The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-03-31

She Remembers the Lovely Relief Corps
Women, and Sees the British Dance to
the Yankees Musie-A Clever Conun-
drum-yyho is George Washington?
ROYAL VICTORIA HOTEL, NASSAU, N T.
About mile to the north of Nassau lies long,
narrow island filed and surrounded with beauty
and fascination. The fresh pure air that sweeps
the northern shore and tho soft south winds that
whisper and coquet with the tall cocoas and palms
and bend to kiss the oranges the pomegranate ana
the rose seem like the breath of poets song or
the realization of an Acadian dream. one can
readily imagine that this spot, so full of wondrous
beauty and soothing languor, once the home oil
the bold and dashing bucancer, who spirited away
" To the spicy ISLE where the bright sun smiles,
his bonmy bride. knowing full well the perilous
rocks and reefs guarded safely the enchanted
ground
Where the darl-eyed maid,
Meath the palm-trec shade,
Holds her joyous court by night"
This island is n haven of rest, quiet, peaceful
place of almost Sabbath stiffness, where one can
wander in beauty and gIadness forever. dreaming
happy hours away and forgetful if time be days or
weeks. o, that warm hearts, weary limbs and
tired brain could all find ouch spot to rest! A
place so ideal and enchanting ought to have
poetical name, musical and rythmetic; but alas
ooihN'''''SDf
and it must have been a very commonplace man
that named this lovely spot Hog Island. How
ever. it is a solace to remember that our beloved
and renowned Belle Isle ut home long bore the
identical name. Hog Island il five or six miles
long and from 90 rods to one-half mile wide lying
between Nassau and the sea- it forms a magnificent
harbor
During the late war, when the blockadng In
dusry Mt its hight, machine-shops were erected
on the south shore-the harbor side-where vessels
were remodeled, refitted and repaired. The evil
dence yet remaining gives one fair idea of the
busy. wild and reckless times ex experienced here in
the sixties. Neither money nor skill was spared
to advance the purpose of the South. The flag of
Great Britain was
NOT UNFRIENDLY To SECESSION,
and its encouragement and protection enibodened
the South to most daring exploits and extravaganza
iil-fitting their empty Golfers Mt home. Large
docks and landing places were made for their con-
veniencc buildings and workshops sprang up as
though by magic, and great smokestacks sent
skyward long plumes of backencd smoke from
flaming furnaces below. A marine railway still
projects far into the water through the clear depths
Of which bright-coored fishes can be seen darling
in through and around the massive links OF chain
lying where last used. ~ quarter Of n century ago.
left TO the slow process of corroson and decay.
Lying everywhere in<9le most complete abandon
negotiable relics and effects of once stirring
and profgate times, the finding of which would
make the tin horn merchants of our Northern
cities wild with delight
All these things, and many more, meet our eye AS
draw up TO Hggs's Landing.3 We step thought
fully and slowly among The ruins of former days,
and can but think how emblematical they OF
the withered and ruined hopes of the Lost Cause
and many that no doubt espoused 1t conscien-
in,ts1, Put oil md fha do Of mir
it brings is left behind reach the slight ele
walton of ground beyond and find ourselves ell
tering
AVENUE OF SWEET ALMONDS,
whose wide spread of branches arch overhead and
whose broad, thick leaves deeply tingcd with
red and gold, is the Northern maple In October.
This avenue leads in winding ways across the
island to the residence of the owner Capt IIiggs.
On each side, in great profusion, and
rows of cocoanu. trees, so tall and grand and
stately rnonarchs of the tropics noddng their
plumed heads in the slightest breeze. In the lux
uriance known only 10 such climates are also scat
tered about innumerable bananas, lemons, lines
shnddocks, and papaws, bending with fruit, while,
cleaning through the green OF all, arc the shining
leaves and golden balls of the orange, rich IN color
and prodgaI in numbers. The Captain has given
us carte blanche TO and go we like assrrr-
ing US the pleasure would be his should We come
often and share unhesitatingiy these good things
so we wander at will along The almond avenue or
through the groves Of cocoa or banana, or lounge
beside the oranges taking what we like and drink
ing in the wealth Of beauty so charming TO unac-
customed eyes 1t is like one
LONG, DELIGHTFUL HOLIDAY,
and restful to feel that chilling winds of No
vember biting frosts of December will come 10
wither and destroy On the far side, on "A promi-
hence overlooking the beach, is the Captains resi-
dence, the only on the island. n large, two
story house. with verandas on all sides, above and
below On these one is willing to sit for hours and
breathe the hcath-giving mir, every breath SEEM
ing to contain ounce of strength. Here, also
within 80 feet of the water line sit and watch
the surf tossing and gamboing over the coral
rocks There is every tint, from the slightest
semblance of baby blue to the darkest mnzarine
The waves, winter than a fuller make them
rise in the distance and lazy roll along until they
reach the reef. where the white spread and
creep out in long rolls like carded wool. then
stretch and spread until they meet and merge into
one long feecy cloud of foam. The stretch of beach
below is grand sloping gradually. The sand is
delicately fine end smooth table. This the west
end Of the island Is shaped like grert fi,h-hook
Beautiful sand beaches and rough, Jagged rocks
resembling in appearance great lava bed alter
nate along the northern shore. All coral rock is
porous and liable 10 have subterranean passages
and We watched the waves during n late
gale 10 they came with laundering force against
the shore lashng the rocks and throwing spray so
feet in the air. In some places they struck with
sharp retort and partly disappeared, to spout high
again through some hole an instant later No
doubt these passages have been made by the action
and force of the water as places often found In
this rock where the substance Is easily scooped
out with the hand We have spent many hours
on these high rocks, and one day went when the
tide was at lowest ebb and the quiet. This
enabled TO go at eas so feet farther out than ever
before to peep into the holes and waterspouts and
gather shells and corals lying inside. We were de-
lighted with the first findings and loaded curse! yes
down; then, coming upon better pieces would
cast some aside TO take superior samples instead
and in a moment discard again for the same pt,r-
pose. Hundreds of pieces. small and large that
would grace any cabinet lay at our feet. thought
OF the many, many
LOVELY W.R.C. WOMEN
who would he delighted to receive n coral from
here, and how equally glad ! would be to
give them. The best possible to do was to carry
line, that some after seeker might some day have
the pleasure of finding and carrying the prizes
away.
Toward the western end, and not far from the
lighthouse, lie the remnants of an old wreck The
story connected with il is part of our country's
history.
STORY OF WRECK.
In 1883, a steamer the Agnes Louise was built
In England and sold to the Confederates for "A
blockade-runner. II was purposey planned for
swift sailing, being narrow and sharp pointed Its
with arms and ammunition for Charleston The
officers, flushed with recent successes, grew indis-
Greet and prior 10 departure INDUCED in too ex.
cessire conviviality. They were, however gotten
on board, and the pilot took the ship well out
before leaving them. All THAI is positively known
Is. that they too intoxicated TO know what
they were doing, and in the night, though there
was storm, turned the vessel around came
directly back toward Nassau and, mraculousIy
lodging the reefs Mt full speed to the sbarp
the lighthouse. Great efforts We're made 10 float
cd ito