Evening star., 1894-02-26
FORMED LIKE A FISH HOOK.
bermuda. n Collection Of Islands Lit
tie known to America.

Bermuda. Collection of Islands Lit
tie known to America.
The Bermuda Islands produce something
besides onions. the popular belief to the
contrary Notwithstanding. MIR. Louis Bag
ger on Saturday evening at the Metropoli-
tan NJ. E. Church described in a very in
teresting lecture the islands and related
their history. The lecture was for the
benefit Of the charity fund of the church
Bermuda pronounced Bermooda, not Ber-
mewda) is 766 miles almost due southeast
from New York and less than 100 miles
due east from Hatteras. steamer leaving
New York Thursday afternoon reaches
there on Sunday. Bermuda, or the Ber-
muda Islands. for there are 1856 Of .hem.
Is in the form of a fish hook lying on its
back. The steamer sights the eaSternmost
point at night and lies to until morning
when pilot conducts her to the anchor
age. There she waits until permission has
been received from the governor for the
landing of her passengers The magnetic
telegraph is not used, but a series of sema-
phores with yardarms. Then the vessel Is
slowly taken .around the inside curve of
the fish hook until Hamilton midway te-
tween the extremties. is reached. IT being
Sunday the passengers are allowed to dis
embark. but the cattle on board, Of which
there is bound to be load, cannot land
until Monday. Nor are the mails and pa
pers from New York distributed. The Sab
bath is vigorously observed.
For a person needing mental or physical
rest the Bermudas are highly recommend
ed. For cOnsumptives they are not bene-
fetal. There are no amusemants beyond
amateur theatricals. Riding and driving
about the islands or sailing along the
coast in the steam launches-these are the
recreations of the visitor and resident 1t
is paradise for the cyclist. The roads are
as smooth as asphalt They are the he'd
rock coral and are leveled with planes.
Five minutes after a hard shower they
oro n q dry a q q rlOr floor There ia
little beach. The bluffs rise sharply from
the ocean. Frowning from the bluffs are
forty-three forts. making the island. or
mainland" as the principal island is
called, absolutely impregnahle. 1t is the
strongest fortified place in the world, not
excepting Gibraltar. The islands are fur
ther protected by numerous sunlSen reefs.
which prevent vessels from approaching
closely, except through the known chan
nels. The principal island is twenty-four
miles from end to end and contains about
1900 persons
1t was settled by Engfishmen in 1910 by
since belonged to England. 1t was dis
covered by Spaniard twenty-three years
after Columbus discovery, and was named
after the discoverer. Spain attempted to
settle 1t, and the Spanish rock on the south
coast, carved with the initials of the head
of the enterprise. Is one of the points Of
interest.
The houses are all constructed Of white
stone taken from the quarries and sawed
into shape. 1t is cut easily. Roofs are all
made of the same material, the stone be-
ing cut into thin slabs and laid like slate.
An interesting industry is the growing
of Easter lilies for all parts of the world.
Mrs. Gen. Hastings, niece of the late
ex-President Hayes. introduced the IN
dustry, and last year million dollars
worth of lilies were exported.
During the civil war Bermuda was the
coaling and supply station for blockade
runners, and St George, the sleepy town
on the east coast was the richest place in
the universe. Gold rolled in the streets,
and even the laborer had champagne for
dinner The trips of these blockade rum
ners were so profitable that the vessel
could be lost on the third venture and the
owners would still be ahead.