Charlevoix county herald., 1920-12-24
THE BERMUDAS

The Bermuda islands suggest the
adventures of Robinson Crusoe in their
colonization and present in their later
chronology curious parallel to United
States history, with the events pre-
dated by number of years.
The 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 bark to set
sail again.
AS for the anticipation of American
history on a miniature scale, it may
be noted that the colonization took
place seven years before the Pilgrims
landed at Plymouth, Mass. that witch
es were burned, Quakers were perse-
cuted, and miscreants were ducked
before similar occurrences are recorded
in New England, and that slavery was
abolished in 1884. The Bermudians
protested long before 1776 against the
mother country's rule. until the island
prisons were oNerfull; but relief
came in their case not through dec
laration of freedom, but by the &C
cession of Cromwell.
But the essential point Of contact Of
the American with the BerInudian
arises from the all-but-fOrgotten fact
that while the immortal Lafayette gal
lantly helped the colonies conclude
their war of independence, the Bermu-
dams supplied the ammunition to be-
gin 1t.
So acute was the need for powder in
1775 that George Washington wrote to
the governor of Rhode Island that mo
quantity, however small, is beneath
notice" Learning that there was a
store In Bermuda, and that the island
ers were anxious to have the embargo
lifted upon shipment of food supplies
from the colonies, Washington address
ed a letter to the people of the island,
who had shown themselves sympa-
thetic with the American revolution
lists, promising them ample supply OF
pr visions and every other mark Of
affection and friendship which the
grateful citizens of a free country can
bestow on it's brethren and benefac-
tors II they would make this ammu-
milton available for the Continental
army.
1t so happened that the powder had
been procured before the letter was
delivered, and with il the Continental
army compelled the British to evacu-
ate Boston.
Not only the sale of the powder, but
the fact that Bermuda allowed the
colonies to have salt, so incensed its
governor that he upbraided the citizens
for treason, and feeling ran so high
that he was removed. His successor
was a 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 revolu-
tionists. He was connected, both by
blood and by marriage, with the Win
throp family. Under his rule the is
lands full allegiance to England was
restored.
Browne was succeeded by Henry
Hamilton, during whose administration
the town of Hamilton was founded and
named for him. This town today is
the seat of the island government. II
has population of less than 5000.
1t did not become the capital Of the
islands until the time of Sir James
iCockburn. lord chief justice of Eng
land, and before that time one Of its
most famous lawyers. Cockburn, near
ly three quarters of a century ago.
made the plea of insanity, which saved
the life of Daniel McNaughten, who
shot Sir Robert Peel's secretary,