The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-01-11

they have left about he towns and bar
borf an interest and romance that cen
turtles will not cilacc.
In the port of Charlotte Amalie, on
the Island of ST. Thomas, there stand
two interesting old ruins which have
formed the theme for song and story
for two centuries. They are the ia
nous towers of, Black beard andl Blue
beard, the swarthy pirates Of whom
every BOY and girl has read. In these
two towers were enacted the scenes in
the domestic life Of these two dreaded
sea rovers that were 10 be handed down
to many generations in the shape OF
interesting stories.
But little remains Of BIuebcard's
tower, but there is still enough for
The people OF the island to point out
10 the interested stranger where the
room was located in which the young
wife found the bchcaded bodies of her
predecessors.
Blaa,beard's tower is still intact, and
Is pointed ont to the stranger as one Of
The interesting sights Of the island.
One may wander Trough the rooms
which legend tells uS were used at one
time by The pretty wife Of the pirate.
and ia one OF which the telI'alc love
letters Of the festive lord Of the tower
were found. and ia another was held the
fatal dinner party which resulted in
the death OF the sWrcthcarts at the
hand OF the young and jealous wife.
These are among the romantic fca-
lures Of the islands which this country
talks Of buying, lat it il not the re-.
nance for which the government world
pay Si.0uOOOO. What we would secure
Of intrinsic NalHc for that amount Of
money would toe one Of the finest hnr-
bors in the western hemisphere. A
hnrbor IN which hundreds Of vessels
could find safe anchorage from the
iyphoons of the South Atlantic. and
yet II l. u harbor iu u little island that
is only ~ miles long 10y three miles
wide.
At one time this harhur vas the hrnd-
quarters for the vessels uf the RuNnl
Mail company. but gradually the i'm
puttaucr of the islands aecliued' and
40 1855 This company removed its hrad-
quarters to barbados, But the Isluuu
il still u port OF call Tor vessels plying
between Europe and SOUTH American
ports. and should the canal across the
Isihmus OF Panama be built this har-
Dor would again become IN important
one 10 the shipping of he world.
The history Of the Danish West In.
dies Is quite as interesting ~ That of
any oihcy of the West Indian Islands.
The liitlc group la, ~ snrions tjmcs
been the property OF Spain. the Dutoh,
lhc English aud the Danes. They We're
discovered by Columbus on his second
voyage 10 America, and were first col
uuiIrc 10y u few SpaniurdS. bui IN 1854
Dutch cOloulsts took possession, The
Dutch colouists finally left the Islands
and went To New York and then the
EuElith took possession OF The islands.
The DuueS secured control In 1874. aud
with the exception of ten mouths ia
1901. when they were held by England,
Denmark has been the ruling power
ever since.
The war, OF Europe in which Den
mark maintained neutrality had much
90 do with the prosperity OF the Danish
West Indies. Through them III. colo
Iics of The warning nations found their
uulN market. and the harbor Of ST.
Thomas was 10 those dahs crowded
with ,hr shipping 81 the world Again
during The American civil war the is-
luGds eujoyeG an unusual prosperity
bccnuse Of ,ho!r importance to the con.
fsdsrate blockade runners, but since
that time the commercial importance
Of the islands has graGgslly declined.