Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-10-02
Rich Plantations Abandoned.


! Back of the hills that surround the
I town lie many profitable cocoa and
sugar plantations, although most OF
the land is still wild and uncu1tivated
The terrible reputation of the fer-de
lance is responsible for much of this
neglect, so they say, and, in despera
ton, the first mongoose was imported
10 years ago.
A live fer-de-lance was easily pro
cured, and battle royal took place in
the public square at Castries before a
large but somewhat nervous audience
The enemies at once recognized each
other as such, although neither had
ever seen a specimen of this deadly
foe before. The fer-de-lance is not
only a fierce snake, but courageous
one as well, and is so used to lording
it over st. Lucia and Martinique that
he refuses to run even from man, but
Immediately proceeds to attack any
and every living animal that comes
within reach Of his deadly fangs.
But the mongoose evidently inspired
this one with terror, and he tried to
get away. Finding that his antagonist
would not allow this, however, he pre-
pared for battle. The mongoose nimbly
avoided his fierce lunge, and, before he
could deliver another stroke, caught
him just back of the head and with a
quick snap severed his spine
This victory led to further importa-
lions Of the plucky little mongoose,
and the result has been the almost
total eXtirpation of this dreaded SER
pent in st. Lucia. He has been driven
to the limbs of trees in the densely
wooded portion of the island, where
his mortal foe cannot get at him. AL
together, the life of the fer-de-lance
in st. Lucia has ceased to be a happy
one
Although large number of deaths
II in one field once-have in past
years been reported from the bite of
this reptile, yet they have represented
but small proportion of those bit
ten. Almost every estate has it's "ser-
pent DOCTOR who can generally cure
the patients by secret remedies, in
which lime plays a prominent part, if
he can get to work on the victim in
time.
Points on the Negro Problem
1t might be we'll for us to note how
Great Britain has solved the negro
problem in st. Lucia, under conditions
SO closely resembling those in our own
new West Indian possessions. There
are on the island 1920 people, of
whom 2S,766 are of pure negro blood
and 9,47S of mixed blood. AS in all
the other islands, the illegitimate
births outnumber the legitimate al
most two to one. The negro is allowed
no vote nor voice whatever in the
government. The pure whites number
only $50
The constitution is that of a crown
colony, the crown having the entire
control of legislation, and the admin
istration being carried on under the
control Of the imperial government.
An administrator is at the head Of
affairs in the island, and is assisted
in the administration by the advice of
two councils-the executive and the
legislative. The former is composed
of the governor, when on the island,
the administrator and colonial secre-
tary, the officer commanding troops,
the encouragement and the treasurer
The legislative council is composed
of toe administrator and colonial Sec
rotary, who presides and has an orig
inal vote as member, as well as
casting vote as president, and of equal
numbers of official and unofficial mem
bers appointed by the sovereign, the
attorney general, the treasurer, the
registrar and sheriff, the magistrate
and the colonial surgeon having seats
on the official side ex-officio. There
are at present II members Of the
legislative council. The unofficial
members hold seats for six years, but
are eligible for reappointment.
Under this system ST. Lucia has
thrived as no other island in the West
Indies has in the last 10 years, which
would seem to indicate that it has
good points which might we'll be ap-
piled to st. Thomas, our own future
Gibraltar of the West Indies"