The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-04-27

For wears these islands were their
stronghold, especially New Providence,
whose safe harbor attracted the buc-
caneers-the worst of their kind-who
went forth to seize their prey and to
hang or throw into the sea all who re-
sisted. They prospcred in their pitt
less trade; increased, until the island
swarmed with them, and they could
command the services of three thou
sand men and half-a-hundred vessels.
The famous Blackboard was among
them, his very name terror to Ameri-
can settlements. In Charleston har-
Dor he boldly appeared, captured a
vessel with prominent citizens on
board, and easily obtained the ransom
he demanded Captain Kidd flourished
here also, and Major Bonnet, of worse
fame. But their day came in due time.
In 1918 the English captured New
Providence; the worst and boldest of
the pirates were taken, and met the
fate they deserved. A visit to that
small island will recall those days of
terror; for in Nassau, its capital, is still
shown to touris's the ruins of an old
fort, with the statement that its under
ground chambers were once the hiding
places of nest Of pirates. One in
clres to believe anything Of the dark
cold cells, one tier under another, where
no ray of light could enter and food
was passed through mere slit in the
wall. Thousands of bats now cling in
black masses to the ceiling, ready when
twilight falls to increase the horror
with their ceaseless futter in and out
to upper regions. The gloomy coun-
Gil chamber might have belonged to
the inquisition; so also the mysterious
holes prepared, it was affirmed, for the
last home of particular troublesome
captivrs. There were larger and more
open rooms. In one, brick fireplace
arranged fol- cooking; beside it well.
Our guide babe us listen as he dropped
pebble. We counted five, six, seven
seconds ere it struck the water. as it
very cold?' asked one. "No, warm;
but we pour it into this barrel and it
is soon ice cold" We did not doubt
that, for we were shivering in the chill
atmosphere; not so much from cold
perhaps, as from sickcniny thoughts OF
scenes enacted in the dungeons below us.
Happily for the world, the day OF
the buccaneer has gone by, and once in
the free air above our spirits rose
The view from that old Fort Charlotte
is worth trip to Nassau. The crystal
harbor was, that morning, swept with
turquoise, violet, and liquid silver
There was scarcely Il ripple, and sea
birds, lowering above, only dipped
their wings in the shining water, then
moved away in slow undulating curves,
as if they caught the spirit of rest over
all. Fishing craft, large and small
were anchored here and there, while
one great white winged vessel lay mo-
tlonless, "as idle as painted ship upon
a painted ocean,"
The air of New Providence is lux.
ury. Fresh from the salt sea, it brings
energy to listless nerves. The same
air charmed the old world adventures
Ponce de Leon came with them seek.
ing the mythical "Fountan OF Youth,
but went away disappointed, having
in the group Of five hundred streams
found only one running stream. Wa
ter is now supplied from wells, which
curiously rise and fall with the tides.
A phosphorescent lake is one of the
novelties of Nassau. At night Il peb-
ble thrown in seems to toss up sparks
of fire; fish leave behind a flaming path
and each dip of an oar throws out
flashing foam. Divers are plentiful
always ready for a shilling to effect
! brilliant marine fireworks.
When England finally secured pos.
session of the Bahamas, a fricans were
brought in to till the soil, and farms
were prosperous. Sixty years ago the
slaves were freed, and their owners re.
turned to England Without the
white man S guiding hand farms went
to ruin. Long lines of crumbling stone
/ walls. dividing untitled fields, are nov
the only remains of once prosperous
plantations. Sisal is grown to some
extent, but the natural indolent negro
needs greater inducement to labor
than fruits that grow without care, and
climate which never pinchcs with
cold. One is besieged with beggars-
most gracious beggars, who smile with
exquisite sweetness whether YOU give
or do not give the penny they ask
The halfclothed pickaninny is trained
to run after almost under-the tour
lists carriage, calling out in sweetest
child voice, "Please, boss, a penny
Half naked boys, old men, or women
in rags, carrying the family frewood
on their heads, meet one Oh every drive
adding to the picturesqueness of the
narrow lanes, where palmettos, sapodil
los, oranges, bananas, and tall cocoanu,
trees bend over matched huts. In
Grantstown, Nassau's most unique
suburb, contented poverty and smiling
beggary dwell in the midst ofluxuriant
lovoliDnsc