The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-02-20
THE ISLES OF JUNE.
LETTER FROM THE BAHAMAS.
A Cecil COuntian Writes About the De-
lights of the Tropics, After an EX-
perience at Sea.
NASSAU, NEW TKUNlDENVE,
Bahamas February II, 1897.

snip company Limited. we lett New York
on time in n furry OF snow, which increased
as we dropped down the bay and passed
Governors, Staten, Bedloes, and Fire Islands
During the first night at sea it was necessary
to blow our whistle at intervals of every three
minutes to keep it from freezing. After leav-
ing Sandy Hook our course was due south,
but in order to avoid the storm as much as
possible. we altered our course to cast by
south. We met terrible weather, and when
on Friday we passed Cape Hatteras we were
to the eastward five hundred miles. On Sat
urday morning about daybreak, we sighted
schooner flying signals of distress. On COM
ing up with her at o'clock, she proved to be
the Carlton Bell, of Bath, Maine, sugar laden,
bound from Marcas Jamaica, for New York.
We spoke her, and she having lost her rudder,
expressed desire to be towed into Nassau,
n. p, for which port we We're bound. Our
captain, with view of big Salvage. quickly
passed her line. We towed her all that day
and night, and at daybreak Sunday morning
the Hawser parted. She took it up again,
and again it parted, bringing with it her
anchor chain about 5 p. m. The sea was
something terrible at this time, and it was
impossible to give her the line again. But we
told them we would lie by them until morn
ing. She showed n flash light until about 8
p. m., Sunday evening, when we lost sight of
her at II p. m. We burned blue light from
the bridge Of the Antlia, but received no
answer from the schooner. On Monday
morning we st rted our engines and com
menced the search for her. We altered our
course several times during the day, and fin
ally gave up the search and headed for the
'hole in the WALL Owing to the extremely
bad weather, it was Wednesday morning, Feb.
81, before we passed through. Soon after we
passed the Niagara Of Wthe ard line bound
for New York from Cuba. About noon sighted
Nassau and the light house on Hog Island.
Shortly after we came up with the pilot boat,
and having taken our pilot aboard, we
steamed up and were safely taken over the
dangerous bar at the entrance Of the harbor.
As we steamed up the bay, we got better
view Of the City of Nassau, the ship gides
close to land. Cocoauut Groves and white
villas appear, With slopes rising to dark
green summit behind them. Soon the ship is
in her berth at the pier. and we and our bag
gage are soon ashore.
Our first impression of Nassau is peaceful
ness, quiet and lest. Here, us you approach
the city, "A white house top glares in the sun.
and there number of cozy cottages nestle in
the cool shade of II grove of cocoanuts. A
landscape, white and cleanly framed in vari-
colored foliage, forms the picture on which
our eyes rest. Tho delightful shades of the
water, varying from a deep indigo blue to a
bright emerald green according to the depth
and kind of bottom, is another thing that will
make a lasting impression on the memory
And no matter what the shade, its wonderful
transparency, enabling you to sec every stone,
shell, weed or fish on the bottom. We regret
that the number OF voracious looking sharks
around the ship occasionally precludes the
possibility of indulging with safety in plunge
from the ships side. Before the vessel makes
her berth, and whilst we are passing our lines
ashore, several row boats make out to us. In
the bow of each is Il boy s or 10 years old
entirely naked save for Il small pair of swim
ming trunks. These are the celebrated divers
to whom none in the world are superior.
They stand in the bows of their boats looking
up. You throw in "A penny, two. three OF
even four. Down goes the boy in 30 feet OF
water, and he generally gets the coin before
it reaches the bottom. All of his motions, and
even the pennies, can be seen plainly. Aftc,
having successfully passed the Custom House
officers, who by the way are. nearly all
negroes, or as they are called here blacks
we are at liberty to take II victoria and drive
to the hotel, which is to be our home during
our brief stay in the capital of the Bahamas.
We found there had been great deal of
anXiety about the safety of the Antilia, and
at the hotel and club we were interviewed
about our long aud rough passage, and us we
were three days overdue, numerous reports
were floating about. The transition from frozen
New York with the mercury lowering about
zero to this land of perpetual summer, with
all its tropic grandeur. is something wonder
full and altogether different from IL trip we
made in 1880 to Havana, Cuba. Steaming
down the L. S. coast the change WAS gradual,
each day getting warmer and warmer until
made the same trip. leaving New York City in
blizzard, and after only four days voyage
landing in Havana, Cuba, with the mercury
at 102 degrees, yet experiencing no discom-
fort The thermometer here however rarely
goes below 63 degrees nor above rs degrees.
There is no country on the face of God S
green earth more favored by nature in the
matter Of climate than the BPhamas. For
nine or ten months III the year ut least sun
stroke and prostrations from heat are abso-
lutely unheard of.
The Bahamas have been very appropriately
called tue isles of June Here within IL
distance from New York that is less than to
Chicago, while Americans wrapped III furs
and ulsters plod through snow and ice, resi-
dents of the Bahamas revel in perennial sun
shine and general warmth. Chilling blasts
are unknown, frosts are something the aver
age native only knows of from hearsay.
Fires for heating purposes are never thought
Of, and linen and other light summer clothing
are all that is required. In fact, visitors
from more rigorous cimes are almost ut II
Joss to remember whether they are wntering
hero all summer or summering here all winter.
The air during the winter is sufficiently