Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17

that left you short time since at the
island of Curacao. 1t says in a louder
tone, promised somewhat more subse
quently-as fifty dollar-a-column writer
of nonsense of a superior style and finish
might say-to spread before you few
of the pickings gathered from the island.
But the fact is, owing to the seeming
length of time before the fulfilment of
the promise hardly know where to be-
gin. All! have it. shall begin on the
island and end-well, somewhere.
Have you ever seen any towns on the
Zuyder Zee ?
This. of course, can't be one of them.
Quite likely some one brought over pic
ture of one of those Dutch cities a long
time ago and dropped it here in the trop-
les where it vegetated into an island
Were to Judge of the place from the
number and confusion of tongues would
say, here must be the spot where those
chaps, whose thoughts turned skyward,
began building a tall tower some years
back. 1t is only my early acquired
knowledge of little historical happenings
that recalls to my mind, it was on the
other continent. however, some little time
before Columbus found out about this
island, that Babel stock commenced GO
ing up; in fact, was booming, when it
suddenly took a tumble one morning and
is no longer quoted in any market in the
world. Poorly paid preachers refer to it
at times just to demonstrate their knowl-
edge of ancient history and to serve no.
tice, it may be, on their hearers that this
familiarity with by-gone days should en-
title them to few more shekels which
their respective pocket-books are capable
of holding.
But when the pocket-book is reached
for, human nature is much the same, no
matter what the color of the skin, how
many kinks in the hair or whether the
mercury stands $50 in the SHADE or at
zero.
Columbus found this out; he is the
man, you know, who accidentally ran on
to America one fine morning in October
some 400 years ago. 1t was lucky find,
this America. Still, | believe, he made
nothing more out of it than to have his
body carted about from one place to an
other Just exactly as many times as he
made trips. Yes. and few heads of
families fasten his name to one or more
of their infant muchdchos also. That is
something. | am not Informed whether
he visited this island or not. But here is
scrap of history in which his name is
mentioned.
1t is related that Spaniard of the SAN
culinary type name Ojeda, who was with
Columbus on his second voyage to the
Indies, determined on his return to Spain
to organize small despoiling party of his
own to visit these islands. But, not hay
ing the funds to push his pllaging enter
prise. he unburdened his mind to Fonreca.
a man of wealth and an avowed enemy
of Columbus. Fonreca, with his burn
ing hatred for the great navigator, was
not long in getting the expedition ready
|
then pushed for the Spanish Main and
landed at this island of Curacao, then
called Gigantes. He made himself gov
ernor of the island; but he did not enjoy
his gubernatorial distinction long, as ne
failed to fulfill his promises to his men.
So they seized Mr.. Ojeda one moonlight
evening in his one-story palace, gently
but firmly bound him and with close at
tention to details carried him to st.
Domingo, where he was when last heard
from.
Several Spanish governors succeeded
Senior Ojeda till Philip H., who was
King of the Netherlands, began to reign.
Then body of Dutch, of the same brand
as those who took Holland, sailed up one
of the many inlets of the island on Easter
Sunday. 1926. Shortly after their arri-
val, the Spaniards, who were pushed a
little from behind by the new movement,
began to move out and by the treaty OF
Munster. in 1913, | believe, the Dutch be-
came masters of the island and have re-
manned so since. In speaking OF the
history of the island, | might add, there
is rumor in circulation here, that the
last of New Yorks Dutch governors, ole
Peter Stuyvesant, was at one time also
located here in the same occupation
Whether this was before his New 1orl
experience or of much more recent
, date am not informed. ltwouldnt be
bad idea for some one who has time ane
don't know, but wants to know, 10 insti
tute a search for information.
The greatest length of the Island Il
} about 30 miles; breadth, some 10 or ~
Formerly it was covered with splendl'
growth of mahogany. But when IL wa'
ascertained that mahogany brought
very good price no more was found grow
5 ing here. 1t is now quite barren LOOKING
s save the portions cultivated by the mer
t chants who have country residences II
4. ..Ataf no r