Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-05
A TRIP 10 THE TROPICS
Our Correspondent Arrives at
 the Island of Trinidad,
FORMER HOME. OF PIRATES
He Sees the Cordilleras in Venezuela-The Glorious Stars and Stripes Jacks
 Idea of Religion.


 spondence)-HereI I am al the island of Trinidad, only 600 miles from the eaua- tor, but 5000 miles from Birmingham. It makes me homesick to think of it. My trip from Martinique to Port of Spain was delightful. In fact since that hor- rid storm in the gulf we have been blest with fair winds and beautiful weather, with the exception of few wind and rain squalls. We sailed from St. Pierre on the morning of the 18th and reached here today, having made the run in just two days. We passed to windward of St. Lucia, a British island, and as the wind favored us we reeled off knots as deft1y as a sailor spins yarns. We weathered St. Lucia in fine style, passed St Vincent and Barbodos in the dis fance and made our course for Trinidad. Barbados is noted for having more popu- 1ation to the square mile than any coun- try in the world, with the possible excep- tion of China Belgium, the most thick ay settled country in Europe, has about b00 to the square mile; Rhode Island, our most thickly populated state, has about $50, but Barbados has 1000 and they are most all ''coons.". It is there that Cuffy can be seen in all of his glory. Poor white trash is tolerated there, but does not occupy the commanding position held in the land of the free and home of the brave.
 E. Bright and early this morning I came pn deck and viewed the high mountains bf Trinidad, but a few miles away Far ihway to the west dimly visible, were the Tloud-capped peaks of a spur of the Cor dilleras. which sets through Venezuela to the coast l was at length off the coast of South America. the scene of strangely mixed history of fable, of bloodshed and rapine-the romantic Spanish main. Here black-visag- ed pirates despoiled mighty gal icons of their treasures of gold and silver and sank the ships after making the unfortunate passengers walk the plank. or made incursions ashore, ravaging the estates of rich planters, hutting the owners throats and carry Ing off the lovely daughters. firing ps- ,tols al random and flourshing cutlasses- with recklessness, committing all sorts .bf atrocities and raising the devil gener- ally. to afford material for blood-curd- }ing recitals that fill with horror the minds of youthful readers absorbing the records of wonderful piratical adven- &ures.
 "A We passed through the Dragons Mouth without detention. the wind being Strong and favorable. Vessels are some times compelled to lay off for two weeks before they can make their way in through this surly entrance, the name pf which was given by Columbus. We soon reached the roaGstead, and in the midst of numerous vessels, we dropped anchor. It being Sunday, no custom ot1i- cer came. aboard, so we were compelled to stay aboard all day and pass away hur time as best we could
 All the vessels were bedecked in their national colors and as l cast my eye over the lot of them I saw but one that was flying the American flag. I am not given yto sentimentality, but when I saw the Stars and stripes floating out on the breeze my bosom swelled with patI1ot- 5sm, and for the first time l began to realize what glorious country and pret- Ny flag is ours. felt as if I was meet Ing an old friend Our flag isn't seen lat sea. as often as gold piece IS seen ln a poor box. Our merchant marine has been almost swept from the sea- ana 1 1t is due entirely to the high protective huties that have long prevailed more i Khan to any other cause. Millions ot American dollars are invested in ships, but they were bought abroad ana are Eailed under the English flag, with nominal English owner. Ing a vessel under the English flag, cnier of which is the protection John Bull gives his flag in all parts of the world. The main disadvantage is the fact thal s' Foreign ship cannot engage m our coass Wise trade, that is, they cannot carry lGarpo from one port to another m tne fJnited States. That disadvantase s manifest if you know anythlhS aoous Shipping. If foreign built vesseis id couid be brought in free or duty ws Coon have the largest merchant ,la- Zine of any country in the world Ens- Tand not excepted, and 1t would put an end to a lot of rascallty tnat ls IVY heing ipdulged in. Many vesseis are at hualIy ran ashore purposely d. ,ams some thev hlace on our coast. Under our JAWS a,,; .mry Ere sold by the marine insurance cun,, .t,, Eanies at public auction and then 'ney are fioated into port, repalreu a,h honse Eome American vessels the custom, h9ut d',t,, being defrauded out oh have ,ne tn i"i pay More Ehoyr half the vessels that are Wrecheu se. n',,iiv are wrecked purposely io' Ewindling purposes. the lhsuraLos+ in. hanies being the victims III Aio
 stances. .,,,oonar,s sails were . As sn,o old o,lr regular Sunday serViSe. Sa unnecessary labor IS lnoulseua fo, f1ack of Sunday (nor on any olhe, I s,,nar Sbat matter) As rule, sa,iois ,., oI,,,ed al- .t;t;ous' but not religiousiy lnciihso. t.tan ,s, f,ah many a rough. weather oea.ea i.'rsar carries his Bible to sea anu anu sppt,s # as piously and uninteingentiy ne the scripture reading ianus1aa In tie Eos Ynore time to become muuru rr sn,,or I.s.,nred Is,s nebulous perusai Ine 's.,oi continoe l ,,,,,ch accomplished by able sea sees S;, he relies so much upon .Ie aaa,,t heart. the quick eye ana ieaus is Sand that Providential interposl.,,on, is rarely invoked The man aaro,,,es ~, lack is .,t ant to call upon Hercules' l,snre no1 api likely to depend upon his own ,I, efforts than on prayer; prayer than fa tons"es nsp hs;,,a haI.us; futile words on the unlistening spen~.ne ssranest Going to sea makes men prac-
 The ssGrs p ha aes following l1 sns ffsssa ass - c;tad to me by sailor:
 The Sailors Yarn.
 Religion is all sSSe ssTy we neM in and tfs then wns
 Auu nu n;n, is better for women and klds
 DT1 Than for us able-bodied men.
 a narson you plays your game
 When breaches and ;s sings no ahd ddnt Ptays'
 Aronsiderin' ye find as 1t pays
 [ am A sailor, sir, not a paTso"'
 sanctified son of a gun,
 Ana sailors is hard to tackle aona,
 As you'll find, sir, before hase hseven uvne'
 va,,,ye spun me a yarn about heaven
 And things as 1 don't understaho'
 Now ri tel you what happene9 as
 one night on the Goodwin sahus'
 ,rr..-,- i, vear ago come NovemDeF,