The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-01-09
HOG ISLAND.
The Story of Its Name as Varioue;y
Told In Nassau, NJ. ?.

Iotu IN nassau, W. =
Directly across the harbor from
the city of Nassau, n. p, there is
an island called Hog island. On the
north side of that island toward the
ocean there is a fine bathing beach,
which is much used in the tourist
season in the winter.
The fee for bathing is rs cents
and includes eating all the fruit
that the bather may wish. The
fruit is peeled and put on long
sticks, which is considered the real
way to have it. There is no limit.
Now, it happens that there is a
story about a certain bather and
that fruit privilege which is a fa-
vorite in Nassau. At least ten of
every dozen men will try to tell you
that story-that is, if you stay long
enough. In a brief time like three
hours you are likely to hear it at
least three times.
Mr.. Brown, who, with two other
Browns, forms the pilot trust down
in Nassau, told it first to a couple
of Americans whom he was taking
over to the steamer in boat No. 2.
'You see that place?'' he asked,
pointing with a bronze finger.
SThat's Hog island. You can go
over there and bathe and eat al!
the fruit you want for quarter.
''The old fellow who runs the
place has made mint. One day a
fellow came over and he ate about
twenty oranges. By and by maybe
his conscience bothered him, and
he said:
"'say, old man, maybe I'm in
fringin'.'
"'Oh, no. said the old chap, you
know the name of the island ;"
When the two Americans strug
gled up the rope ladder to the
steamers deck they met the purser,
who was loafng about.
GIVE been down here a lot" he
said after awhile, "but I've never
been in swimming off that island.
They say it's great. And you can
get all the fruit you want, too,
thrown in with the price of the
bath. All you can eat for quar-
ter.
'"They tell a story about the
place. One day a fellow went over
there and ate about thirty oranges.
By and by maybe his conscience
bothered him, and he said to the
old fellow who runs the place:
."EGuess I'm eating too much,
eh%
"'Oh, no. says the old chap.
P''raps that's how the island got its
name when one of you fellows came
along"
On board the boat when it left
Nassau was a 'conch,' which is the
Nassau name for an inhabitant of
the island of New Providence. He
was telling about the place one
night and suddenly turned to one
Of the Americans and said:
'Do you remember that island
with the lighthouse and the wreck
just at the harbor entrance? Well,
that's Hog island. It's great bath
ing place.
''Go ahead. Tell us the story of
the man who ate thirty oranges and
then was told maybe that's how the
island got it's name," said the Amer
lean.
ooh, that isn't exactly it, said
the conch, with a British persist
ence about details.
"Well, what is it?" asked the
American
'|Why, this chap went over there
and stayed all afternoon and ate
more than forty oranges, probably
forty-two, at least so have heard,
and when he was going to go he
sighed and said to the proprietor:
We'll, l believe I've had my
moneys worth. But | don't believe
you have
ooh, never mind, said the old
fellow This is Hog island
'That isn't exactly what you
heard, is it % demanded the conch
in conclusion.
''No, not exactly" admitted one
of the Americans.
And, what's more, the story is in
the guidebooks to Nassau.-Wash
ington Post.
Paid For His Opinion.