Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-06-17
CbnrncteristIcs Of 81. Croix.

characteristics Of So. CrOix.
The recent offer Of the Danish Govern
ment to transport and settle free of ex-
pense, all the negroes who may be freed
by the war, and give them home and
lands in the Danish West Indies,
gives interest to the following sketch of
St. Croix, written to the Ohio State Jour
nal by Mrs. Francis D. Gage;
Those of your readers who have only q
geographical knowledge Of the Danish
West India Islands, viii perhaps be inter-
ested in short description Of the island Of
st. Croix, the largest Of the group and al
so in an outline Of what the system Of ap-
premiership would be to which the fugi-
tives from labor in this country would
probably be subjected.
To the north Of the windward islands
and forty miles southeast Of Porto Rico,
lies the island of St. Croix-a small island
Of irregular shape twenty-four miles long
and from three to nine broad. Near the
outer edge is ledge Of rocky and percipi-
tous mountains, from one thousand to
twenty-five hundred feet high. These
mountains are covered with all varieties Of
tropical verdure, and give sustenanoe to
cattle, hogs, wild deer and goats The
water edge consists of promentories run
ming into the sea and forming snug harboTs
and fishing stations for the inhabitants.
The centre of the island is a great val
/ ley from fifteen to twenty miles long, and
varying in width. The many riffs in the
mountains, forming Ontlets to the ocean
renders the scenery extremely picturesque
and beautiful Looked at from the noun
| tains this rich valley, every acre of which
| is cultivated, presents landscape that
travellers assert is scarcely exceeded in the
world So beautiful healthful and every
way charming is this island that it was
! long since christened The gem of the sea-
| There is not poisonous reptile within
! its limits, nor ferOcious wild beast and
the insects, once considered so obnoxious,
are almost extinct.
The smallness of the island, its position,
! living east and west, and within range of
the trade winds, the sloping passes of the
mountains and the height Of the plateau or
valley within, make the air at all times sa-
lubrious and Of agreeable temperAture.-
The constant supply of wind may be con-
ceived when the fact is stated that over
three hundred windmills can be counted
on the island, used for pumping water and
grinding sugar cane. Some Of these are
now in state Of ruin, steam having been
introduced during the last twelve years,
on many of the estates.
From the discovery Of the island by CO.
lumbus, Nov. 1893, it was given over to the
/ occupancy Of masters and slaves till l847.
In that year his Majesty, Christian VIII
of Denmark, was influenced by his wife,
Christiana, to enact certain laws tending
toward the emancipation of all the slaves
in his colonies 1t was ordered that from
the 28th of July of that year, all children
born of those held in bondage should be
free, and that at the expiration of twelve
years slavery should cease. But the ex-
pertinent Of gradual emancipation there,
as elsewhere, proved unsuccessful. The
slaves showed no joy when the prOclama-
ton was made, neither did they manifest
any special discomfort
Undoubtedly, the hope of freedom rem
dered them more anxious to obtain it, for
in the winter and spring of 1848, in the
most secret and successful manner, they
plotted an insurrectian. Their plan was
SO well concerted and managed that though
adopted by large proportion Of the slaves,
up to the very day of the outbreak there
was scarce q suspicion Of its existence by
any of the planters. Sunday, the 2nd of
July, was chosen for the full denouement
of their plans At 8 A. NJ. the alarm was
given ana sis5ao.lo ,.ang out simultaneous
ly over the whole island.
The historian Of the time, Rev. John
Knox, pastor of the Dutch Reformed
Ch,a.,si,, tHus uescT1Des the scene: 0Fear
in its most bitter forms seized upon the
hears Of the people Of Frederiekstead, and
the estates contiguous. They rushed on
board the lying in the harbor; the night
was one Of horror to those who could not
escape from their estates.
1t is not necessary to my present pur-
pose to detail any special facts of this in
surrection. The slaves gathered in bands
Of thousands in different parts of the island,
sung songs of liberty and demanded free
dom. The authorities told them on the first
day that they had no power to give them
freedom; but on the 4th of July, 184S,
Governor Won Slater rode into the crowds
and, from the steps Of his carriage declared
emancipation to all the slaves of the Danish
West Indies. He then exhOrted the several
:, groups to return to their estates since they
had received what they had asked. This
they consented to do, and quiet was soon
restored. Thus in less than two days
from the uprising, 10000 slaves gained
their liberty, and not one Dhite man lost
his life; not a plantation, house or mill
was burned Only upon four or FIVE es-
tates was there any destruction Of prop
erty.