The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-08-07
Which Are About to Be Posses
SiOnS Of the United States
is Given by GeographGr.
tsprau TO 7rr TrLtepAuj

tsPrciu 70 7rC rELEGRAH)
WASHINGTON, August 7.-Cohcern-
ing the carly history of Americas
about-to-be possessions. The Danish
West Indies, the National Geographic
Society issues the following bulletin
from Washington.
"Of the three small islands on the
northeastern edge of The Caribbean
sea for which the United States eX-
poets to pay Denmark $25,0O0OOO, St
Thomas and ST. John both smaller
and less densely populated than ST.
.Croix, have been the scenes OF many
thrilling episodes. Here white colon
,sts of four nations followed each other
With bewilder1ng perpleXity during the
ReEenteenth and eighteenth centuries
More than a hundred years after
The discovery OF ST. Thomas by Column
bus in 1893 the island was wholly UNI
Inhabited, although its excellent har-
BOZ had been port OF refuge for Dutch
nayigators during many decades.
When a handful on French ColOniSts
survivors Of a massacre on Crab is
land perperated by a band Of Span
lards from Porto Rico, reached its
shores in dugout in 1G47 they found
evidences OF an earlier settlement, but
no clues as 10 the nationality Of their
predecessors or OF their fate. These
French wanderers were not disposed
10 brave . similar mysterious end, so
hey sailed on
Dates with StUrVYeSant
All about The lime thai Peter Stuy-
resant was establishing a representa-
hve form of government on Manhattan
stand some OF his fellow cuunuymen
were establishing the first recorded
settlement on ST. Thomas. These
hardy colunis1s meT The same fate
which overlook their brother Holland
grs of New Amsterdam, for three
vearg after the JOE non the Andson
became New YORK the St Thomas
pioneers were forced 10 surrender 10
The English also
The latter soon deserted the island
md turned 10 The more fertile lands
Of 81. Martins AMI ST. EuStatias. so
that IN 1873 when the Danes, wishing
to share in the colonial property OF
other EuTopc&a nations, chartered the
West India and Guinea Company, St
Thomas. un5nhabited again, was await
ing the advent Of settlers who were
to establish Dcnma11rs rights in the
island, With Two brief interruptions,
this sovereignty has been maintained
from that day up IN The present time.
Legend IS Perpetuated.
The legend that 81. Thomas was
1t one time the headquarters of the
ruthless buccaneers who terrOrized the
Spanish main for 50 many years IS
~. getuated in the names given 10 two
towers Still standing on the heights
back Of the supper Of Charlotte
AmaIie, On one bill Is 'Bluebeard 5
Castle While on an adjacent height
rises 'Blackbeard's Castle History
does not substaatiate the romantic
tradition, and il is extremely doubtful,
if the buccaneers were ever in pos
session here,
when the Danes arrived they were
under very strict orders as 10 religious
obseryances and with respect 10 {
preparedness program h5HiIal 4lNH
coionists. The first order issued by
the governor vas Every person who
speaks Danish is bound to attend ser
vice every Sunday in Christians for
when the drum beats, and on failure
of doing so is to pay fine Of twenty
1--WE pounds of tobarro, Persons o.
ali other nations are bound to attend
service every Sunday afternoon al The
game place, under the same penalty
Every House Armed.
G,As to armament the order was
For the defense and good of The Goun
try every householder shall keep IL
his house for himself and every mar
in his service, sword with belt anr
a qua with sufficient powder and ball
and also each householder shall hay,
two pounds Of powder, OF more il h
phases. Every person RegieGting tbi
duty shall pay 100 pounds Of tpbacco
"The order for tlie eitizeR amy raj
thus; Every Saturday afternoo'
when tae drum beats, all BsFs9#s VIII