davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-28

pirate in his moments of leisure. He
it was who had seventeen wives, never
less, never more. When one was elm
mated, for there were occasional mys-
FERROUS disappearances, Il new one was
ALWAYS added.
These seventeen wives he kept
closely locked up in in a rambling
stone castle with squat, square low
er on top OF nil overlooking the VII
lage Of Charlotte Amalie and Its land
locked harbor. The recruits Tor this
harem he secured from his piratical
raids on the high seas OF from the
beauties among the native Indians. lie
was quite cosmopolitan as to race and
color and religious convictions.
Every tourist climbs the steep road
up the hill TO visit this famous pile.
Not many years ago it was run as a
! hotel, but for several Years it has been
/ the winter home Of a New York cler'
gyman, the Rev, DR.. Niece. who has
made it thoroughly habitable and
seems to enjoy life in this legend
haunted old ruin. It's tower is about
! the first distinguishable landmark you
can pick out on entering the harbor.
Perhaps it is a shame to take some
Of the glamour off the story of Blue
boards Castle, but the official records
Of the islands do not quite bear out its
popular and grim story. From IN au
/ thentic account Of the erection OF forti.
| fcations on the islands | learn that
"on the fifth OF July. 1859, the govern.
ment decided 10 build the tower at
Smiths Hill, and which was called
Fredericksburg. but soon after received
the name Of Frederiksfort."
1t is amusing to read that the fort
was to be occupied in time of war BY
one officer and IS privates, with 10
slaves to work the cannon, whereas in
time of peace it should be occupied By
one ensign and six privates.
| The tower continued in use as a for.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-28

have lived in constant fear OF the evil
day when they might be called upon
to leave all friends and relatives for I
strange city.
Cambria, as late as last December
was the headquarters OF Grown Prince
Rupprecht. From here all operations
on the Somme were directed. The
city at that time was not destroyed,
Stores were doing a normal wartime
business among the soldiers and Oil
GERS. The beautiful city hall was oc'
cupied BY the intelligence depart
ments Of the crown princes army.
The big French Chateaus were houS'
ing German generals and officers.
French families owning beautiful cha-
teaus were compelled 10 give them up
entirely or to live III one or TWO rooms
upstairs and turn the other parts Of
the chateaus over to German officers.
The contempt and hatred which
these people have for the Germans
cannon be described. It is so extern
sive and so deep that tn" German
army from time 10 time. fearing lis
own safety, has attempted 10 win th'.
Friendship of the people. | have seen
officers 60 through thrS" cities and
give money to the children, h"pin: III
that way TO win their friendship. But
il was not successful. Children had
been taught by their parents NOT 10
accept anything which was offered
them. In some cities the Germans
have opened schools. German officers
w. no could speak French and who haG
been teachers in Germany We're
placed in charge. Onr day in Munich
| met Il young officer who had srhoo!
near Sedan. He said that although
he had been there Il year h" had been
unsuccessful. Even the children were
so belIigcrent. he remarked, that they
spat on him whenever he said any
thing good about Germany. He de-
clared Germany feared the effects of
this hatred after tn" var and that the
army was trying every method known
To education 10 make friends with The
children. But. M added. hr had
learned that il WAS Il hopeless task.
because The mothers Of tho children
were so loyal 10 France that they had
only one thouuht--lhn COMPLETE de.
feat and destruction of the German
army. Germany spent thousands Of
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-28

them out TO sea without their falling
into the hands OF an American war
ship, which would, OF course, be
waiting.
If he let them be taken by an Amer
lean warship without an attempt 10
defend them he would be violating the
relations between Denmark and Ger
many.
If, on the other hand, his little
Cruiser put up fight TO defend them'
he would b. making war on the
United States and then The beans
would be- spilled. Brave man as ne
lis, he would not care 10 take on tnat
rab There is nobody who prays LOT
neuce between the United States ana
iGertnany more devoutly than does the
Danish commanders, or at least tnat
ipeace will continue until. the transfer
has been made.
This cruiser has been stationeo
here for two years and the oihcers tell
me that although il CRATES on tnelf
national pride they will be heartily
glad when the Americans take holu
land they are relieved from the
ulonotony Of the station. About all
there is in the way of social galety Is
when Quebec company's steamer
arrives once fortnight and dance
lis held at the hotel for the oenent OF
the passengers.
; These dances are quite gay AFFAIRS
There is a fine ballroom in the hotel,
with wide arches opening on broad
vcranda. which is the hotel reslau'
rant. This veranda faces the palm
filled pazu and the water. Across
from il is an old red stone fort, win
little Misunderstanding cannon, that LOOK
like 1ups, mounted on its battlemented
walls. On the corner toward the sea
a silly little watch tower is STUCK on
in true medieval style.
AT one end of the ballroom wnere
tame monkeys jump around on the
branches of Towering plants, a col
, ored orchestra with weird, naive m
strumrn,s, makes music to which me
modern dances naturally lend them
selves. The white uniforms OF the
officers from the ships and the gay
tropical costumes worn by the LADIES
make the picture a really brllllah'
one.
Branches of bougainvillea bushes
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-28


CHARLOTTE AMALIE. D. w. l.,
April 2S.-Rarbers would be IN an
awful fix if the Virgin Islands were
wiped off the map: Here is where the
hay rum comes from. so II Denmark
has shaved US pretty close In demanu-
ing $25.000,000 for these hunks OF rock
we will at least acquire a lotion TO
sootheS our soreness.
Bay trees fairly clothe the island ot
St. John. You get their fragrance
long before you step ashore. It's DE-
lightfu1. And so is the island-to look
at But ten minutes after You land
on it you long for the Great White
Way and the bright lights, fer there
is no more lonesome place on all the
round world, except the desert OF Sa-
nara, than is this same island Of ST.
John. The fragrance Of the verdure Is
certainly wasted on the ocean air.
The millions OF bay leaves are dried
under cover, made into bales. and
taken to st. Thomas. where the Oil is
~ squeezed out and blended with the
rum made in St. Croix. Then you
have the bay rum oil commerce, or
rather the bay rum you do not get IN
commerce, for when the casks OF TINS
strong and highly pungent fluid reach
the States it is usually diluted about
one-half before it is bottled up and 70
tailed.
The price Of it here in the Virgin
islands is less than one-haif what it Is
at home and il is vastly better.
Bay rum suggests buccaneers BY
contrast because they probably never
used it. Or all the islands hemmlnG
in the. Spanish main none are more
redolent OF piratical lore than this one
OF ST. Thomas. which is soon to be a
possession of the United States. Here
it was that Bluebeard and Blackboard
had their stronsholds. Not, of course
the Bluebeard Of Oriental fame. bu'
his Occidental namesake. who not only
had the original penchaut for wives,
but was besides a pretty energetic
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-28

Germany. During The Somme battles
the morale Of The German troops was
on the point of breaking when the AL
lies stopped their advance. They have
now at Two points on the Western line
started an offensive which, il it is con.
tinucd long enough, can so shatter the
morale of the emmy as 10 compel Z
more extensive rtirement on the West
ern front than has taken place al any
other Time. Only the incessant ham,
mcrng of this German fertilization un.
til there is Il break will compel the
Germans 10 retire in such haste that
they will not have an opportunity TO
destroy what still remains in the Oc'
cupird territory.
If The German retirement is slow,
Belgium and Northern France will be
nothing but an ASA heap. for German
officers have always said that if they
ever had to retire from the country
they would make ii desert. as the
retreating Russians made Poland.
New York shilling, or York shilling,
is the old Spanish real or one
lent in value to siXpencc, English, In
the Southern States It is called Il bit.
"YLu haven't said anything about
peace on earth i'll your recent nd-
dresses"
"Nu. Many members of my audiences
are in the stock market. and ! didn't
want Ia worry them. '-NashinEt"n
Star
20. X" AS an expression Of Satis!ac-
ton is derived from Aux Cages. from
which once thu best lOharc" ana rum
came. Ultimately everything Of the best
was designated -. *.
I'ars containing apparatus for hiSin-
fccting the clothing and baggage OF pas
Srngcrs who have been exposed to cuh-
tagenuS diseases have been put into SER
vice by an Italian ralroaoh.
Hing-Hcs active in financial matters.
isn't he?
BanE-You bet: hr owes me $40. and
every time Il" sees nv hc lodges mo-
Town Topics.
prnfessor-Docs any gentleman desire
10 ask mo Il few questions before We he
gin the lesson?
Student--Yrs sr--if You please. sir
will you tell me where II commences"
Tiger.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-28

droop over the veranda ratings, heaV'
lily laden with gorgeous purple ana.
magenta-colored blooms. Through the
rus,ing palm leaves glimpses can be-
had oil Il blue-bIack sky, studded with
stars as brilliant as arc lights. Inc
soft trade wind fans flushed cheeks and
brings along indefnable, spicy doors,
Romance is in the air. Those who
do not feel it must be very cold'blood-7
ed Northerners, indeed. =
No wonder these fortnightly dances,
are the main social events OF the Is !;
land, and that they leave such pleas
ant impression on the visiting passenSS
ers from the ships! The conditions
and the setting are just right for
them. After a week at sea, coming
from cold and gloomy and sleety New
York, the warmth and languor and
brilliance Of this little place make
most welcome change. The dance
caps the climax and the tourists go
away convinced that the United States
/ has done a remarkably commemorate
thing in acquiring these ISLANDS.
The village is undoubtedly one OF
the most picturesque in the ISLANDS.
Inc steep, " luuAu6 cho
streets, the stone houses tinted in pale
pinks and blues, the narrow side
. walks, the open sewers with water
rushing through them, the clean,
white Stone roadways and the almost.
universally colored population, make
rit seem anything but American. Every
thing looks different and old and time
worn, but somehow, for all that, not
exactly gone to decay. Polishing II
up with modern methods would doubt
less be advisable, but very much fear
the result would detract from the
charm of the place.
People who are always figuring out
things have discovered that the $25...
600 900 we are paying fol, these; islands .
makes the land, or rather the rock
and land, come TO us at the rate OF
$3.50 an acre. The most optimistic real
estate agent in the world would hesi-
tate to say that its average WORTH
was so cents an acre.
Other cynics put it in still another
way. They say that we have paid
s95 900 900 for a. home for hurricanes.
That's like the man who bought a.
high powered automobile and said he;
! had paid $4,000 to sit in a draught.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-28
fBy CARL W. AcHRnnAr3

Copyright, 1917. :he Tribune association
For over a year Germany has been
strategically prepared on the Western
front Almost immediately after the
occupation Of Northern France and
Belgium Germany began to forti:y
every possible position or TO draw up
plans for the fertilization, so that they
would be ready for instant use.
Throughout the territory which the
German army still holds I have tray
elled as a correspondent and ! Pave
seen many OF the limitless defensive
positions which have been prepared.
Even cities as far back as Namur, for
merly one OF Belcium's strong fort
resses, have been rebuilt at an en0r-
nous cost. When | was in Namuc the
commander of the city said the Ger
man army had spent l0,n0O,00O marks
purely for the new Notifications. And
this IS only 4 drop in the bucket IL
what Germany has spent to make one
gigantic fortress OF this occupied ter
ritory.
Germany has not only fortified every
strategic position: she has not only
staked off trenches and planned under-
ground systems OF defence, but Ger
many has carried out gigantic en-
cheering feats. The courses OF rivers
have been changed. barbed wire
stretched and mines planted in the MD
river bottom: then the river turned
back in its customary course. On ono
trip through Belgium | saw two rivers
the courses OF which had been
changed. In Northern France | saw
q dam which had been built so that
upon an instant notice the country
side for miles around could be flooded.
I Saw fields and forests where barbed
wire entanglements had been stretch
ed through the grass and unLerbruSn
ma continuous network. II WAS az
plained that the streams in that neigh
borhood could be so diverted that this
ground could be flooded just above he
TOP Of the low barbed wire netting, so
that if soldiers attempted 10 wade
through they would be trapped. lit
some sections Of Belgium | rode for
ar least an hour on the railroad train
} and saw nothing bat this barbed Wire
netting.
In Namur. which is considered one
OF the best strategic points in Belgium.
the Germans have reOrSanized the Of
tire system of defence. Trenches anil
underground means or communication
have been established between every
one of the individual forts. So, when
GERMANY maintains that there is no
definite defensive line in the west. Ger
manr means that the whole country is
fortified ard that the army as 1t moves
backward can stop almost any place
and fight defensirely.
There are in this occupied territory.
which American troops may help re-
cover from the Germans, many big Ill
dustriai and commercial cities. Lille.
population Of 100000 Is the largest
= city directly in front of the advancing,
British troops LGon. Charleville ana
Sedan are Immediately in front Of The
attacking French forces. Cambria the
English are already threatening. These
are big industrial cities. OF great I'M
portance to the Allies. Cambria is one
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-28

LITIGATION up to 1875 and was finally
sold in 1918. together with the sur,
rounding land. to 4 private party. To-
day the tower is known as Lucchcttl'S 5
Castle, but is more frequently called
Blucbeard's Castle, the former being
given 10 1t after its late owner, and the
latter no doubt from the life-si2c
statue Of an Italian bandit which was
placed Immediately in front of it as an
ornament.
Take your choice of the two stories.
One. is almost as authentic as the 9th.
er. The only thing we are sure Of is
that the castle still stands and that a
clergyman lives where pirate is sup.
posed once TO have made his land
home.
Government Hill is crowned BY what
is called Blackbeard's Castle. 1t is al
most as conspicuous lis Bluebcrds
The account OF the building Of The
tower is not very clear. 1t is believed
TO have been erected in 1874 by one
NaAl bdSSeil. Inc SoN ciuo4 pIo'csL'u
that it overlooked the fort, and Bag
CERT was ordered to build elsewhere
on his estate. II he did, no sign Is
left of the building. nor is there any
record that this tower. which is the
key to the town and the fort, was ever
used for military purposes.
There is no doubt that there was a
buccaneer named Blackboard and that
he made this his retreat and used the
inner harbor 10 careen in. 1t is quite
as possible that he built the tower as a
combination home, lookout and fort,
as that it was put up by the prosaic
Baggert. AT any rate, the American
tourists believe in the Blackboard YER
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-28
.TWFNTY- ACTS Of HER0|SN
ARE REWARDED BY COMMISSION

PITTSBURGH. Pa, April 27.-Iwen'
ty-lwo acts of heroism were ieCos
nized BY the Carnegie Hero Fund Com
mission at its Spring meeting here To-
day.
In one case a silver medal was
awarded: in tweniy-onr cases bronze
medals. Four of the heroes lost their
lives, and 10 the dependents or Two VI
these pensions aggreSatlng So4u
year were granted; 10 the depenaeht
of one Of the others who lost their
lives, the sum of $500 was granted, 10
be applied as the Commission may
sanction. In addition TO these money
grants. in five cases $4,000 was appro'
priated for educational purposes, pay
ments TO be made as needed and ap'
proved: and in ten cases awards az
yregating S. 900 were made for other
worthy purposes. Payments IN these
cases will not be made until the bene'
fciarics' plans for the use Of the
awards have been approved by the
Commission.
Bronze Medals.
James F. McCollom, Jr., So Column
bus avenue, Far Rockaway, n. l.,
fifteen years old. for attempting 10
save Frederick Chaplin at Now YORK
; City, January i, 1915.
George d. Van AIKEN, IS GralnG Cen
, tral Place, lnwOod y. u, for saving
Frederick Chaplin from drowning in
foregoing instance.
BARLEY Kenney, sixty-seyen years
old. I NatChez street, Pittsburgh. Pa,
! for saving an unidentified man from
! drowning, October so, 1915.
Lester Fl. Einal, Jefferson, Me-, M
1 4 inn %
! Morrill, from drowning. June 25, 1915.
Alexander T. Rice, Jr.. Mt. Airy ave
nue., Paris, Ky. fourteen years Old, Tor
saving James Ii. Smith from drown
; ing. September IS. 1915.
Lillian r., Shaw, Swarthmode Col
lleee, Swarthmorr. Pa. for attempting
to save Chester VI. Barry from grown.
| ing, at GAINESVILLE. Tenn, July .. 1918
William H. Atkinson, Dickson. Tenn.
| for saving Chester NJ. Barry from
drowning in foregoing instance
! Helen V. Nelson, col Fourth street
Dubois. Pa. Twelve years old. for say.
ling Etheline T.. Geschwindt from
drowning on February y. 1915.
ReZin +. Johnson, Dillsboro. Ind,
for saving Benjamin McMurray from
, suffncaliun in Il well.
| Alexander NJ. Rodriguez. Warren,
Pa. for saving Perry WeStland from
drowning at Akeley. Pa. July 5. 1911.
Frederick ]. Knob; 942 Eighth ave
nue.. Mex York city. for saving James
+. Valley from drowning al Long
Beach. y. Y. August .. 1916.
Noah ID. Clark. Gloves. o.. for help
| ing 10 save Eva ~ Dean and \. Ed
ward Dean from drowning. March 26.
1913.
Edward NJ. Mcdonald. Gloves. O..
for helping To save Eva y. Dean and
a. Edward Dean in foregoing in
stance.
Henry C!oueh. 2o4 Main street,
; Saco, Me, for saving an unidentified
woman from bcn@ Killed by train at
Old Orchard, Me. August II. 1913.
J. Chester fisherman. 1910 Mon
mouth street, Newport. X, for rescu-
ing Herbert Hager from runaway,
June ., 1913.
Chloe \. Wolfe. Elmendorf Farm,
Lexington, Ky, for saving Sallie F..
Croush. two years old, from an en-.
ragged COW at Georgetown, Ky, April
IS. 1911.
John l.. Hurley. 1873 Lebanon street.
Maiden, Mass. for attempting TO save
Samnrl Peters from electric shock,
October 20. 1913.
Benjamin H. Clark. 211 Johnson
street, Aurora, Ind, for saving Rob-
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-28

whose reign the island was ac, lrcd
and the town finally laid OUT. ::aha'
Happened before then is wrapped Il. 4
thick cloak Of mystery.
Doubtless the Washington aulhu"i-
les will change the name Of the town
Nobody cares whether they do or hol,
for the name is never used, as the pOrl
is always referred To as ST. Thomas
which is really the name of the island
only and not the village at all. AS
there is no other village on The island
hardly even house anywhere else
this settlement will come no matter
what you call ii. 4 change Of name
is the least Of the troubles the inhAh'
Itants fear.
The negro population has Il very
vague idea OF what its change i'll IA
lionality mean for that matter, their
ideas on everything outside OF their
wave-washcd mountain peak are rX
trcmely elemental.
\ few moments after had stepped
ashore Il negro youth, with Il really Ill
lelligent face. came up 10 my side and
with q dcprrcatOry bow. asked "PlcaSC
sir can you tell me il New York has
declared war on Germany yet"
To them New York Is America, md
p. Washington Is the tallle ul The SOvEEl!
ment. ! have met MANY New oTkels
who cherish much the SAME idea.
For several months Denmark la:
been Withdrawing her officials from
these islands and getting Things III or
der for Il simple and easy transfer oI
authority. The Danish governor Gch
,cral was called back and The admins
Itration Of The island left i'll The hand:
|of the commander OF the Danish war
ship lying in ST. Thomas harbol.
This officer is JUST now in a GOO
deal Of il quandary. He is up against {.
problem without precedent 10 Siidi
him. II is q condition that has neTS:
before arisen III the history OF lnltl
national complications. TWO German
merchant steamers were informed her;
al the beginning vi the war they are
large and we'll equipped boats 81
about four thousand TONS. OF cours,
they are very valuable just now whSi
bottoms are so scarce. They hatt
been here ever since under the watch
;ful eye Of the German consul.
Now this Danish commander i:
wondering what he is to do with these
Two German ships when the island!
ARE turned over to the United States
They were left in the safe keeping o
denmark by the German government
land surprising war is declared be
tween the United States and Germany
belorn the transfer takes place, no"
lis Denmark going 10 maintain he1
honor and safeguard the boats unit
she can return them 10 Il German
port
1t goes without saying thai he can
mot turn them over To The Cnltet
Estates. They were cerainly not N
!cludcd in the purchase price Of thu
islands. And how is he going Ia takt
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-28
OUR new ISLANDS And THEIR NE1GElBORS
|II.--BAY RUM AND BUCCANEERS
Of Isles of Spice and Palm Which Once
Rocked Boodan Crime.
197tr neMcCnrc Newspae Syndn

roDvrgh 1911 b. the Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-28

prnfessor-Docs any gentleman desire
10 ask me Il few questions before We he
gin the lesson?
Student--Yrs. sir--if YOU please. sir
will you tell me where II commences =
Tiger.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-28

ert A. Doerr from drowning January :
19 1915,
Loreto Camarra, deceased; died
attempting 10 save Fred II. Robinson
from drowning at Boston, Mass, Juna~
"a. 1916. Medal to father at Popoh, "a
Italy.
D. Christopher Mahoney, deceased
seventeen years old; died attempting
TO save d. Joseph Breen from drown-.:
ing at Lynn, Mass, July 8, 1867
Medal and award to father at Revere
Mass. ~
CLYDE E. Kronk, deceased; died att
tempting TO save Orvlile Slzemo[e.
from drowning at New Boston, O.,..
December Q, 1916. Medal and pen:.
sions 10 widow and daughter at Sci:r
OTTO, 0. -
Silver Medal. =
Joseph ]. O'Donnell, deceased
died attempting to save William L.:
Rohn from electric shock at South
Bethlehem, Pa, October p. 1865
Medal and pension to widow at Al-il-
lentown, Pa. =
"Mush and Milkmakes a persona
fat" -
Its all wrong, Pete. >
What's the matter?" 81
Pm fat enough. That girl has to-
stop writing letters to me.
State Froth. T.
CAV eorcI0CNr uINTEn At SIR
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-28
(lgnacio eoniIlas)

Uenacio Bonillas) =
lqnacio BoniIIas, the recently ar.
rived Ambassador from Mexico. IL is-
said that in receiving the nc Carran.-.
"a envoy. President Wilson limited at
the possibility Of there being Z Ger
man submarine base somewhere i.a
Mexican waters. The delicate state.
Of relations with the Carranza Govern:
ment, it is said. makes exceptionally
difficue the making of direct repre-
sensations.