The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-27
Correspondence of The Journal

IN THE Caribbean Sea, Feb. IL,
y l904.-On the second Sunday
n from New York we reached the
French island Of Martinique. 1t
IA is about thirty-fve miles long
and from eight to fifteen miles
wide. One-third Of the island
is we'll watered and suitable for Guilt
walton. We passed some little dis
lance from the fated st. Pierre and
Mount Pelee and made for Port de
France, now the chief port and city
of the island. We anchored some lit
tie distance from the pier Our boat
Is soon surrounded by black divers
waiting for coins to be tossed into the
sea. The natives Of Martinique are
the finest swimmers in the West In
dies. They rival the marvellous Kama
kas Of the Pacific. Hour after hour
they will remain in the water and
never seem to weary, and when the
band struck UP would grab one an
other and execute in the water a waltz
or Highland fling with greatest ease.
Fortunately for us we had on board
Mr.. Jewell, United States consul at
Martinique: who was now returning to
his post of duty. He had just come
from Minneapolis, where he has
friends. This opened up the way for
very pleasant acquaintance, He did
much to make our short sojourn on
the island interesting and pleasant.
This city has about 10000 people.
There are $4,000 on the island. Near
ly every one in the city Is in mourn
ing; scarcely a home that did not have
near relative in st. Pierre on that
awful day. Rachael Is still weeping
for her children, and will not be COM
forted.
Gratitude to America.
The populace Is just beginning once
. more to have dinners and pastimes as
of yore. On the afternoon and even
ing. Of this Sabbath day they were en-
men, women and children joined. 1t
was a surprise and pleasure to know
that the only flag they carried IN these
joyous hours was the stars and stripes.
. 7 found that the feeling Of gratitude to
America for her generous contr1bu-
tioa at the time of the st. Pierre dis
aster, is SO great that they wish on all
occasions when they can to show 1t by
carrying the flag Of the free and gen
erous The civil authorities would
the e carrying Of eE t reects
the French who checked and opposed
the giving of these contributions.
A large percentage Of the inhabit-
ants are negroes, some colored people
and few whites, French creoles.
From the side of the mountain, over
looking the city, you can see far be-
You'd the old fort, the place where the
Empress Josephine was born. In the
square near the landing you see a
beautiful statue of her. They are
proud and revere the memory Of this
their greatest creole. I am willing to
confess that they have few beautiful
creo1es in Fort de France to-day.
The King of Dahomey.
The maidens and matrons alike
wear the many-colored bandana, a
feaddress, beautiful and unique, made
In France but colored in Martinique.
They are painted all the hues of the
rainbow. OF course the language here
Is French. One soon encompasses
the little town with its walled streets,
VITA openings on the side that let
you into shop, store or house with its
cool inner patios, Cities in all these
islands are very much alike.
At 4 o'clock in the afternoon we
drove up the side of a mountain to
call on the king. King, do I hear you
say? Yes, but he is an ex-king, the King
OF Dahomey. This royal African was
sent here some fifteen years ago by