Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-07-20
A RETURNED CONSUL.
Captain n. n. Ellis Of Turks island, W. !.
Stopping Ia Augusta.

Landlord H. f. Capen of the Augusta
House. He is resting after having been
on duty at the island and is waiting in
the East for few weeks preparatory
to going to Washington, to settle his
business for the islands, as he does not
contemplate returning there. Captain
Ellis has been in the Moosehead region
for several days and will gradually
work his way to his home in Califor-
mia. stopping few days in several Of
the states with relatives.
The Journal man called upon the
captain, Wednesday, at the Augusta
house and found him a most congenial
gentleman to meet on account of his
long years of service as the chief of
police of San Francisco having worked
up from the bottom of the ladder. also
as a sea captain and finally as consul.
Il went to the West Indies more out
of respect for my health than anything
else" said the captain. Il have been
troubled with the rheumatism FOR years
and was told if l went to the Turks
Islands / would probably be rid of it.
The way I have become rid of it was
through a siege Of 81 days in bed and
though l have been better since + have
lost hope of entirely losing my trouble
THE Turks Islands," he went on.
ARE a small group under Jamaica
rule laying in about the same latitude
as Cuba east of Jamaica. There are
several islands in the lot. none of which
are of any great size. The principal
products of the islands are salt and a
fibre that somewhat resembles manila
The fibre is of cactus order and if
someone with some push would get be-
hind the manufacture Of it, there would
be money in it.
The people of the island are of about
the same origin as the people of New
England, there being n mixture of Eng
lish, Scotch and Irish. They have been
there several generations and as in all
tropical countries have become rather
lazy. The blacks who are in an album
dance are like the blacks the world
over. The whites of the islands. thou:h.
are of the most hospitabe sort. They
persist in entertaining their consuls to
that extent that we old men cannot
stand it. for a long time. l like the
people very much. even though l have
ridiculed them in some respects
rs the commercial Importance of the
islands to the United States very
much?"
No. l can't say that it is. The for
eign countries seem to control the COM
merce of the islands and there seems to
be a decline in the exports in the past
few years.
Shall you take another consulship?"
inquired the Journal.
well, l cannot tell now" replied the
captain. II shall go to Washington in
a short time to arrange my business in
closing my connection WITH the Is
lands
Anyone cannot be with the captain
long without observing his curious cuff
buttons which are $40 gold pieces en-
graved.
These" he remarked, ARE what the
police force of San Francisco gave me
when I left in 1877 after having been
their chief. The gold in these was
never polluted in any way. as the coins
We're taken direct from the mint and
engraved. The department also pre-
scented me with very pretty watch at
the time of my departure after 90 years
service with them
The watch is beautiful thing with
the engraving on the inside telling of
the donors and their esteem for Cap
tain Ellis In the stem is set a large
diamond and naturally the timepiece is
of great value to the captain.