New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-20
PICTURESQUE ST. THOMAS.
"REMINISCENCES OF THE PIRATES OF THE
SPANISH MAIN

SPANISH MAIN.
tTRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT TIE TRIBUNE.
ST. THOMAS, W. l., Dec. 12.-St. Thomas
from the sea- looks Ike nothing much piece OF
scene painting In theatre. There Is nothing real look
ing ahOutt 1t Is the Old set piece that one has
seen 80 many times the background to acting or
singing There is the background OF green mountains
with all tho peculiar effects OF light and shade and all
the improbable combinations OF color which the scene
painter so delights In; there the ruined castles
exactly where the painter would put them
there the three pyramids OF houses with vargated
roofs rising from the edge of the unnaturay blue and
tranquil and through long Inst Of details
Every thing al ways is the theatre and at St.
Thomas but nowhere else in the world The steamship
Advance dropped anchor In the circular harbOr before
daybreak, and stood deck and the sun rise.
golden light appeared mountains aud then, like
the raising OF tho curtain the purple mist disappeared
and there the old familiar Of the theatre even
to che glare OF the foot lights and the nting OF the
clouds AMI the sky. 1t all like that should not
have bit surprised the strike up
and see chorus OF peasants trip the stage, and
begin to sing Sure enough from OF the ships in tho
harbor there the sound OF singing and clear and
high rang the we-known shanty."
Hey no. blow the men down.
Twas Black BalIer wasted my prime.
oh. give some time to blow tho men down"
Poor ST. Thomas the glory OF its mercantile supremacy
among the Wlndward Islands departed. It's future is
undoubtedly tlat or winter resort. Inc Vi
the Royal Mall a blow To IL but the
United States and Brazil Mail Line and German line OF
stea uers sill call there and people with weak lungs,
people who dread cold weather principle and people
In search Of tho uniquely picturesque beginning TO
visit tho island. The town itself Is curious mixture Of
French, Spanish. Danish and English architecture Gus
and people. One the most curious things is the
little castle the Kings Wharf Tho little kingdom
of Denmark maintains littlo garrison here and from
little Of tho castle floats little Danish flag.
Years aud years ago when the fleet that flew the black
flag largo and powerful one, two wicked Old
pirates liz ed here and their Blue Beard and
Black Beard. They had castles two neighGoring hills
and tho Of castles aud their solid donon
keeps ril overlook the In the bay below lay the
pirate feet when funds getting low the Blue
and the Black Boards troubled with ennpi they
sailed away cruises after the gacons OF SPAN or OF
any other nations. II Spanish ones we're not handy.
There rivalry uctwcen the two castles ~ 10
which should take treasure and which should
have The hggrst blow our after the cruise. But IL
Wa, all VI the most amlAbie klud for Blue Beard aud
scuttlrl ship throat" IN 1865 or thereahouiS
Thomas offered several nations but failed to
poem the Island In which he said:
Very fair aud full Of promise
Lay the Island OF Thomas.
Ten said William Heur' seward,
A' ~" east h., eye 70 !ee~ .'l,,-.,
l. tAit island OF st. Thomas
In the same yeor great tidal came sweeping
INTO the laroor and played havoc with the shipping
therein Two large American ships lying In the hArOor
torn from their uoOrus- and went dash ng from
-nir the ofucr o. fe harbur playiLg havoc with
tur -Ippug INc-y vessel they ca be IN contact with
they sank Finally they ctur da-niur from opposite
slr- OF the IIrpur ami mrrus the centre went down
together Very ltrgua anil very pleasant Il ma on tue
Del ma ~ O. rh"w's. Thcre are fro'r- o. PAIN and
lrrll f..i'. gorgeous trppl~f nights ana splendid
f.u4i,nI d.- t mist have been IA tIe mind OF fruuy
Nurp re song uf sum urr I-.c- ar Ldcn Blng IN
uask ru,pr -rUrrra ~ srl" ir.e bay rum aud guam
'ry have their headquarters mud no one ever comes
here without buying a bottle ~ the one aud eating
quauf. tY Of tire oturr. 81 Thomas would make An
excellent naval station 'or the Unite. states or Tor some
Iuruuran Power w.shug 20 have strong iOotbod IN
tho Antilles. There deep hlrbor easy OF access but
easy ~ dcieur There ls sufficient Lowell ground At
tie water, cIcs afford place FOR the construction
or DRY docks. docks and -t1rr houses. At cOmpar-
atIt,lg utj.r EXPENSE naval station might be- main
'aIurl hcrr aud nu The Gros OF tho world could not
force the eutrarcc ~ the harhO..