The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-11-17
THE ISLE OF TERROR.
SUCH IS UsHANT, WHERE THE DRUM
MOND CASTLE WENT DOWN.
Though the Place Has q Had Name, the
People Are Honest and Generous-Noted
Events Of Which History Treats Have
Happened In Its Vicinity.

Events Of Which History Treats Have
Happened In It's Vicinity.
Ushant, the island upon whose out
lying reefs ahe steamer Drummond Gas.
tie ran, sinking three minutes after
ward and carrying down every soul on
board. except three, lies off the north
west extremity of France and forms
the corner around which vessels from
the south turn into the English channel
after crossing the bay of Biscay.
Distant" is tho Anglicized form of
"Ouessant," the French name. Pliny
calls the island "Uxantis" and the
Britons know it as "Enez Heussa, "
which means "The Isle of Terror. " 1t
well deserves the Celtic name.
The inhabitants of Ushant are a hardy
race, the men all fishermen and seamen,
the women all tillers of the rocky soil.
The latter on high days and holidays
still often display their ancient costume,
with its flat Golf, which strikingly re-
calls the feminine headgear of southern
Italy, and whence their dark hair
streams in freedom below their waists
Within tho last quarter of q century a
breed Of ponies still roamed in semi
wildness over large part of the island,
and for centuries tho inhabitants them
selves were looked upon as savages. De-
barred, often for long weeks at time,
from any intercourse with the main
land, they certainly led very primitive
lives. But at the same time they pre-
served the primitive virtues, and hon
csty and hospitality have ever been ar
ticles of faith among them.
Losing year by year, with unfailing
regularity, a score Or two Of their own
kith and kindred in tho treacherous
waters around their isle, their sympa-
thies have always been with those
whom shipwreck has imperiled. Several
of the Breton islands have VIGOROUSLY
harbored communities of wreckcrs,
but the people Of Ushant have again
and again distinguished themselves by
their efforts to save distressed vessels
or their crews.
Whenever one of the islanders is lost
at sea, touching ceremony, called "the
proella" is performed. The relatives
and friends Of the deceased carry to his
house small wooden cross, over which
the clergy repeat the prayers for the
dead, us if this symbol were the corpse
itself Then the cross bearer, who,
whenever practicable, is the godfather
of the defunct (this again touching
instance Of symbolism), incloses it in a
Golfer, and, followed by all the mourn
ers, deposits it at the foot of u statue Of
St. Pol Aurellen, the patron of the isle
A few years ago hundred Or so of these
Golfers could be seen assembled around
tho statue.
Ushant is known to history. As early
as 1888 an English expedition landed
on the island and ravagcd it with fire
and sword. Then, in 177S, its waters
witnessed the much criticised naval en-
gagement between Keppel and dor
villiers, which English histories usually
describe as drawn battle, whereas tho
French invariably claim it as decisive
victory. Finally, IS years later, Ushant
saw the GLORIOUS first of june" when
Lord Howe certainly shattered tho
French ships Of war commanded by
Villarct- Joyeuse, but at the same timo
signally failed to prevent the large fleet
Of French merchantmen, on whose ar
rival France depended for means to pres
ecute the war, from getting safely into
the port of Brest.
That Ushant is in Breton estimation,
predestined to deeds Of blood and death
is shown by strange rhymed provorb,
which Chateaubriand quotes in his
"Memoirs From Beyond tho Grave"
and which may be Euglished thus:
''Ho who secs Belle Isle doth see his
isle; He who seeth Groi doth see his
joy, but gaze on Ushant's flood, you see
your blood"
OF tho wild scenery around ushant
there has probably never been any bet
ter description than that given by
Chatcaubriaud. The island is the lar
gest and from tho mainland the most
distant, Of those forming the archipelago
to which it gives its name. Molone, tho
next i'll size, trades largely in its own
soil, which on account of certain chem
ical properties is sought after by Breton
agriculturists. Then, in addition to
scores Of little islots, some Of them moro
ats and rocks, there is Quemencz,
which is about quarter the size Of
Ushant, while near to the mainland is
Beniquet, Or the Blessed Isle, SO called
Oh account Of its proximity to the Bre-
ton shore and the refuge it offers amid
the most dangerous Of all the adjacent
reefs, that of Les Pierres Noires.
Many stout ship and many u frail
fishing boat have been shattered among
these reefs, where the waters ever sectho
and roar, even on calm summer days.
But winter is the timo to sec Ushant
and its neighboring isles. all bare and
rugged, rising from amid the gale dashed
waves. Norock bound coast can offer
more impressive spectacle than that
which the ocean then presents as it
leaps in its dread, blind might around
The Isle of Terror. Westminster Ga.
Eette.