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

Special Correspondence.
Curacao, Dutch W. l.. April S.--The
quaintest II tie island in the world lies
only about forty miles from the Vene-
glelan coast, on the edge OF the great
gulf which receives the waters of Lake
Maracaibo. Its distance from New
York Is in the neighborhood OF l,SOO
miles, and from Key West not much
more than a thousand. About the size
OF the District OF Columbia, II contains
nourish,ng Dutch colony. 10000
strong, and half as many more people
OF diverse natiOnalltles, having been,
since time out of mind, a fayorite nsy-
lum for absconding defaulters, forgers
and other criminals, as well az 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 ana
ruined the s0-ealled 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 a
long line of later dlctators and would.
be "presldents" found security for a
time In this bare little island. Bolivar
the founder OF five republics, lived
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 a mile thick
Coastlng around its 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 Wlllemstadt, 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 IL straighter and deeper than
the historic Cuban inlet The Dutch |
pOssessors have dubbed the passage |
Skattegat, and lined II on both sides
with frowning 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 a natural |
lagoon, deep and wide enough to float |
more Of navy than Holland Will ever |
own. On Us farther edge is the harbor
proper defended from the world by an /
absurd little pontoon bridge across lts |
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 g. The steamer halts, and pre-
sently the deep bass OF her whistle is
by the shrill treble
OF a 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
vi DUO WHIT hlutUht ulilil w lnNl Alt |
pontoon lies parallel TO the shore, and
q series OF ear-splittlng toots from the
fusay little tender announces that the
deed Is done and the stranger vessel IL
at 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 clumslly
Dutch Is the scene that you can hardly
compel yourself TO believe that you are
iill 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
he lagoon, it's houses built exactly like
hose OF Holland, the streets so mar !
'ow that the burghers can shake hands
WITH one another through opposite
glndows. SO solid Is the architecture
hat each residence might withstand q
tege, its walls OF stone and mortar a
fort, There are no others like
hem on this side OF the world. unless
: be at Surlnam-that other Dutch
arndlse In Guiana, a little further
own the cost OF South America. Huge
tone buildings, two or three stories
Ugh, have the oldest OF gables and
ormer windows, and pillared balconies
II In on the second floors with places
{ business below. Even the governors
paclous and splendid residence has
overnment storehouse on the ground
COR They are really Spanish "casas" T,
mn Dutch notifications happy
to III the climate. with
heir bricked courts and tiled roofs b :
nd breezy corridors shaded by jalousles.
he walls are painted yellow, pink. pur-
10 or blue. after the fashion of Span-
M America, the roof-tlles are dark
ed and the jalousies are az bright n
recn as paint can make them. Dom. a
iating all are the forts and castles !
orr Amsterdam, Fort Riff. Nassau Cas-. :
e. Bolivar Tower, and others whose I
ames | have not learned. An your i
reVlous experiences OF travel I'm Z
range places seem TO be upset In Wi. {
and you find yourself OH r