Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-08
(TAE DEFEATED
SPANISH SHIPS :

Dor Of Charlotte Arnale. the capital, and
the towering peak 1850 feet high, which
forms the bulk of the island.
The Virgin Islands, like nearly all the
islands in this part Of the world, are
subject TO earthquakes, and the more
dangerous cyclones. 1t is worth noting
that July, August, September, and Octo-
Der are the cyclone months.
On the islands extending southeast 10
Gaudeloupe, all but two Of which are
British, ii is scarcely necessary TO speak.
ST. Bartholomew is French. ST. Martin,
of which eighteen square miles belong TO
Holland and twenty square miles to
France, produces a quantity or salt.
Nevis was the birthplace Of Hamilton.
They are all busy places, but most OF
them have no harbor.
Pigeon Island, at the northern extremi-
ty of St Lucia, is an important military
point, and will soon be the strongest for
tfication In the Indies. 1t is good coal
ing station. Ihe capital. Castries, on the
western coast, is a fine town of 1900 peo-
pie, mostly French. st. Lucia has changed
hands several times since the British took
it IN 1894 and made Sir John More Gov
ernor.
a fine bit OF land is the Barbados. 1t is
the chief English military station in the
West Indies. 1t lies in the track OF vessels
and, could we use II, would be invaluable
to our cruisers acting against Spanish pri-
vateers and gunboats. The harbor, Car
Isle Bay, is large. open roadstead, and
recently the forts have been armed with
modern guns. Bridgetown. the capital,
stretches, with 5000 people, along the
shores of the bay.
Barbados has been very useful to Eng
land when she was fighting France and
Holland. During the war that began III
1856 the island spent e24,0OO In equipplhg
and raising an expedition, Wnlch SET ouI
under Governor Beckwith and took Mar
,inioue and the following year Guade-
loupe. Those two important islands were
finally ceded TO France II France Is dis
posed 70 have ii so, they may De Oh gteaI
service to Spain in war with the Ohiteu
states.
Point au Pitre, In Guadeloupe, Is the I'M
ortant station here. That II mas me
ilitary harbor may be concluded from
soubriquet THE Gibraltar oil the An
lilies" Nevertheless, this Gloraltdr u
not as strongly fortified as II Hlisnt &c
II resisted the English successfully III
lees 1901 and 1903. but was taken by Cen
erai harrington and Admiral Moore IN
175q The celebrated victory OF rooney
over Admiral de Grasse occurred mere.
Martinique Is not a great strategic punt
like Guadeloupe. ,,ui..taoa g. mt
The beautiful island OF TRINIDAD IS not
one of the Antilles, but II should DC
mentioned for its harbor. forl Oh SPAN
is one OF the finest cities IN the "est IN
dies and a favorite anchorage Tor tnlteu
s,otes ships In 1895 the crews OF the
Nv work., Cincinnati, and Raleigh saved
the citv from total destruction by nre'
trinidad was the scene Of naval oattle
in 1877 when the British took II from
Spain. II was the place or sir water
Raleigh's search for gold Nelson came
there in 1905 with the Victory ana thlr-
teen other vessels. chasing twenty-elght
French and Spanish warships. HAD Nei-
son caught them under the lee OF Trim
dad the mouth or the Orinoco "ou4u ha'o
the fame Of Trafalgar.
The Leeward Islands are OF only Sc
condary importance. and may be passed
o,,er with a reference to Curacao as a
TYNE. This island is deficient In water
but Dutch industry has made II give
forth in profusion all OF the products or
the region The chief harbor, Santa Anna
ON the southwest side OF the island, has
formidable batteries and fort.
To complete the sketch OF the West
India Islands. there are Jamaica and the
bahamas left TO mention. There is also
the forlorn little island OF Navarsa, In
the Caribbean, which belongs 10 Ameri-
cans and which may be used by the
government for its coal-bins.
Jamaica is more than fifty miles long
bv forty wide. 1t is rich in tropical vege-
tation. and It's scenery is charming. Port
ROYAL. which was once demolished by
cyclone. Is the military port Its harbor
defences consist OF three sub-stations.
besides the fort at the city The bate
ries have been steadily improved. and the
latest riled guns are In use. There Is q
small dock-yard here and marine