Evening star., 1919-08-22
]. S. AND BERMUDA
ALIKE IN HISTORY
Curious Parallel Amplified in
National Geographic So
ciety Bulletin.

GICly OuHEllIIs
THE Bermuda Islands suggest the
Of Robinson 'Crus0e in
their colonization and present in their
later chronology q curious parallel to
United States history. with the events
consistently predated by q number Of
years"
with this statement the National
Society prefaces q bulletin
on the Bermudas. principal group OF
the British West Indies. which some
Englishmen suggest SHOULD be ceded
to the United States in bart payment
of the American war loans to Great
Britain.
'aThe Robinson Crusoe comparison
obtrudes because the island was dis
covered and later settled. as the direct
result Of shipwrecks, and the settlers
had to build themselves q bark to set
sail again." the bulletin continues.
American History Anticipated.
..As for the anticipation Of Ameri-
can history, on q miniature scale, II
may be noted that the colonization
took place seven years before the
Pilgrims landed at Plymouth. Mass,
that witches were burned, Quakers
ducked, before similar occurrences are
recorded in New England. and that
slavery was abolished in 1884. The
protested long before 1176
against the mother country's rule. un-
til the island prisons were over full.
but relief came, in their case. not
through a declaration Of freedom. but
H,~1 %f,a NJ CrnVn01Avl
but the essential point of contact
Of the American with the Bermudian
arises from the all-but-forgotten TACT
that while the immortal Lafayette
gallantly helped the colonies concluoe
their war of Independence, the Ber-
mudians supplied the ammunition 10
begin 1t.
$50 acute was the need for powder
in 1775 that George Washington wrote
to the Governor Of Rhode Island that
no quantity, however small, Is De
meath notice. Learning that there
was a store in Bermuda, and that the
islanders were anxious to have the
supplies from the colonies. WASH
ington addressed letter to the peo-
pie Of the island. who had shown
themselves sympathetic with the
American revolutionists, promising
them ample supply Of provisions and
every other mark Of affection and
friendship which the grateful citizens
Of q free country can bestow on its
brethren and benefacters II they
would make this ammunition avail
able for the continental army.
Powder Used in Boston.
1T so happened that the powder had
been procured before the letter was
delivered and with 1t the continental
army compelled the British to evacu-
ate Boston,.
mot only the sale Of the powder. but
the fact that Bermuda, allowed the
colonies to have salt, 30 incensed the
governor Of Bermuda that he upbraid-
ed the citizens for treason, and feeling
ran SO high that he was removed. His
successor was q native Of Salem
Mass, whose loyalty to the mother
country was such that he gave uI
large estates In the colonies rather
than join the revoiutionists. He was
riage. with the winthrop family. Un-
der his rule the islands full al
legiance to England was restored.
Browne was succeeded by Henry
Hamilton, during whose Admtnistfi.
ton the town of Hamilton; was found
ed and named for him. This town to-
day Ia the seat Of the island govern
than 5000. It did not become tho cap.
ital Of the ISLANDS until the time o,
Sir James Cockburn. lord chief jus.
tice Of England, and before that one
Of its most famous lawyers Cockburn
nearly three-Quartefs OF q century
saved the life Of Daniel McNaughten
who shot Sir Robert Pelrs secretary
He also figured in the famous case, q
year before the gaming act was pass
ed in 1914, In which It was charged
that q Derby winner. Running Rein
really was four-year-old, though she
had been entered rs . three-year-old
800 Islands in Group.
Hamilton is on Main island, or Ber.
muda, while st. George. the former
capital, Is on the island Of the same
name. There are moro than 800 small
islands in the Bermudas group. OF
which only a score are Inhabited. The
total population Of the islands in 1915
was little over 10000. Of whom about
one-third were white. Bermuda suf-
fered during the war by Tho cessation
Of the American tourist patronage
which had doubled the entire island
population in preceding seasons.
'"rhe Bermudas attracted visitors
because Of their mild climate, which
knew no frosts. and by their scenic
beauty. The evergreen islands are
clustered with exotic plants Of numer-
GUS variety. their roadways are be-
jeweled and scented with sweet-smell-
ing flowers, their shores are penetrated
by crystalline coral pools, aud the
changing and vivid color.
Location Of the Bermudas.
"The islands lie of. the coast Of
North Carolina about as far as Cleve-
land is from New York, and at about
the same latitude as Charleston. Fort
miles from New York. Their exports
before the war, principally onions, po-
tatoes, lily bulbs, tomatoes and cut
flowers. practically all went to that
port.
Juan Bermudez, sailing from Spain
to Cuba in 1915 with q cargo Of hogs.
discovered the islands when q storm
blew him to their ,shores. Apparently
he left some Of the hogs there, for
later visitors found the animals on the
island. From. him the islands were
named and thus originated the hog
money coins stamped with . hog on
one side and q ship on the other.
which still are preserved in various
collections.
'aThe islands were settled through
the efforts Of Sir George Somers, who
became impressed with their fertility
and beauty during . sojourn enforced
by the wrecking Of the ship which
was carrying him to Virgins"
MANY TO HEAR DE VALERA.
1000 Washingtonians Plan Trip