The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-03

one, the water being very warm, and
the sandy bottom as white as the paper
on which this is printed
Fort Montague was captured twice
py Americans: in 1776 and in 17S3- Near
the Great Bahama bank lie two islands
bearing historic name. These are the
blmlnls, which, when Ponce de Leon
was travelling these waters, were said
to contain the wonderful Fountain of
Youth, to which scholars love to refer.
romeo de Leon ranged through the en-
tire chain Of islands in his quest for
the tabled fountain, in 1913, and he had
an old Indian woman from Porto Rico
as pilot He did not succeed in finding
1t, but he discovered Florida.
Twenty miles from Nassau is Andras
island, with great forests, swamps,
creeks and bayous. teeming with wild
fowl, and precious woods of mahogany,
cedar mastic, ebony and logwood, but
the island has never been exploited.
Though 500 square miles in extent, 1T IS
thfckly populated by negroes, who,
from their long seclusion, have reverted
Atchison people do not realize how
high" the Episcopal church becomes
elsewhere. In Nassau, 1 met a man
rope girdle about his waist. I sup
posed he belonged to some Roman
Catholic brotherhood, but when L
talked with him, it developed that he
was an Episcopal clergyman, who had
charge of little island four days san
from Nassau, where all the inhabitants
are half savage negroes.
The "Mcltke's'' band came ashore to-
day, and gave two concerts on the i'm
mense porches of the Colonial hotel
While st was playing in the afternoon,
l was definitely Informed that the Mi
ami" would not arrive until some time
tomorrow afternoon. 1t has been on
mud bank near Miami. and cannot pos
sibly sail from Nassau until tomorrow
night. So we decided to proceed to
New York by the -'Moltke," which ex-
poets to arrive there Saturday morning.
We are thus compelled to abandon the
Florida trip. The best way to reach
Florida frHm this section is from Ha-
yana, and we intended to take that
route, but were refused permission to
land in Hanava. The trip to Florida
from Havana is now made in eight
hours, in comfortable boats, whereas
the trip from Nassau to Miami requires
20 hours. and the boat is small and un-
reliable There is mud bank near
Miami that causes constant trouble.
The smaller the boat. the worse it be-
HAYES at sea. and the Nassau Miami
boat is very small. Some day I hope
to revisit Havana. but 1 have no de-
sire to revisit Nassau.
At o'clock this afternoon, the ten
der left Nassau for the "Moltke," and
1 was among the. passengers it carried.
We left Miss HavenS at Nassau, as her
parents are at Miami. Within 20 min
Utes after we reached the ship (Which
is too big to come into the harbor), we
were on our way to New York. Just
before the stairway was pulled up, we
saw a little launch racing after us, and
signalling US to STOP A belated pas
senger was on the launch, and he had
quite serious time getting on board
the "Moltke'' as the sea was rough.
A he M Ctan crea1 Cfn a
watching his efforts to get on board.
Finally, he made 1T, and was heartily
cheered. A2a
1t was pleasant getting back to the
ship. Our old rooms We're retained for
us, as were ourEseats at table. The
meals on the ship are much better
than the meals at the big Colonial ho-
tel, and the service much better. About
so passengers remained at Nassau, and
will try the crossing to Florida: some
this. week, and some next. Several OF
item have promised to write me, and
tell me just how bad tho miami is.
have rotion that it is related close
ly to the "Tean. y
While we were away from the ship,
the sailors caught shark six feet
long, and it attracted a great deal of
attention until thrown overheard. The
shark was caught within a few hum
bred yards of the famous Nassau bath
ing beach. By the way, at this beach
you get a bathing suit and all the fruit
you can eat for % cents. They tell of
enc tourist who ate Sc oranges on his
% cent ticket.
At dinner tonight, most of the
characters" on the ship reassembled.
The president of the Hand Holders un-
ion appeared, in a dress she had worn
on many previous occasions. 1t is be-
lieved of her that she holds hands, and
that maybe she kisses the boys.
There is an Ancient Maiden on board,
of whom it is generally said: 'tShe is
the plainest woman in the world" At
the masquerade ball the other night
this venerable person wore very pref
ty face mask, and greatly improved
her looks, but she had selected the very
short dress of an Indian princess, IN
choosing her costume. and this dress
displayed her legs, which mad preVl-
ously been hidden. AS the lady is very
thin, and wore dove-colored hose, her
legs looked like slate pencils. So that,
altogether. one didn't see much inn
provement in the appearance of the An
cient Maiden at the masquerade ball.
My shoemaker returned to the ship
tonight, after two days on shore at
Nassau. For several years have
worn Hanan shoes ordering them spe-
cially made, from Ed Lakes, because
of a prominent bunion on my right |
foot Mr.. Hanan is q passenger on
the cruise and I have found him to be
a very pleasant gentleman, although
have not mentioned the fact to him /
that I have three pairs of his shoes
with me.
There is no real No. 1 gossip on
board. No. / gossip is the kind which |
causes people to say, in discussing it: |
ssThe LAW should step in and do |
somethingi'
All the gossip have heard mas oeen
Of the No. 8 sort; very apt to pc une
true, and not particularly serious, if
true One story that attracts much
attention is that the night we left Ha-
vana a number of women were Car