Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-03-21
THRILLING EXPERIENCE or COL
AND MRS. BIRD.
Vessel Strikes but Backs off in Safety
Simple Way of Living at ST. Johns
Natives Fond of Being Photo
eraphed.
Madison. March Is

letter to his daughter, Miss Louise,
Col Bird thus tells the tale:
I'VE have had a most enjoyable, de-
Ii -htful and novel time. Everything
We have seen is so strange, and the
people on the island Of st. John are so
simple Between st. Thomas and st.
John we wound about among many
islands, and the channels, between
them are often very narrow. Coming
back from St. John our steamer came
very near striking rock above the
surface of the sea, and came so close
that the bottom of the ship struck.
There was great excitement for
while-genuine fear; but the ship
soon fell off and the captain gave us
assurance that no serious damage had
been done and we all felt better. The
pilot we took on at st. Thomas to
pilot us through these narrow. places
was black as coal. He told me the
reason we struck was that the tide
was flowing strongly out and that the
ship did not respond to the helm
uickly enough. But I don't think so.
was forward, just below the bridge,
watching the change OF courses in
getting through this narrow place. |
saw We were driving ahead right for
the big rock that stood 20 feet above
the water. was sure we would strike
it. ] looked up to the pilot. His face
showed deep anxiety, his eyes bulged
cut and rapidly men from port to
starboard-He cried out Hard a star
| board" and repeated the order twice
| quickly. The wheelman was Juggling
| at the wheels and the bow fell off and
we just missed the rock when the
| bottom struck. The alarm became
general, the engines were stopped, the
ship listed slightly to port and we
| heard the signal from the captain to
the engineer, Full steam astern. .
! Then the ship trembled and fell off
and we went ahead.
At ST. Johns.
| Writing an another time Mrs. Bird,
with interesting detail, says:
1--WE have had a great trip on the
Porto Rico to st. Johns and ST.
| Thomas We left the dock Saturday
evening about IL o'clock and arrived
at ST. Thomas about a. m. We did
not land as we were only to take on a
man for one of our party. We sailed
through islands which were simply
unproductive peaks and evidently I'M
4 hot o1~
| it was so shallow that it was with the
greatest care we escaped getting
aground We arrived DIT ST. Johns,
about II a. m. Breakfast at 1880
then took little boats and went ashore.
We first paid our respects to the man
of the island. He is governor,
supreme court and chief of police,
gives and sentences and executes his
own justice, has everyone vaccinated
once a year by a Danish doctor who
ever he is sent for. There are 8
houses in the city, the capital, and
rs people.
"The governors residence is on a
|
leads up to it through tropical trees.
We reached the gate and ascended
two or three terraces, then the stone
steps to the front door, Judge Zielion
received us at the door, presented us
to his wife who received in calico
wrapper. There were little happy-go-
lucky white haired children tumbling
about who had evidently had on their
white dresses after the boat was in
the harbor. They have lived on the
island three years and this was the
first boat that had come in. In the
parlor was a large, round table of
carved and beautifully polished ma
hogany made in ST. Thomas, chains. a
writing desk, cupboard and stone
floors of course The next room was
the dining room in which the table,
cupboards and chairs were mahogany.
The stable was of stone and the
horses in it we'll fed and cared for.
and of course saddle horses as there
is not carriage, wagon or cart on
the island. There is nothing on the
island to export only small limbs of
trees burned into charcoal. Bundles
of this wood are lying about ready TO
burn. The fruit suffices for the
island, but that is all-bananas, lines,
pomegranntes, custard, apples, mis-
pero's, soursop, etc. The chief ser
want is black as night, had evidently
donned his uniform and, with under
servants, was prepared to show us
about the island.
After we had climbed road a |
ways and come back he asked us to |
stop at his house and he would take |
us into the garden. We did so and |
he turned US over to the care of his
daughter, Charlotte Lottie they call |
me- she said. She took us into the
fruit garden, which was like corn
field only the corn was bananas, thick,
and the long leaves touching our
heads. There was a pear tree also,
but no pears. She picked off the only
green lime that was of any size and
gave to your father who was exam.
ming it curiously. AS we came around
the house and looked at the pome-
granite tree there was but one ripe
piece Of fruit which she picked for
[da. She asked US into the house, :
which was scrupulously clean, as are .
Ill houses in these Danish islands. .
Fhe little parlor was decked with
lowers and shells-any little thing
! i