Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-04-10
AT THE BOTTOM
OF THE SEA.
And What May be Seen There
"A Sail in Glass Boats
Over Transparent Seas
The Great Coral Reef of
the Bahamas, Etc.
tstaff Correspondence of the spectator)

IuV III cat OUI al nCCl VI
the Bahamas, Etc.
(Staff Correspondence of the SpectatOr)
The only thing modern and up-to
date that | saw in Nassau wss 1.-THE
Coloniar'-a large tourist hotel built
and owne'l by Mr. Henry M. Flager.
Situated on the edge of the city aud
overlooking the hal Dor, it shows off to
great advantage the appearance of the
place as one first sees it from the decks
of an Incoming steamer. There, is
assembled, each recurring season, g.
large and fashionable company, not q
congregation of the immensely rich as
is seen at Palm Beach, Florida, but a
well to do, cultured and refined people
that like to entertain and be enter
tanned. During the winter they are the
social life of Nassau. 1t is needless to
say the tourists that visit the islands
are mostly Americans, who reach
Nassau by steamer from Miami Flor
ida, while others come direct from
New York by water, but this last is
generally a tedious, sometimes rough
trip, and is not popular route. The
night we arrived at the the Colonial,
ashington's birthday was being cele
brated, and more respondent scene
Cen scarcely be Imagined then the
great hotel afforded, in it's rich decura
tons and many colored illumination.
There was reception, ball and a
banquet, all given in elegant style and
good taste. The ladies' gowns were
dreams of loveliness," | was told,
not that am authority in such mat
tiers of femininty, but am simply re
peating what my fair escort OIL that
occasion asserted to be a fact. But
whether so or not, the scene presented
in the great parl0rs and ON the broad
verandas was undoubtedly a most
brilliant one, and the program of music
most inspiring.
AS may be imagined. Wash
ingtOn birthday celebrations are
not generally very popular demon.
strations in an Englishman's country,
but as this one was given in an Amer.
lean built hotel and for the benefit and
entertainment Of an American COM
pany, the few English who attended,
had too good taste to remark ad-
versely; though as an observer re-
marked-'they had little relish for
the proceedings. AS | said before
the tourists give social life and snap to
Nassau during the season-in the day
they go yachting, fishing, bathing,
golting, and at night there are dances,
card parties and receptions. Into
these the society folk of the city and
neighborhood join with keen relish
and appreciation, making a delightful
addition to the company.
A GARDEN OF EDEN.
Across the harbor from the Colonial
is long narrow strip of high land,
called Hog Island-an enchanted
spOt-an Eden of fruits, all of which
the visitor is welcome to, as much as
he Will, he is at liberty to carry away
with him. All tourists come to this
island, and many of them spend the
day amid its fields of blossom anil or
ange groves. At mid day, hundreds
of visitors are rOlicklng in the surf on
the smooth hard beach, while other
hundreds look on with deep interest
The shore line here is shaped like
great crescent and in the bowl OF the
crescent is the finest of sea bathing.
The extended points of this crescent
are unusual and tower off into coral
reefs. that rise high and gracefully
above the sea, a wall against which
the waves at high tide rush with great
fury. At such times the scene there
is wild and animated. On several
occasions it was my good fortune to
be on the island when the tide was full
and when heavy seas were running.
Along the entire coast line, was
seen a crest of foaminG, dash
ing waves that hurled themselves
angrily against the rugged cliffs
with ceasless roar like the boom
of distant artillery. 1t was my first
view of a rock bound coast, and one
never to be forgotten. Sometimes the
great waves dashed against the cliffs
with such fury that the water in great
volume was thrown high in the air,
hundred feet perhaps, so high indeed
that the wind often carried a cloud of
its spray across the entire island. At
other times great geisers shot sky
ward like water spout, return ing to
earth in showers as the splash from a |
cloud burst. With my trusty camera
at hand these scenes were a delight |
The memory of which is kept green by
an occasional look upon the face of it's
faithful work.
THE CELEBRATED SEA GARDENS.
To the northeast of this island is a |
deep sheltered inlet, where is located |
,he celebrated Sea Gardens that have
made New Providence Island famous
;he world over, and which constitute
'he most interesting phenomena to be
in the Bahamas. To reach
hem is but short sail up the harbor
rom Nassau and Is visited by thou
ands of tourists every year. ANY
right day when the water is quiet,
cores of tiny craft may be seen put
ing off from shore with merry parties
board bound for the gardens. On ar
living there all passengers change
'oats-that is they change from the I
r., 10 -.