The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-21
Bermuda Helpted to
Start What Lafayette
Helped to Finish

Washington. d. c.. Aug. 20.-"The
Bermuda Islands suggest the adven-
lures of Robinson Crusoe In their
colonization and present In their later
chronology a curious parallel to United
States history. with the events con-
sistently dated by a number Of
years"
With this statement the National
Geographic society prefaces a bulletin
tho British West Indies, which some
Englishmen suggest should be ceded to
the United States In part payment of
the American war loans to Great
Britain.
Tho Robinson Crusoe comparison
obtrudes because the island was discov-
cred and later settled, as the direct re-
suit Of shipwrecks: and the settlers
had to build themselves bark 10 set
sail again." the bulletin continues.
"As for the anticipation Of American
history, on a miniature scale, 1t 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 occurrences are recorded in New
England and that slavery was abol-
shed in 1884. The Bermudians pro-
tested lonG OeIOTc LOO against lHe
mother country's rule. until the island
prisons were over full. but relief came
in their case. not through a declara-
ton Of freedom. but by the accession
ri Cromwell
"But the essential point Of contac,
of the American with the Bermudiar
arises from the all but forgotten fact
that while the immortal Lafayette gal
lantly helped the colonies conclude
! nAr
dams supplied the ammunition to be-
gin It.
$50 acute was the need for powder ir
ITS that George Washington wrote t.
the governor Of Rhode Island that mr.
uantity. however Nman. is be,
meath notice Learning that there wa.
a store In Bermuda, and that the is
'anders were anxious to have the EN-
barge lifted upon shipment Of foot
supplies from the colonies. washington
addressed letter to the people OF the
island, who had shown themselves sym
pathetic with the American revolu
tionists, promising them ample supply
OF provisions and every other mark Of
affection and friendship which the
grateful citizens Of free country car
bentow on its brethren and benefactors
IL they would make this ammunitioI
available for the Continental army.
1T so happened that the powder
had been procured before the letter
tinental army compelled the British
to evacuate Boston.
Not only the sale Of the powder,
but the fact that Bermuda allowed
the colonies to have SALT SO incensed
the governor of Bermuda that he up
braided the citizens for treason and
feeling ran so high that he was re-
moved. His successor was q native
OF Salem. Mass. whose loyalty to the
Mother Country was such that he gave
up large estates in the colonies rather
than join the revolutionists. He was
connected. both by blood and by mar
riage. with the winthrop family. I'm
der his rule the islands full allegiance
to England was restored.
Browne was succeeded by Henry
Hamilton, during whose administra-
ton the town OF Hamilton was found
ed and named for him. This town
today IL the seat Of the island govern
ment It has population OF less than
5000. 1t did not become the capital
OF the island until the time OF Sir
James Cockburn. lord chief justice
OF England. and before that one OF
It's most famous lawyers. Cockburn,
nearly three-quarters OF century
ago, made the plea OF insanity which
saved the life Of Daniel MNaughten.
who shot Sir Robert Pell's secretary.
He also figured in the famous case.
year before the gaming act was
passed in 1874. in which IT was charg-
ed that derby winner. Running Rein.
really was 4-year-old, though she
had been entered as a 3-year-old.
Hamilton is IN Main Island. or
Bermuda, while st. George, the for
mer capital, is on the island Of the
same name. There are more than
800 small islands In the Bermuda
group. Of which only score are In
hahited. The total population OF tho
ISLANDS in 1915 was little over TO-
900. of whom about one-third were
white. Bermuda suffered. during the
war. by the cessation OF the American
tours, patronage. which had doubled
the entire island population in pre-
ceding seasons.
THE Rermudas attracted visitors
because OF their mild climate. which
knew NO frostz. and by their scenic