The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1913-12-12

few months In q warm country
to escape the rigors of our win
ters, there is no more delightful
place than Bermuda. The Bermuda Is
handsome big and many small ones
temperature always warm and delight
full in the winter months. One has
there practically all the delights of a
tropical country without the piping
hot temperatures.
The Bermudas lie about 700 miles
southeast of New York, are out in the
Atlantic. Men of science tell US that
Atlantic coast of this continent-the
old sand dunes hardened by exposure
to the elements, the inf1ltration Of rain
and whatnot. 1t is an interesting fact
that most persons speak Of them as
coral formations. There is an abund-
ance OF coral in Bermuda waters; in
fact, were 1t not for the wonderful
coral reefs which surround the islands
they might have been washed away
ages ago by the great storms of the
Atlantic. But as for the islands them
selves, 1t Is said they are not coral at
all, but hardened sand 1t is also in
teresting to note that this hardened
sand provides the stone of which
nearly all Bermuda houses are built.
The quarries on the main island are
well worth examining. There the
stone is broken out with long crowbars
Or sawed out by hand, The buildings
which are made of this stone are
whitewashed. All of them have green
blinds and all, Of course, are sur
vegetation, with vari-colored blossoms
and foliage of many shades of green.
There is no more grateful sight in the
world to those ON the incoming pas
senger steamships than the little vii
lagos and the scattered homes on the
northern slopes of the Bermudas, nes-
tied among the beautiful green OF the
islands, the dark cedars and the light
er palms.
Many Things Of Interest.
One Is within close view of the is
lands for several hours before the
Great Sound is entered and landing
place made at Hamilton. The reason
for this is that the steamships have to
skirt along the coast southeastward
outside of the coral reefs. A turn is
made not far from Saint Georges, the
old capital, and the vessel then turns
back along the main island inside of
the reefs, and eventually turns into
the Great Sound. Saint Georges con-
tains many things of interest to visit
ors. This city is the oldest on the is
lands and was founded, it is believed,
by Sir George Somers. II will be
noted by visitors that many of the
streets are very narrow, not permit
ting of the passage of more than one
vehicle at time, and are lined with
high walls. 1t is said that they were
SO built so as to make it more easy
to repel attacks of buccaneers, who
were wont to use the beautiful Castle
harbor as an anchorage place for their
craft. Castle harbor also was a regu-
lar station for southern blockade run
ners during the Civil war, and there
was a good deal of sea fighting near
the Bermudas.
Hamilton, where the ships land, Is a
lIghttul in many ways as is Saint
Georges. North of Hamilton are many
lovely homes and gardens. The drive
from Hamilton to Saint Georges, espe-
cially along the north shore, is con-
slant delight, with its turns around the
little bays and indentations and hav-
ing the great Atlantic always in view.
About half way to Saint Georges one
crosses the beautiful inlet to Harring-
ton sound Viewed in some lights this
stream Is like a great chain of many
eolors.
Caves Are Wonderful.
II one does not care to continue the
drive along the ocean, he can continue,
without crossing the inlet, around the
right side of Harrington sound. which
Is large, deep and very clear body OF
tidal water A mile or two along the
sounds shore is the Devils hole, where
some thrifty Bermudian has collected
In a pool fish of all kinds taken from
Bermudian waters. Farther on. where
the road from the other side of the
sound is met. are wonderful caves
The drive from Hamilton along the
south shore to the Natural Arch is an
other which is well worth taking On
this road is the great Spanish rock,
with it's strange cave opening on the
face of the high cliff The cave Ia
entered by a chimney-like hole from