The Minneapolis journal., 1901-01-04
SNAIL ISLES QUEER BEACH
1t Changes Color With the Rise and
Fall of the Tide.

I'll OA AhAN A0Cs
GA days sail from New Orleans lies
Snail Isle, strange and lonely island with
a broad, low sandy beach that changes
color with every flow of the tide said
Y. Burne Zelieks. of the Crescent City
Mr.. Zelieks is a man of wealth and leisure
whose chief delight is yachting. and the
outlines of his stanch and handsome yacht
the Sea Gull, are familiar TO seafaring men
IN southern waters. He is fond of the
Gulf of Mexico, and spends his winters
cruising along its shores.
Snail Isle, as the sailors call it," said
Mr.. Zelieks, lis scarcely more than two
miles long. Half covered by the warm
waters of the gulf at high tide, 1t seems
to bear charmed existence. Other islands
larger and higher than it have been swept
away by the heavy storms. Yet the little
low-lying island is as large to-day as it
was fifty years ago, the old sailors tell me-
Its sands are Of a golden yellow color,
and when the rising tide spreads over the
wide shell strewn beach the gided bits of
earth glisten in the sunshine. But when
The tide ebbs marvellous change takes
place. The golden sands become purple,
as If by magic. Men who see 1t for the
hrst time rub their eyes, lest they be
dreaming AS the tide Fecedes the purple
deepens, and the once bright. glittering
beach becomes dark as the royal robes of
an empress. Old sailors who have sailed
around the world gaze at the beach in be-
wilderment. They have never seen its
like before. 1t Is sight never to be for
gotten-an astounding spectacle Scien-
titic men are startled.
From the deck Of the Sea Gull 1
watched the beach change color one win
Ter afternoon. The splendor of the south
ern sun shone over sea and land. The
sands of the isle seemed more truly goI-
den than any had ever seen before The
tide, which had been at standstill for a
Few moments, began to turn back to the
ocean. Fascinated by the beauty of the
beach with its waving fringe of green
leayed palms. stood by the bowsprit
gazing shoreward. Suddenly the color
seemed TO darken. Astonished. 1 glanced
more keenly at the scene. Over the broad
expanse of glimmering sand purple wave
was spreading. What can it be?' | won
dered. Richer and richer grew the pur-
pie hue, and realized that my eyes were
not deceiving. Beside me, smiling with
satisfaction at my astonishment, stood our
pilot, Bob Allen. In answer to my hasty
question, he ordered the gig lowered and
silently stepped into the boat. 1 followed
and away we were swiftly rowed toward
the shore. AS we drew near l beheld upon
the beach myriads of little crawling pur-
pie objects. Springing ashore as the boat
touched sand 1 picked up one Of the tiny
spOtS Ol Color IL was snail. Wonder
rully purple in hue and as large as pea
nuts, the strange crustaceans had c0lored
the beach. When the tide falls they issue
forth from the wet sand in search Of food
with remarkable rapidity. The old adages
about the slowness Of snails would not
apply TO the purple ones on Snail Isle
They have elongated bodies and can crawl
almost as rapidly as small crabs They
are delicious tidbits when daintily cooked,
and after the suggestion of Captain Allen
we ate many Of them. Their shells are
singularly beautiful when first secured.
but soon fade into a dull gray color
There are many beautiful islands along
the gulf coast, but none has for me the
attraction of Snail Isle"