Milford chronicle., 1892-05-13

In private letter to the publisher, DR.
R W Hargadiue, of FELTON,, gives a briei
outline of his trip TO aud among the island.
Of the Caribbean Sea-as he puts it-"a
terra iucognita an unknown land to
most Americans The trip was made on
the Royal Mail Line of steamers, the larg-
est of which is the carribee, built Of irop
and India teak wood, aud all together the
best steamer sailing to and from the lesser
Antilles He says
I'VE left New York on March goth,
and the trip along our coast was monoto-
nous and uneveutful It was gala day
wheH a ship was sighted-the passengers
were noti6ed-aad, TO matter whether
early dawn, midday, or after setting sun,
when daylight gives way so quickly to
the starry darkness of a tropic night-all
must turn out to see the sail, which per
haps was only distant view of masts aud
top-sails.
1 would be glad to take YOU to and
through each of the Caribbean islands
from St. Thomas to Barbados, our last
port of destination; but time forbids.
Each island Of this sea-whether steam
ing along its c"ast, or exploring its inter
ior country, presents striking character
istics different fiom any other, and it |
would fill a large volume to give my own
experiences, limited as they were, among
the fourteen or more islands at which our
steamer stopped to deliver or take cargo.
Six days steamiug from New York
brought us to the gate of the Caribbean
sea, Porto Rico, lying low to our right,
and the hundred virgin islands, then St.
Thomas (the island that the United
states las desired TO purchase for coal
ng station and naval rendezvous from
Denmark lies on our right. It is the 1
'nly natural harbOr in the seas and if it {
S necessary that we have a coaling sta Ii
ion in the West Indias this is the only ,
ne that would be Of value to us-except {
i. Lucia. The latter place, improved /
S It has been by lavish expenditures by a
he British Government, with a nearly t
and locked harcor it is we'll nigh impreg- S
able. It is fortified by frowniHg forts t
n almost inaccessible height Overlooking S
lie town of Castires and the harbor b
lore than 1000 feet above the sea. IL
At this picturesque island, and Barba- b
oesthe British government, has expended b.
ore money in improving the harb r II
AN in any or all of the British West IN
a colonies combined. For a century
I'd halfSt. Lucia was the scene ofmany
titles by land aud sea between the En- II
ish aud French for supremacy in these W
ands. This was at last settled after the vi
sastruus defeat of the French at Trafal- 70
r. Most of the Caribbean islands are "a
bject to English rule, but perhaps the -
ost prosperous Of all-except Barbados 81
are Martinique and Guadaloupe-they ~
: more intenselyFrench than even Paris fro
elf Had we time we would describe se,
: virgin islands (the Gibralter of the gu
rribean seal which stand at its entrance sa
e volcanic islands with their green inl
ped mountains penetrating the clouds an
d inviting constant rain; St. Lucia with th'
two options" rising like pyramids 5000 ella
t high out of the sea; but perhaps at
ne future time I shall describe them
you,
There seems to be no change of the sea de-
! in the Caribbean Islands. During vii
three weeks we spent the, time yacht oc'
a,nono and around :, .,ns and the Jui
hest temperature noted was So and 9''
lowest 80, and but little variation Sta
Oughout the year.
R, W. HARG ADINE