Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02

u English, Spanish and
HE French did not think
~ Nd worth keeping Since
the time of Martin Harpetzoon Won Tromp,
that brave admiral who dashed broom at
his masthead in token that he had swept
the English channel clean, the Dutch nave
not done much in the West Indies except
to hold the small islands they somehow
acquired when their sailors were power
the sea.
They now own SABA, an island less ac-
cessible than any other in the world; Saint
Eustatius, where the American flag was
first saIuted by a foreign power; half of
Saint Martin, and Curacao and it's depend
encies on the north coast of South America.
Curacao was discovered in the year 1890,
by the gallant Spaniard, Alonzo de Ojeda,
whose remains were inferred in the now
ruined convent of San Francisco in Santo
Domrgc. He had with him on that voy-
age one Americas Vespucci, whose name
has become more famous than that of the
captain of his ship, and the twain extended
the discoveries of the third voyage of Co
lumbus. and found, not far from the point
where Columbus left of. an island rich
in pearls that they loaded their vessel with
them and went back to Spain rejoicing.
Worth Millions.
These ill-gOtten gains were claimed by
Columbus who was entitled to 1.-THE of
Ojeda and Vespucci went on the principle
that findings is havings. and not 4 sim
gle pearl did Christopher get from them.
TEey didn't find anything worth mention.
Ing in Curacao, except Its aboriginal name
and Its inhabitants. vino were of great
stature and quite fierce. And the placid
Dutchmen held it for two hundred years
and more before they themselves became
aware that their island possessed a mine
of wealth far surprising tine pearls of Mar
garta. They did not discover it, though,
nor directly benefit by il. One eyentful
day. perhaps twenty years ago, a Cornish
miner drifted to the island. strapped
hungry. an object OF pity.
He had Cornish pluck. however, and it
was not long before he had negotiated for
and secured title to vast quantity of
waste land lying not far distan, from the
chief port The highest hill on the south
coast is pointed out as portion of that
waste land and is said to be one solid
bed of phosphate-at least 81 per cent OF
il is that deposit: and if the Dutch fathers
OF Curacao were not constitutionally un-
able 20 perform the operation they would
be kicking themselves to this day, for
the poor Cornish miner has long since be-
come millionaire. He runs yacht the
wonder of those seas; the steps to his
landing pier are solid mahogany he enter
tains lavfshy every friend and stranger
who visits him, and he or his company lit
is all the same) pay into the island treas
ury soO.WO every year their mines are
worked The steady-going Dutcbmen who
committed their government to the con-
tract whereby Curacao was deprived of
her only treasure-trove still meet nightly
on the shore of the tranquil Skattegat and
smoke and sigh and shake their heads
whenever they look toward the mountain
whence the necromancer's wand has "
tracted the millions their poor little island
ought to have and needs so much.
Nobody knows just how much has been
taken out. nor how much there is left TO
mine; but all agree that this phosphate
worlds ho-
nanzas No stranger is admitted within
the gates OF the works, nor allowed TO get
d enmpse beyond the portal. He is hos
ptaply received and entertained Toasted
on the choicest viands, flooded with the
rarest wines; but no Establishments avail
10 serve as an open sesame.
Rugged Isle.
curacao, the little island discovered the
last year of the fifteenth century. Sc long
IN possession of the Dutch, and recently
visited by Admiral Cervera 400 years after
his countrymen first landed here. IL less
than forty miles long and from three 10
seven miles wide. II Is merely n volcanic
assure forming deep harbors with rims OF
rock around them, the coast everywhere
rent and rugged. From the highest hills
on clear day the blue mountains of that
stretch of Venezuelan coast known as the
Paraguana are distinctly visible, and IT
seems to have been created expressly as
maven for Venezuelan revolutionistS-the
unsuccessful ones-who plan and ptot here
and escape hither after their schemes have
failed Those who have succeedeG-such as
bo1var-are now known as heroes and the
places of their residence here still pointed
out.
Coasting the southern shore in a steamer
or the Red d Line'-if it has not been
purchased by our government-and sailing
past the phosphate region, a town suddenly
springs to view. and then narrow inlet
appears. as though some Hercules had rent
apart the bare brown hills that form the
backbone of the island. 1t is straight but
deep, and leads into a capacious harbor
perhaps mile in length-the Skattegat-
beyond which is another natural lagoon
called Spanish Water" capable of float
ing navy. Perched above the latter is a
nne old castle of Spanish times and on
each side the inlet giving entrance to the
TWO lagoons is an old fort, one called Fort
KIN, and the other Fort Amsterdam
Their cannon are old and rusty dating
pacH 10 pre-Columbian times, apparently;
ana their garrisons of dumpy Dutch SOL
diers are so quaint and funny that one al
most laughs in their faces as the steamer
sweeps by. So narrow is this entrance
that the sentries of either fort can hail
those of the other; and when well within II
Is discovered that a pontoon bridge snaps
The harbor mouth. The deep bass of the
steamers whistle is answered by a sbrilI
foot from a diminutive launch and soon
one end OF the pontoon is seen to move
slowly toward the opposite shore The
strip OF blue water grows wider and wider
until at last the bridge of boats lies parallel
10 the shore. and another "tootr tells the
stranger that she may enter. A few min
htes later the little ladnch tugs her nom
toon back TO its original position, and long
before the steamer is tied I'D to the dock
the interrupted traffic between the peonIe
IN the TWO sections Is resumed
A Dit of Old Holland.
IL one were not quite sure of his bear
fngs and positive that he had not sailed
Into the Zuyder Zee he might be pardoned
Ter imagining himself within the confines
Of some Dutch settlement; for the town of
Wilhelmstadt. which surrounds the lagoon.
Is filled with fine houses Enthusiastically Hol-
landish ia architecture. They are solidly
built, with stone and mortar walls quaint
dormer windows and balconies bricked
courts and tiled roofs. Spanish "casas," in
fact. with Dutch trimmings. and modified
10 suit the climate: the windows broad and
open, but with glass instead of iron bars,
and both balconies and corridors shielded
from the sun by green 'jaIousies." They
arc bright and CHEEKY. too, for the roof
Ties are red and the walls are yellow
pink or blue.