Evening star., 1902-01-11
THE DANISH INDIES
Majority Of People Favor Annexation
to the United States.
ST. THOMAS A BUSY PLACE
Views of Some Citizens on the
Burning Question.
THE PATHWAY OF DESTINY

From Stan Correspondents Notes.
The United States government and people
need have no fear as to the acceptance by
thu people of the Danish West Indies Is
lands of annexation. With only a small
minority in opposition they are today earn
est In their desire to join their fortunes
with the great republic of the north.
Early this morning we were in the dock
In the harbor of St. Thomas taking on coal
at a great rate. The 800 tons Of coal need
ed to fill the bunkers were being put on
board from both sides of the steamer. On
one side barges were being emptied, a large
force of men filing baskets from them and
throwing coal in chutes running direct TO
the bunkers. The other side Of the boat
was up against the dock, and here gang
ways had been placed at a decided angle
and long lines Of women and men, each
carrying a basket Of coal on the head, were
running up and emptying their loads and
then back again to the big piles or coal on
the dock. Most of the workers were wo-
men, only about one man in ten being rep
resented. The women possess splendid phy-
slques and the heavy baskets were carried
like feathers. All day long throughout the
terrific heat they ran easily up the
steep gangways, carrying their heavy loads,
as II the whole affair was a great big joke.
Little pads are worn on the heads on which
the baskets rest. About 200 of the bare
footed workers were engaged In the task
and for each basket of coal carried up to
the steamer they received a ticket. They
make about 10 cents a day, each, at the
work, and the cheerfulness and snap with
which they go through their day labor is
sn striking contrast to the slothfulness seen
IN most OF the islands and Is a striking eX-
ample of what can be done with the ma
tives of the Islands IL they have compare
lively steady work and comparatively good
wages.
While the coal was being taken on the
scene on the dock was a curious one. Doz-
ems of dark-skfnned boys were diving from
the dock along side and under the boat
for coins thrown by passengers. A coin
would splash in the water and there would
Immediately be half dozen dark streaks
through the air, q half dozen splashes,
and shortly afterward half dozen woolly
heads would bob up from all directions
while one lucky boy would hold up the coin
20 be at once transferred to his mouth.
They are fine divers and there are few
Coins ever lost.
Ideal Naval Station.
This harbor OF st. Thomas is beautiful
one from the picturesque standpoint and a
magnificent one from the practical. The
entrance is safe and easy and the harbor
itself Is almost entirely landlocked, the hills
rising around three sides of it. Two hun
dred vessels of large size can rest in safety
here, let the storm rage as it will outside.
The harbor could be made, with proper
fortihca tiOns absolutely impregnable. and
with its situation in regard to Porto Rico,
the proposed Nicaraguan canal and even
the entire West Indies and the additional
fact that 1t is practically the only safe
harbor in all this section, II is easy to see
why the United States government is will
ing to pay Denmark four or five millions of
dollars for the purchase Of these islands
Here is the ideal coaling and naval station
for our government.
The town nestles snugly at the base of
the hills running down TO the water front
and rising on several terraces 1t has an
extremely picturesque appearance, the
buildings being mainly OF gray stone with
red tiled roofs. The harbor contained a
humber OF large vessels. almost all of them
taking on coal This is the main coaling
point in the West Indies, often from ten to
nfteen thousand tons Of coal being piled on