Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-22

town has never forgotten It's high and
ancient traditions OF hospitality. When
II ship comes I'm to-day a native or
chestra plays ut tho chief hotel. the,
pretty women come out in their best
dresses. he sweet but wickod st.
Thomas cocktail fows. and Tho visitors
arc entertained just as Eaily. II not
40 s~umptuousiy. as In the days OF many
ships.
Steamers Did Not stop.
The passing OF the sailing vessel was
the greatest blow to the prestige Of
ST. Thomas as n port or call. The
faster and surcr steamers had no such
pressing nccd of 81 half way harbor.
But the lIamburg-American and Ley
land lines. together with tramps, still
sent several hundred ships Il year to
Charlotte Ainalie. and II large part OF
All the goods shipped to tho West
Indies passed through tho port. Hence
tho little town was able to keep busy
and even max q show OF modest pros
pcrity until tho European war broke
out. The last two years have been q,
time of financial stress for the intr-
chants. and OF actual hunger for the
working people.
The names OF nearly all tho great
Dgurcs that made tho romance OF the
Spanish Main arc associated with the
story of Charlotte Ainalic. Drake and
Morgan and Captain Kidd. and every
other famous pirate and priratcer used
the harbor Of 81. Thomas. and legends
or buried treasure are as common
around here as rumors at n political
convention. On n hill north OF the
town there 81 4 high tower supposed
to have been built by a pirate known
as blackboard, and 10 tho east 10 an
other known rs Bluebeard's tower.
Both Of these structures ave been
thoroughly ransackcd for buried
,l,,,llf,pG - ,nl nipsDS of eight without
hindinE any. but nevertheless they look
the part which legend assigns them.
In connection with tho B~lucbeard cas-
tie there is a story which seems to be
a sort OF st. Thomas version OF the
Oriental Biuebcard legend. and ought
TO be or p~ecliur interest to students OF
folk
BIuebcnrd In TO Dnte.
According TO this yarn. Blucbcard
Was a hHudsomc pirate. with 4 remark
able aptitude for winning tn" feminine
heart. lie finally himself fcll deeply
In love with a pretty young Creole Girl
named Morccdita. married her and took
her to his tower TO live. After a short
honeymoon. lie sailed away on a free
bootiuG expedition. leaving Mcrccdtta
TO keep tower alone. lio also Entrusted
her with a certain caskci, which she
was on no account TO open.
Needless to say. Merccdita opened
the casket ms soon az Rluebcarl Was
out Of the harbor. She found therein
tender missivcS addressed 10 her hun-
band by no less than seven other pretty
young Crcolcs OF her own set and ac-
uuaintaHcc, revealing tho shocking fact
that Blackboard was On terms OF in
timacy with them all.
In this crncrEcncy there Was nothing
for Merccdita 10 do but go 10 an Dhcah
woman. il IS said that Oecsh women
arc stili consulted about Low affairs
IN 50. Thomas ~ any rate, this
nbcah woman gave Mcrccdi;a n pow
der which was TO ne administered 20
tho other seven women IN order 20
put An end to their iovc for Riuebcard,
That afternoon Mcrccdita had a tea
party. invited her eevcn rtNals and
gave them all the Obcah dope IN their
tea. T"hcreupon they all went home.
lay down upon their several bcds, aud
most ronIantically expired.
Mcrccdija was tried for witchcraft
and murder and sentenced TO TIC burned
on the beach. While she was being
,icd TO tho stake and the faggots piled
around her. BlueOcard returned. made
"a secret landing. and distributed his
men In tho crowd. when The penal
fire was lit. no chased tn, populace
home. whipped tho police and carried
Mcrccdtta t~Tiumphantly aboard his
sloop. II IS said that she subsequently
divorced him
Thc island is fun Of such legends.
mcai OF thom fanciful no doubt. but re-
accting n past OF hiEh romance, and
made vivid and real TO the visitor BY
the unspoilcd quaintncss OF the place
and the people.