Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-05-17
speolal Cortespondenee.

Special COFehponutnpe'
Curacao Dutch W. l., April S--The
qualntest II tie island in the world lies
only about forty miles from the Vene-
guelan coast, on the edge OF the great
gulf which receives the waters Of Lake
Maracalbo. Its distance from New
York is in the neighborhood of l,SQO
miles, and from Key West not much
more than q thousand. About the size
OF the District OF Columbia, II contains
fourish,ng Dutch colony, 10000
strong, and half as many more people
OF diverse natlOnalitles, having been,
since time out Of mind, fayorite asy-
lum for absconding defaulters, forgers
and other criminals, as well as Tor
political refugees from North, South
and Central America, aud all the 49,
lands on this side OF the globe Many
OF the revolutions that have racked and
ruined the so.called Republics OF Span
fish America were Matched In Curacao,
under the shelter Of the pretentiOus,
(but nowadays perfectly harmless) fort
that guards this port. Bolivia, Ban
co, Santa Ana. Lerdo, Barrlos, and
long line Of later dlctators and would
be "presldents' found security for
time In this bare little island. Bolivar
the founder OF FIVE republics, liYel
here In Punishment several years
waiting for the rescue that never came
and the justice that was not recorded
TIL after his death.
In reality, Curacao island Is nothing
but n great volcanic assure, between
30 and 40 miles long by from three to
seven wide-tWo wild, bare, abrupt
ridges Of greensboro, connected By a
limestone dyke, more than mile thick,
Coasting around It's edges you see
many deep indentatlons, which look
as II they might be excellent harbors,
each a circular basin enclosed within
high rims Of greenish rock: but the
steamer stops at none of them. until
the southwest corner OF the island Is
reached, where is Willemstadt the
chief town OF Curacao commonly called
by the same name az the island. The
entrance to It's bay Is a narrow, mile
long passage which reminds you OF the
approach 10 Santiago de Cuba. except
that this Is straighter and deeper than
the historic Cuban inlet The Dutch
possessors have dubbed the passage
Skattegat and lined II on both sides
with frownlng forts that fairly brlstle
with antique guns. So narrow Is the
waterway TO Santa Ana bay that SEN
tinels on opposite forts crack Jokes with
one another and might easily jump of
their walls 10 the deck OF your vessel.
The bay into which II leads IN natural
lagoon, deep and wide enough TO float
10. mill
own On It's farther edge Is the haTbor
proper, defended from the world by an
absurd little pontoon bridge across its
entrance. On all sides are antiquated
forts, towers, batteries, rusty cannon
and garrlsons OF dumpy Dutch soldiers |
Ian amazing blum Of Hollands power |
In the western world, which strikes you |
as extremely funny. You do not OBJ |
serve the pontoon bridge until almost |
upon II. The steamer halts and pre-
sently the deep bass or her whistle Ia |
answered by the shrlll treble |
OF tiny launch. Then one
end Of the bridge Of boats Is
seen 10 be slowly moving toward the
opposite shore. Little by little the strip |
OF blue water widens, until at last the
pontoon lies parallel to the shore. and
q series OF ear-splitting toots from the
fussy little tender announces that the
deed is done and the stranger vessel ~
az liberty TO enter Hollands domain. |
Before your steamer reaches her dock |
In front of Curacaos capital, the launch |
has tugged the pontoon back into |
place. and traffic upon II is resumed
SO eminently, sleeplly and clumsily |
Dutch Is the scene that you can hardly |
compel yourself TO believe that you are
illl In the western hemisphere, actual
" under the lee Of the two Americas,
and not IN the Zuyder Zee. The town
~ Willemstadt IL scattered all around
The lagoon, its houses built exactly like
those OF Holland, the streets so mar !
row that the burghers can shake hands
with one another through opposite
wndows. So solid IL the architecture
that each residence might withstand q
siege, Its walls OF stone and mortar a
yeritable fort, There are no others like
chem on this side Of the world, unless
u be at Surlnam-that other Dutch
paradise In Guiana. o little further
down the cost OF South America. Huge
stone buildings, two or three stories
high, have the oldest OF gables and
lormer windows, and pillared balconies
let In on the second floors with places
Of business below. Even the governors
spacious and splendid residence has a
government storehouse on the ground
Iloor They are really Spanish "oasas"
with Dutch notifications happy |
combination TO 1T the climate, with
their brlcked courts and tiled roofs b
ma breezy corridors shaded by jalousles.
me walls are painted yellow, pink pur-
PIE or blue. after the fashion of Span
sh-America, the roof-tiles are dark
-ed' ana the jalousies are az bright n
seeh as paint can make them. Dom.
mating all are the forts and castles
Fort Amsterdam. Fort Riff. Nassau Cas-
10, Bolivar Tower and Others whose
lames | have not learned. An vour
previous experiences OF travel An
orange places seem TO be upset In Wi.
emStadt and YOU find voursoif ~ ,