matter it is knOwn that the schooner took away considerable arms and ammunition There are nine men on the island and when the men on the schooner are added to this number there will be twentyfour in all ready to do battle with the force that the Star of Freedom may carry |