New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-19
TROPICAL SKETCHES.
WINTER IN NASSAU-No. III.

sum up the former pursuits OF this now quiet hnu
eminently respectable town. Before proceeding "
give some slight account OF these several phases OF
It's history will few facts concerning the island'
its structure and appearance From Gov Rawsons
Report on the Bahamas" learned that the islands,
Gays rocks and reefs which form the group KNOWN DIS
the Bahamas rest upon two extensive banks iormeu W
the accumulation OF sand and detrus poured INTO the
Gulf Of Mexico by the great rivers ana swept out oy INC
Gulf Stream far its force would carry them, uhtl
met by the trade. winds and westerly currents'
The slapds themselves are Ia well known coraline,
that r. composed Of limestone formed by the stony
skeletons OF zoophytes which, together with shes are
cemented together by carbonate OF lime furnished by the
seawater.
Newfoundland is nineteen miles long by i've wide IL
nowhere attans TO any considerable elevation aIo'e no
the sea- It has undoubtedly been under water at no very
remote period The several socaed caves IN the western
mart have evidently been followed out by the action OF
the waves on the line OF coast OF which they must once
have formed part though now two OF them are nearly
mile inland They are precisely similar in appearance
to many parts OF the present waterllne
Coral formations interesting not only from their
beng so recent They are, many are aware said 10
submarine volcanoes which opinion the lava-ke
appearance Of their rock would seem to confirm Mr..
Darwin holds that In those seas where coral ISLANDS ana
barrier reefs abound there gradual sinking OF these
underlying mountains while parts OF the South
Sea the land is the rise and coral is upheaved far
necton that II the natives be credited several coral
islands in the Pacific have totally disappeared within
very modern period. To return, however TO this par
tcuar island 1t has in the large salt water lake.
which rises and falls with the tide. There Is no fresh
water except what falls from the clouds Wells to be
useful be sunk to depth toSake In the ranwater
which filters through the surface and rests upon the salt
which peneraes the coral rock from the
To commence with the first appearance Of this island
the page OF history, Columbus Is said to have landed
18th OF October 1872 and called Fernandna
la OF important and valuable discover
les this passed unrccOrded aud UNDECIDED
When you are in the West Indies, you perpetu
ally coming upon traces OF the Great Navigator His
landing places are the houses III which
Wash ngton has slept Tor might hayeif lac had wanted
to and every body knows their is legion There IL
OF the valiant Genoese In front OF the Government
House and there is old darkey who declares
that he remembers when Massa Columbus here, and
that statue very like lie really believes what he
says which, IL true, would Of course make sort OF
Ethiopian Wandering jew Of him. But to resume: Co
lumbus found aboriginal Indian population which
afterward drafted away by the Spanards to work In
mines elsewhere The discovery OF the island has been
attributed to Capt sayle English navigator. who was
driven here 1861 his way TO Carolina lie gave IL
the Il bears to commemorate his fortunate
preservation from shpwreck Upon his representations,
Charles H. granted this and the other Bahamas TO the
Duke OF Albemarle and five other proprietary lords.
Emigrants having arrived from England aud the Aneri
Colonies. Governor sent out to superinend the
settlement As lie did not entirely please the inhabitants
who in fact mostly pirates and freebooters they
transported him to jamaica His Jared but
little better being either intlmidaed by the audacous
colons suffering with them from the not unfrequent
attacks Of the spanards These last endeayored to ex
terminate II possible. the settlement at Nassau, nest
OF pirates who prcyed continually upon their commerce
IN the neIchborhood OF their most valuable possessions
In 1905 the French united with the spanar the negroes
were taken or and the White inhabitants who had been
sccretcd in the woods aftcrward retired to Carolina.
The pirates finding the place deserted made 1t again
their rendezvous for which 1t was particularly adapted
account Of the shOol water on its ban and the nnu
merabe keys Inaccessible to large vessels and difficult OF
approach to all Enemies Of the human race, they at
tackled pundered the vessels OF every nation not
excepting their own At length the daring and success
OF among other notorious leaders had so much at
traced public attention that George l., at the socita
tions Of some London and Liverpool merchants. in
duced to send out considerable armament under Capt
Rogers to whom he gave the commission OF Governor
over the rcvolled colony. He did not however arrive
before the death OF Blackboard the noted pirate above
alluded to- His real name John Leach but rs Black
beard he ia still known to the people OF Nassau This ex
traordnary had united in his fortunes desperate
aud formidable gang OF pirates, styling himself their
Commodore. and assuming over them an unlimited au-
thorty Under wild gtree the eastern part OF the
island he used to sit in council with his band concoct
Ing pr0mugating his plans. His praces were often
carried the English settlements on the coast OF
North America. where hc met with extraordinary
cess.
In person we'll disposition, this desperado. who
was native OF England seems to have been qualified to
he the chief OF gang of robbers. The effect OF his beard
which natural erocty OF his countenance
he was always socitous TO highten by suffering it to
grow to mmoderate length aud twisting it about in
small tails like Families wig. whence he derived the
name OF Blackboard. His portrait in time Of action Is
described that Of u complete fury, with three
brace OF pistols In holsters, flung his shoulders
like bandollers, and lighted matches under his hat.
sticking out each Of his That Black.
boards pretensOns TO authority over his companions
were grounded on his being in darkness proudly
eminent" may be conceived from the character OF his
Jokes Having often exhibited himself before them
demon, he determined to show them hell OF his
creation For this pugpose, he collected quantity OF sui
phur aud combusbe materials between the decks Of his
vessel. when. kndling flame and shutting down the
matches upon his he involved himself and them lit
orally fire and birthstone With oaths aud frantic ges
lures he then acted the part OF the devil little affected
by the smoke he had been born in the Internal
gons until his companions, nearly suocated and faint.
ing compelled him to release them His cOnvvia humor
equally eccentric and mschevous. Once, while
cited with liquor and sitting in his cabin he took pistol
In each hand. then cooking them under the table. blew
the candles. and. crossing his hands, fired each
side at his companions; one Of whom received a shot
which MANNED him for life.
The English Government having determined to clear
the OF the ruans tho Bahama waters ships
Of sent against them ia tho early part Of the
last century Blackboard at that time was lurking In
small vessel In the creeks and shadows inlet near
Cape Hateras In North Carolina but the Chief Magis.
trate OF that province having long connved at his rob-
berries the sufferers gave information the Governor OF
Virginia and the naval force at that station was directed
to assist in exterminang the pirates. The ntrepdity
displayed In this service by Lieut. Maynard was at least