Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-07

extensive than. the latter, which boasts only
nineteen square miles Of area. Bermuda Is
a coral island built by marine insects upon
the summit of a submarine mountain, three
miles in height. There was first sub
sidence of the central body of this island
leaving ring of coral reefs to represent
Bermuda. Then by the action of the wind
and waves the southern section Of this ring
was built up and the other sections were
disintegrated and submerged, leaving above
the level of the sea the present islands,
f1sh-hook shaped fraction of the southern
reef, 'in direct line but fifteen miles in
length and never over two miles broad and
generally much narrower"
OF the other sections of the ring there Is
now visible above water only north rock,
a pinnacle Of the outer reef. rising at times
ten to fifteen feet above the surface of the
!! water and distant about ten miles from
the Bermuda of today. A few smaller
rocks in Its immediate vicinity may also be
seen. All OF the rest Of the former Ber-
muda is now converted into barrier reefs
and multitude of coral rocks, environing
the visible island. and stretching northward
from 1t in some directions ten or twelve
miles. This submerged Bermuda lying in
the course of merchantmen from Europe
to America, has since the discovery of the
islands been one of the notorious terrors of
the deep. The approach from the north to
the smiling and attractive land is by tortu-
Gus channels, winding for many miles
among the reefs and rocks. The region
in the vicinity of the gulf stream is one of
storms and treacherous winds and currents,
and an extensive area of the hardest, sharp
est submerged rock rises in mid-ocean be-
fore the careless or Storm-driven mariner,
and hundreds of ships have deposited their
bones in this marine cemetery. Wreck
Hill and Sinky Bay are among the sug-
gestive and chara cteristic local names.
The Madiana's passengers, so far as heir
experiences were concerned in approaching
submerged Bermuda and in touching its
north coast, found nothing inappropriate
in it's old name of the Devils Island. They
discovered something diabolical in the
treacherous, sickenfng movements of the
gulf stream, and in the delusive and dan
gereus winds, waves and rocks of the Ber-
muda reefs. But once ashore they found
the Devils Island transformed into the
Angels Island or Fairyland. where every
thing was peaceful, beautiful, hospitable
and delightful.
The precedent of this contradictory ex-
perienee with a resulting reversal of senti-
set in 1910 by the recorders of Sir George
Soners, shfpwreck.s Sir George himself
remarks: these islands Of the Bermudas
have ever been accounted as an enchanted
pile of rocks and desert habitation for
Devils; but all the Fairies of the rocks
were but focks Of birds, and all the Devils
that haunted the woods were but herds OF
swine" <-i&
William Strachey Of the Somers expedi-
ton declares: I'VE found it to be the
dangerous and dreaded Islands of the Ber-
mudas2they be SO terrible to all that ever
touched upon them and such tempeSts,
thunders and other fearful objects are
seen and heard about them that they are
called commonly the DEVILS Islands and
are feared and avoided of all travellers
alive above any other place in the world.
Yet it pleased our merciful God to make
even this hideous and hated place both the
place of our safety and the means of Our
deliverance."
Jourdan notes the same contrast vividly
and enthusiastically saying: My opinion
sincerely of this island is that whereas it
hath been and is still accounted the most
dangerous, unfortunate and most forlorn
place in the world, 1t is In truth the rich
est, healthfullest and pleasing land, the
quantity and bigness thereof considered.
Nothing will ever efface from memory the
recollection Of the terrors of fnhospitabie
submerged; Bermuda the crash as the
steamer threw itself upon the sharp and
jagged reef; the shudders of the grooming
ship as 1t was beaten by waves and wind
against the rock: the gloom before day
break on the unlighted wreck; the angry,
spiteful dash against Qufvering bodies of
surging breakers, Of spray and of spurts OF
driving rain, and the graveyard chill which
the touch Of partially submerging waves Of
the sea gave to shivering and imperfied
mortafs, who saw mountains Of water ris-
Ing higher and higher. destroying some life
boats upon which safety depended and |
threatening quick destruction to them also. |
But combined with this bitter memory ia |
Pleasing recollection of that other Bermuda |
which projects above the sea, with its |
balmy air: its drives over hard smooth |
coral roads to points of interest and attrac- |
ton. displaying in turn the curious, the pic
turesque and the beautiful: its views, as /
that from Gibbs. Hill lighthouse. with its /