The Washington times., 1901-08-04
THE DANISH WEST INDIES.

| While the negotiations between Den
mark and the United States for the sale
of the Danish West Indies are progress
/ ing with the due leisure of diplomacy,
the inhabitants of at least one OF the
beautiful group would conclude the sale
between the booming OF their sunrise and
sunset guns If they were made masters OF
| their destiny. An American who recently
returned from a trip through the Broken
Necklace" Of the West India Islands had
the good fortune to make a short stay in
Santa Cruz. 1t is by that name that the
Yankees and Englishmen of the islands
know the Danish possession, but the na-
tives still cling to the name of st. Croix.
The probability that the American flag
will one day be floating over the low
walled for in Frederiksted Harbor
invested the island with a ney inter-
est. and the American found his subse-
quent search for information a gratifying
one.
The jungle that climbs so densely from
the sea level to the topmost heights of
the other West India islands had sue
cumbed. he found, to the industry and
cunning of the planter. and over the
length and breadth of it the sugar cane
fields ran in beautiful stretches of vivid
green. From the harbor these fields
stretched away in undulating squares.
with here and there palm rearing its
plumed head. In the town of Frederik-
sted bungalow-like buildings, graceful
with verandas and grey-shingled roofs.
extend from the sandy beach well
into the foothills with the wide stree $
showing brown against the prepondel-
ating green of the foliage The dwellings
and business buildings are larger and Of
a more substantial architecture than any
found outside OF Barbados. and the
streets are wide. well kept, and hand
somely built. The town. while 1t has long
been under Denmark's rule. showed few
outward signs of its nationality beyond
the bold red cross of Denmark flying from
the port and here and there an advertise
ment or bill in the Danish language that
looked sadly out of joint with the sur
roundings. There are few Danes now In
Santa Cruz outside of the official family,
and from the Governor. who spends his
time equally between Santa Cruz and st.
Thomas down to the poorest blackamoor
of the cosmopolitan population. they are
roofing" with enthusiasm for American
occupation.
Sugar planting is the leading Industry
planters are from the north Of Ireland
Americans travelling through the island
remember with pleasure the hospitality
that they have invariably met on their
plantations and as entertainers their re-
sources seem inexhaustible. The Golden
Grove is the largest plantation on the ISL
and Of Upperlove, with a narrow strip OF
cane between known to the islanders as
the plantation of Jealousy. The cane
that has been pressed In the mills Is the
sole fuel. and this inexpensive process
has helped greatly to make sugar grow
ing the profitable industry that has rank
ed Santa Cruz among the richest of the
West Indies. Santa Cruz rum is justly
famous and its manufacture Is steadily
The best made In the island
can be bought there for So a gallon and
there is no doubt as to Its purity when SO
purchased The practice has Just been in
augurated of shipping II to the states in
unsealed casks, and the man who loves
the lusty rum of buccaneer flavor can
now buy it undiluted from his New York
dealer. The bay rum for which st. Thorn
as is widely known is little superior to
that made in Santa Cruz. where the lab
orers leisurely pluck the bay leaf from
the windows of the distillery. In its best
quality IL can be had there for S2.25 a
case. The steamships of the Quebec line
stop at Frederiksted on an average of
once a fortnight. but its acquisition by
the American Government will doubtless
create better communications, as San
Juan, Porto Rico, is but ninety miles dis
tant. with st. Thomas en- route. There
Is, however. a lively trade carried on by
the ubiquitous West Indian schooner, and
the air of prosperity seen in all parts of
Santa Cruz is unmistakable. i
While Christiansted is the capital, its
shoal harbor ard exposure to storms
through its windward location have made
Frederiksted the commercial hub of the /
Island. 1t is favorite port for men-of- |
war in the West Indies. for the harbor |
IS good one. with clear water, through |
which the bottom can be seen at several |
while the town has an excellent (
sanitary reputation. Many of our finest |
cruisers have dropped anchor in its clean /
waters. and the recent enthusiasm for the \
United States received a happy illustra- /
lion when one of them visited Frederik I
sted last spring. Christiansted is the sa- /
uting port, but in obedience to orders, !
which were probably unknown to the ISL |
anders, the Americans thundered out a !
wenty-one gun salute to the Danish flag |
Half an hour later the fort answered |
With its muZZle-loaderS, but in the mean |
Tine the commanding officer of the fort |
mad telegraphed across the island to the |
Governor of Christiansted asking permis- |
sion to return the unexpected salute. The |
Governor wired back reply that sent |
he stocky artillerymen on the run to |
heir stations, but they recalled that an |
,ther man-of-war that had few months |
before saluted the flag over their heads |
lad expended its powder in vain
1t was at Frederiksted that the United |
States steamer Monongahela was blown |
shore in 1867. The roadway IN the very |
shadow of the American Consufs office |
s pointed out as her troth. The old fri |
,ate, with Captain Wadhams in COM
nand, called a few years ago and the |
own outdid Itself in its reception. AT
Inner given by the United States Consul
IN old photograph of the Monongahela
n her unique position was a prominent
decoration. Major Moore, then Consul,
lied at his post last year and was sue
eeded by Mr.. Mermin Connecticut man
Who has lived on the islands for fifteen
ears in which time he served for five
ears as British Vice Consul, gaining in
hat post an invaluable amount of infor-
nation about the consular business and