The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-02
SANTO DOMINGO

In connection with the petition sent
to Washington by group of Spaniards,
suggesting that this would be an oppor-
tune time for the United States to with
draw its troops from Santo Domingo.
the National Geographic society has is
sued the following bulletin concerning the
island republic:
geographically, the Island of Haiti,
including within its limits the two re-
publics of Santo Domingo and Haiti, is
in the class of the most favored of ma
tons situated on the western continent
about midway between its two grand
divisions of North and South America
and Astounding in natural resources"
says the bulletin, which is based on
communication from Rear Admiral Colby
NJ. Chester. L. S. N.
THE name Haiti. or High Island is
significant of the character of its topog
Taphy. Sire once said a British adj
miral to his King. George the Third,
W hen asked about the island, Haiti looks
like that and he crumpled up a piece
of paper and placed it upon the table.
A brief description though this may be,
it we'll fitted the case. The island is
about 400 miles long, 80 miles wide,
and is about the size of the state of
New York. 1t is irregular in shape and
is intersected by three chains of noun
tans
Historically Haiti, or Santo Domingo,
is the senior of our own country if we
leave out of consideration the legendary
reports concerning the visits of the
Norsemen to our northern coast 800 years
ago, and we are somewhat indebted to
this beautiful island for our own de-
velopment.
, "On Saint Nicholas Day December @,
1892, Columbus entered port at the
extreme west end of the Island of Santo
Domingo, or as the whole island was
then CALLED by the aborigines. Haiti. The
natives themselves called the port Bohio,
but Columbus christened it, in honor
of the day he was celebrating, Port Saint
Nicholas, the name Still existing as Saint
Nicholas Mole This date will ever be
memorable in the annals of the Haitiens
as marking the beginning of the history
of the island.
Columbus now called the island His
PAMELA in honor of the country which
had sent him forth to discover it, and
it is to be regretted thar this name given
by the immortal discoverer has been lost,
for its present two names are conflicting
and confusing.
Columbus then determined to build
permanent settlement and after recon-
noitering he selected for this purpose.
site on an elevated plain near a spacious
bay on the north coast of, the island.
Here was established the first town in
the new world, which was dignified by
the name of his queen and patron, lsa-
bella.
but the course of empire was still
south, and soon Santo Domingo city be-
came the center of the colonial activities.
"A little love affair connected with the
growth of this city is interesting. One of
the Spanish party, Miguel Dias, having
gotten into difficulty with an officer, Sc
verely wounding him in combat, fled to
escape punishment. Finding shelter in
an Indian village and being received with
much cordality and hospitality he in
return gave his heart to the young Ca
guiss, who was then governing the
tribe. His protestations met with favor,
and the young Spaniard found himself
the consort of queen of no mean &C
complishments. But he soon wearied or
his environment and sighed for his old
companions. The queen, seeing his dis
content and fearing to lose him, gave
him the secret of her vast wealth. and
loading him with the precious metal sent
him back to the Spaniards to induce them
to return with him and settle in her coun-