The mirror., 1922-03-23
AMERICAN GIBRALTAR
CONTINUED from page I

SlOe OF inc IuOuHtdlHs
Just outside of and above the town are
the two old towers, commonly known as
Bluebeards Castle and Blackbeard's Cas-
tie. Legend has it that here these daring
old buccaneers had their headquarters and
played their romantic roles as 'the hornets
of the Spanish Main;" but history dis
putes legend, for it says that they were
built by the Danish government as mea-
sure of defense in 1889.
By climbing the mountain to Amapolie,
within easy walking distance of Charlotte
Amalie, one can, on clear day, get
view of Porto Rico, St. Croix, and Bequies.
A little farther on one reaches heights
where views, unsurpassed in all the Carl
bbean region, may be had of Porto Rico to
the west and the Lesser Antilles to the
south.
The West Indian-P Panama Telegraph
within easy walking distance of Charlotte
Amalie, and it was from this place that
the world got so much of its news during
the Spanish-American war, as we'll as dur
ing the Martinique disaster.
Under the Danish regime the governor
of the colonies lived in Charlotte Amalie
from October 1 to April /, and in Chris
tiansted, on the island of St. Croix, from
April to October /. He was assisted by
colonial council, consisting of four men,
bers nominated by the crown and eleven
elected by the people. How well the popu-
lation was represented may be judged by
the statement that out of nearly 1900
inhabitants, in 1891, only 200 were voters.
There was no color line in St. Thomas, or
in either of the other islands for that mat
ter, and the larger part of the population
is of mixed blood.
The state church was Lutheran, al
though all others were tolerated. The
Catholic and Episcopal congregations are
the largest. The former has established
fine school for girls. The Jews have
well-built synagogue, while the Moravians
have long been doing an important work
among the negroes of the island. The
Dutch Reformed and Wesleyan churches
have also been engaged in like work.
Naval officers declare that ST. Thomas
possesses advantages enabling it to be con-
verted into second Gibraltar. The struc-
ture of the island, with its long central
ridge, having general elevation of about
1000 feet with some points 1900 feet,
is especially fitted for the emplacement of
Notifications commanding both shores at
the same time, making it extremely diff
cult for an enemy to approach or obtain a
foothold on the island. The elevated
ground in the immediate neighborhood of
the excellent roadsteads makes the question
of harbor defense comparatively easy
one. While being near other islands, St.
Thomas is practically in the open ocean,
and permits entrance and egress of feet
without being observed.
St. John, the smallest of the three islands,
with good harbor in Coral Bay, is only
eight miles long and four miles wide in its
broadest part. 1t has population of less
than 1000; but it is an island that has
done great service to America, for it is
from here that come the leaves of the bay
tree (Pimenta acris), from which that
well-nigh indispensable toilet article for
men, bay rum, is prepared. While most
of the bay rum is made in St. Thomas, St.
John produces most of the raw materials
from which it is distilled.
This island once had many logwood trees
on it, but they have almost entirely disap-
peared. Charcoal has long been in de-
mand and the natives use logwood in its
manufacture. All of the islands have
striking variety of vegetation, 1900 species
having been counted on St. Thomas, and a
proportionate number on St. John and St.
Croix. The plantain, banana, sapodilla,