The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-10


as holdasts for the chain Opposite Signal Hl the
other side Of The Narrows rises another hill
tain should more properly be called TO elevation
Tn the side Of this and about hundred and ffty
feet from its base another fort has teen erected IN the
we were passns this point we sere had By
soldier, who inquired where from, and
how many days We were out, and having
tce Of our approach with laundering salute that was
repeated a hundred times BY the echcing hills The
in width from three to fifteen hundred yards and was
doubtless formed IN ens Vi those terrible Commissions to
which the whole island seems 10 have been subjected
and TO which II probably owes it's origin. II seemed ms
II The mountain had been torn apart leaving passage
open 10 the sea where in its most violent storms
as s Matters are ss alo,s % rhs 5
height Of about two hundred feet and presents
ceedngy picturesque appearance 1t overlocks the bar
Dor which is little mile in length and quarter
of mile in h is of the best harbors ia the world
affording at all times safe anchorage for ships Of
VII tier is its peculiar formation After you have sed
the entrance has the appearance Of lake, ete
y shut in from the ocean, Gigantic hills tower above
you on every side except TINT which the city stands
and on their rough and rugged decvites little patches
Of gardens have been made by the industrious Of
natural wdness CT the scene. Near the waters ige
and all round the harbor erected the stages plat
ioi ms on which the Goldfish are cured These
siuced OF light poles Of the spruce and pine AMI
are sometimes made on the sides Of steep rocks over
hanging the wafer.
The Of st. Johns has no public buildings thai can
lay claim 70 architectural pretensons, tn the excep
items of the Catholic Cathedral, which is large
s ana imposing edihcc, built in the style Of
the Roman Eas,liea, ana capable Of holding
thousand persons little less than half the population
Of the whole city 1t cost was informed about five hun
sculpture, among which two three of The best
productions of Hogan, The celebrated Irish sculptor
may state here that the Catholics constitute large
Jority OF the population Of St Johns The Colonial
Boding as the structure in which the legislative bust
ness Of the island is transacted is called built few
years at expense Of about two hundred thousend
dollars II il square granite building iUo stories high
with large por'co in front supported by six Ionic pill
lars. 1t contains the chambers OF the two legislative
branches, the House of Assembly and the Legisla
tive Council besides the library, and a number
Of smaller apartments. short distance from
the Colonial Building is the Governors house,
in which Chas. ii. Darling, the recently appoint
Cd Governor Of the island resides. Mr.. Darling al
though but few months in Office hns already gained
the esteem and good will of the people by his liberal
conduct and generous hospitality bat particularly for
in the character OF the people Of ST. Johns During
visit he was suffering from severe indspositon AMI
were much plea ed with his frank and cordial manner
He is man of very fine personal appearance and is of
ss % ssng oyr six feet three
to all source of regret that he could not participate in
our festivities.
The country around St Johns is particularly rema ka
bic for the diversity. well the beauty of its
scenery. In the afternoon of the day which
m exquisite little valley. called the Vale Of Riveree
head. small stream, fed by tiny rivuets from the
rough sides of the mountains poured its clear waters
through the centre Of the valley making sweet music
ii swept sparkling its rocky bed In places its
broken by miniature cascades, that gtered
like shower Of diamonds in the sunlight, while in
Others it almost wholly concealed from the sight by
overhapgng trees, beneath whose shade its waters be-
came black midnight 1t Was trout stream too-iust
such one as Walton would have delighted to angle in
Beautiful little cottages dotted its banks and here and
cre arod ther' e nop Of the
wealthier inhabitants Of st. Johns. 1t lovely scene,
and might have tempted less ardent admirer Of the
beauties OF nature than myself TO lnger few weeks
among its attractions But necessity stern necessity"
as the poet calls it-interpcses the cable must be
Valley of Hverhcad viii be lost to view perhaps for
Imay state here that several spirited sketches
made Of the the coast and in the interior
by Mr.. Hitchcock, whose talents artist are well
known and appreciated
The country in the vicinity of St Johns abounds in
lakes, Of which five and ten miles long Twenty
Mile Pond which is Eve six miles from the city, is the
largest and is filled with trout But the most beautiful
by lar, is Virginia axe sheet Of water covering about
eighty acres and surrounded by dense wood OF pine
spruce and other evergreens. The estate of which it
TO NE Hon G. H. Emerson. Solicitor General Of the
isa nd and member of the Executive and Legislative
Councils whose neat little villa situated on Its borders
These lakes for the most part situated in the low
lands but II is not al all unusual to find them the
top. Of mountains Georges Pond, which supplies the
cty with wafer. and which Is sort Of natural basin in
the rock is at least four hundred feet above the
sea. There is also another, called Wmore's, which
which was told could not be tathomed. The water is
conveyed from both Of there by pipes and distributed
over the city. Looking down from height Of between
two and three hundred feet above these ponds is Signal
Bill which have already stated, stands at the right
Of the entrance to the Narrows and about half mile
further in from the f-owns the bleak called b
bet Hill which owes its to gbbet that stood
lis summit and upon which murderer was executed
many years ago. Strange wild stories told Of hui
man form having been after the magic hour Of mid
night dangling in all the agonies of death from gal
lows, while the most unearthly sounds were heard
There many who knew of this. but unfortunately
the eye witness was not to be found.
About mile and half from st Johns Is the little
village Of Quidi Bidy which is inhabited solely by
fishermen. Its population did not exceed four hun
bred at the time Of visit, but I told
that 1t varies at different periods Of the year
When tile fishing has fairly commenced gains
large addition t. its population while In winter IL is al
deserted The houses of the poorest description
hardly afording protection against the nceuency OF
the weather; but those who nhabit them healthy,
strong and hardy race for whom the elements to
have no terrors In the spring when the ice begins to
break in the arctic regions and floating
they out hundreds Of miles from their homes hunt.
hardshirs and s,i like that OF the sailor it has strong
fascination for them. When not employed in fishing
able dwellings, in St. Johns where those who can obtain
employment work the wharves and at other kinds az
labor They are honest frank and generous is said
to fault, and too often improvident in the
disposition of their limited means, that they
almost always at the mercy of their exacing creditors
the merchants who purchase their fish and pay thu m
whatever they please. The injustice of the latter in this
respect the of great deal Of eeling between
both PARTIES but think the grievance will be
medied so long the merchants Of st. Johns the
only purchasers. Here is fine opportunity for
enerprng Americans to enter the field for the fisher
men are ready and willing to dispose Of the product OF
their labor TO who will pay the best price for it.
From what inquiries have made feel certain that large
profits might be realized by those who would enter upon
the business with energy and right kind OF spirit.
The people Of st. Johns preserve in most remarkable
degree the pecuaritie distinguishing features
thGr descent. Those Of Irish origin easily dis
tinguished frem, the English and the Scotch by
their accent and If you not aware Of this
difference you might very easily mistake the birth
| place Of Observation-Disclosures for there L. no.
thir distinguish them in this respect from the ma
tives Of Great Britain II is the same too with regard
to their features which retain the distinct marks of
their ancestry through two and three
In many other particulars they resemble the people Of
the mother country for here nature human nature
rather appears TO lie governed by different law from
that vhch prevails in the United States where all traces
OF descent generally lost In and certainly in
generations, and all the original and distinctive marks
arc blended in 9, and nationality. They are with
few exceptions believe, very liberal in their entment
and Particularly well disposed to our people with