The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-03-10

NITeE dFeu Dy the NdllONal deORTap nlc so
ciety, Washington, ID. c.
Close to home. vet less known to
Americans than many parts of Europe,
Cape Breton Island, a part of Nova
Scotia, is far from being the "few acres
of snow" that NOltaire cOntemptuously
dubbed it in the days when France and
England were at each others threats
over it. 1t is barely an island, and for
all practical purposes may be c0nsid-
cred the eaSternmoSt point Of Canada'S
mainland.
Perhaps many who have not seen
this land think OF ii as VOltaire did,
but it has its fruitful apple orchards
and Il thriving general agriculture, and
growth is remarkably rapid, once vege-
tation is started. 1t has, too, all the
ingredients for industrial success in
this steel Age"-iron ore, coal and
limestone. And, unlike those of the
competing iron-producing regions Of
North America, Cape Breton's materi-
ais are at the waters edge, where the
finished product can be handled most
cheaply.
The ports Of Cape Breton are closer
to Europe and Africa by hundreds Of
miles than any others on the North
American continent; ANA, surprisingly
to those who have not closely studied
their maps, the distance from Cape
Breton to Rio de JaneirO is less than
that from New Orleans to Rio.
\ less material but important asset
OF Cape Breton is It's scenery and eli
mate. Relatively few American tour
lists have "~diSCOyered' the island yet,
but those who have swear by its
charm. Its summers are pleasantly
cool and its winters, thanks to the
proximity Of the Gulf stream, relative
~ mild. \ principal pleasure feature
and beauty spot is the islands inland
sea. the beautiful Bras dor lakes, Il
paradise for yachtsmen.
Cape Breton's history is Old and full.
Undoubtedly her coasts were frequent
ed by Norwegian rovers rs early as the
Tenth century, and we even have it on
the authority Of the Flemish geogra-
pliers that the island was discovered
and named by Basque fishermen, who
crossed the Atlantic in pursuit OF
whales Il hundred years before the vOy-
ages of Columbus.
John Cabot's Landfall.
1t is from the voyages of the CabOts,
however, that Cape Breton dates her
history. The highland to the north of
the island is now generally agreed to
have been the landfall OF John Cabot
the first sighting of North America
of which we have record. Peter Mar
tyr's account Of the voyage Of the
Younger Cabot in 1893, when the is
land was claimed in II name of
"Kyng Henry shows that u landing
was made on these northern shores at
least IL ycar before Columbus touched
upon the mainland Of the continent.
Standing far out in the Atlantic, the
most easterly extremity Of the DOmin-
ion of Canada, Cape Breton owes much
of her colorful history to her geOgraph-
ical position. She reaches out into the
ocean trade lanes, he landfall OF
west-bound shipping today as in the
time of the Cabots.
Two centuries ago her commanding
position with reference TO the trade OF
the ST. Lawrence and the West Indies
made Cape Breton an Issue in world
politics, an issue sometimes disturbing
the peace of Europe and upsetting the
treaties of the powers. The fortunes
of the little island, now under the
e -. r,n.nn nx- trnInt,
the gold lilies Of France, are a part Of
the continents h~istOry-the greater
part of it u war history.
The story of L%ouisburg, a fortress
% years in the building, at q cost
CT six millions OF dOllars-more than
four times that sum in the value OF
our money-its two sieges, and It's
final demolition, is the best-known
chapter of Cape Breton's history.
The fortress became not only he
base of French naval power in Amer
lea. but, with outlying posts at St.
Peters. Ingonish, and st. AIMS, the
resort of privateers that infested he
New England coast and the haven to
which they conveyed their spells.
Upon the outbreak of war between
France and England, in 1744. to the
,olonists of Massachusetts and New
Hampshire the reduction of this
stronghold was a highly attractive
project.
Capture Of Louisburg.
The first siege and capture of Louis
burg by the little band of New Eng
land militiamen under Pepperell, with
tbe British West India feet under War