South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-02

WASHINGTON. n. G., Sept .
The Bermuda islands suggest the
adventures of Robinson Crusoe in
their colonization and present in
their later chronology a curious par
allel TO United States history. with
the events consistently pre-dated by
a number of years"
With this statement the National
Geographic society prefaces a bulle-
tin on the Bermudas, a principal
group OF the British West Indies.
which some Englishmen suggest
should be coded TO the United States
IN part payment of the American
war loans 10 Great Britain.
The Robinson Cruso comparison
obtrudes because the island was dis
covered and later settled. as the di-
rect result OF shipwrecks: and the
settlers had to build themselves a
bark 10 set sail again" the bulletin
continues.
AS for the anticipation OF Amer
lean history, on a miniature scale. IL
may be noted that the colonization
took place seven years before the
Pilgrims landed at Plymouth. Mass.
that witches were burned, Quakers
were prosecuted. and miscreants
were ducked, before similar occur
.rences are recorded in New England.
and that slavery was abolished in
.1S34.
Bcrmudians Protested.
The Bermudians protested long
before 1875 against the mother
cOuntry's rule. until the island pris-
ons were ovcr-full, but relief came,
in their case, not through a declara-
tion of freedom, but by the acces-
sion OF Cromwell
But the essential point of con-
tact of the American with the Ber-
mudian arises from the all but for
gotten fact that while the immortal
Lafayette gallanty helped the col
Onies conclude their war of indie
pendence: the Bermudians supplied
the ammunition to begin ill.,
so acute was the need for pow
der in 1915 that George Washington
wrote TO the governor OF Rhode
island that no quantity. however
small. is beneath notice Learning
that there was a store in Bermuda.
and that the islanders were anxious
10 have the embargo lifted upon
shipment OF 'ood supplies from the
colonies Washington addressed a
letter 10 the people Of the island.
who had shown themselves sym
pathetic with the American revolu-
tionists, promising them ample sup
ply Of provisions and every other
mark of affection and friendship
which the grateful citizens of free
country can bestow on its brethren
and benefaCtors' if they would make
this ammunition available for the
continental army
1T so happened that the powder
had been procured before the let
ter was delivered and with il the
continental army compelled the
British TO evacuate Boston.
Inccnscd Governor.
"\ot only the sale Of the powder.
hut the fact that Bermuda allowed
I the colonies 70 have salt so in
ceused the governor OF Bermuda
that ne upbraided the citizens for
F treason and feeling ran so high that
( ne was removed. His successor was a
native Of Salem Mass. whose loyalty
To the mother country was such that
/ lie gave up large estates i'm the col
onies rather than join the revolu-
tionists He was connected. both by
+ blood and by marriage. with the
Winthrop family Under his rule the
islands fun allegiance TO England
F was restored
Browne was succeeded by Henry
Hamilton. during whose adminisJra
|tion The town of Hamilton was
+ founded and named for him. This
town today Is the seat OF the island
government ID has a population of
less than 5000. IL did not become
the capital OF the islands until the
time of Sir James Cockburn. lord
chief Justice OF England. and before
.hat one OF It's most famous law
yer-. Cockburu. nearly three-quar-
te.s Of q century ago. made The ples
Of insanity which saved the life OF
/ Daniel McNaughten. who shot Sil