The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-12-31
Notes of a Cruise
Taken There by
John 6. ShOrta11.

With Porto Rico an American de-
tendency and Cuba substantially in
the same situation maugre the objec-
tons Of the patriots and an
ationists; with the adult public once
more taking lessons in the science of
geography, it is not strange that great
interest should have been developed
in the Lesser Antilles.
Under the protocol of terms for
peace between Spain and the United
States probably the most desirable of
the great Antilles will become an
American colony. This island CONT
nent-it is almost such-is the eastern
and northern barrier to the great
Caribbean sea. Porto Rico holds the
key to the position in these seas and
Is a near neighbor to the Danish is
lands of st. Thomas, of the Vir-
gin group, which has caused American
statesmen more loss of sleep than any
other piece Of land surrounded bv wa
ter on the globe. With one of these
already in Americas grasp it is but
natural that the people should wish
to NOW more of the neighbors who
form the eastern fringe to the Carib-
bean.
The Lesser Antilles consist of the
three groups known as the Virgin is
lands, the Leewards and Windwards.
IN order from north to south. The
Virgins sweep from the eastern Dor
ders Of Porto Rico east and south to
near where the Leewards commence.
These overlap the Windwards, which
extend almost to the South American
continent, forming a broken, Jagged
barrier to the Caribbean sea.
Something over IS months ago,
when war with Spain was a mere rum
BILE, John G. Sh%ortail, accompanied by
a party of ladies and gentlemen made
a trip through the archipelago. AS the
tropical seas and chimes are not desir-
able n%eighbors in summer when
storms and the ever-present yellow fe-
yer abound. while the heat is sitting.
the trip was taken in the early
months of the year. The party left
Brooklyn in February and cruised d.
rectly to st. Thomas, the real start
ing point. Thence the steamer went
~zig-zagging through the Leewards and
Windwards to Venezuela.
MI. Shortall describes st. Thomas
as one of the most interesting Of all
he islands near the western continent.
This is not only because of it's native
attractiveness, but because America
has fiirted with it so much. As he
recollected it was during Grants time
that a proposal to purchase the island
was made. The king of Denmark hes
ltated because it was scarcely on
slstent with the royal dignity to sell
u colony. His dignity was frightfully
shocked when congress refused to rat
ify the deal after the royal assent had
been indicated.
But st. Thomas possesses sometime
very rare in the groups of islands.
that is a good, we'll protected harbor
The bay Of the city is a large, well
sheltered one, amply provided with a
large dry dock and wharfng facilities
The island also has one other advan.
tage: There are fewer negroes there
h a in the others. The island is not
ed for the beauty of the scenery, the
beauty OF the bay and the sport of the
natives in diving for pennies from
open boats in the. bay. The water is
so clear that the skillful fellows are
able to plunge to the bottom and res.
cue the coin tossed in by visitors il
search of amusement.
The various groups are almost de-
void of harbors, although engineers
might be able to remove this objec-
ton at considerable cost. A slight
in~dentation in the shore line is about
all that any of them can boast in the
way of harbors. Piers thrust out into
the bay serve to land boats from the
ships, but only two or three of the
limited harbors are furnished with
docks. This, of course, makes calm
weather necessary for comfort in max,
ing visits.
"The population of these islands,
said Mr.. Shortall, sis largely negro
Some authorities say in the proportion
of twenty to one. Naturally the dwell
ings are such as might be expected
with such a population. Sugar ha'
been and still is the chief product. l
has made many great fortunes, BIZ
those days are past and many of tn,