Leaflets from the Danish West Indies: descriptive of the social, political, and commercial condition of these islands / written and depicted by Chas. Edwin Taylor ; with a portrait of the author and a biographical sketch written by Ph. Linet. Taylor, Charles Edwin, 1843- London : the Author, 1888. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015019994873 Public Domain http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd We have determined this work to be in the public domain, meaning that it is not subject to copyright. Users are free to copy, use, and redistribute the work in part or in whole. It is possible that current copyright holders, heirs or the estate of the authors of individual portions of the work, such as illustrations or photographs, assert copyrights over these portions. Depending on the nature of subsequent use that is made, additional rights may need to be obtained independently of anything we can address. : '•' .; :a' '.'4 £ v - .SB 'Ai If?2 ' ir; I fTl ■ if k» mm \ V36 l $24 ■1 LEAFLETS 1110M THE DANISH WEST INDIES: DESCRIPTIVE OF THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND COMMERCIAL CONDITION OF THESE ISLANDS. "WRITTEN AND DEPICTED BY " * OHAS. EDWIN TAYLOR, M.D., F.K.G.S., Member of the Colonial Council of St. Thomas and St.*John ; Fellon: and Honorary Member of 'various Scientific and Literary Societies in Europe, Asia, and America. WITH A POKTKAIT OF THE AUTHOB AND [A BIOGBAPHICAL SKETCH WEITTEN BY PH. LINET, Editor of the Encyclopedic Contemporaine, Paris. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ENTERED AT STATIONERS' HALL. PRINTED BY Wm. DAWSON AND SONS, 121, CANN ON- STREET - AND PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, AT ST. THOMAS, DANISH WEST INDIES. 1888. 21 T2^ //•/TO THE WELL-WISHERS * % OE THE DANISH WEST INDIES, THIS WORK IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR CONTENTS. Historical Historical Historical Historical Historical Local . . Local . . Commercial Social Social Social Political CHAPTER XIII. Bluebeard's and Blackboard's Castles CHAPTER XIV. Danish West India Homes CHAPTER XV. Earthquakes and Hurricanes CHAPTER XVI. Before the Courts CHAPTER XVII. Medical . , CHAPTER XVIII. At the Water's Edge ST. THOMAS. CHAPTER 1. CHAPTER II. CHAPTER III. CHAPTER IV. CHAPTER V. CHAPTER VI. CHAPTER VII. CHAPTER VIII. CHAPTER IX. CHAPTER X. CHAPTER XI. CHAPTER XII. PAGE 1 13 19 26 37 45 49 54 58 61 65 68 71 74 SO 83 86 94 A 2 iy CONTENTS. ST. JOHN. CHAPTER XIX. page Historical , , , . . , , , , . tt #t 11 11 tt 99 CHAPTER XX. Tho Caribs . . . . . . , . , , . . .... . . . . 10G ST. CEOIX. CHAPTER XXI. Historical . . . . . . . , , . . , . . , , 11 #t 121 CHAPTER XXII. Historical . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , , . , #t 125 CHAPTER XXIII. Historical .. .. .. .. 133 CHAPTER XXIV. Historical .. .. ,. .. ,, 141 CHAPTER XXV. Historical .. .. .. ., .. .. .. .. ,, 14(i CHAPTER XXVI. Tho Labourers' Riot .. .. .. .. 151 CHAPTER XXVII. Local 1C7 CHAPTER XXVIII. The Central Factory 173 CHAPTER XXIX. As Health Resorts .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 176 CHAPTER XXX. Geological 180 CHAPTER XXXI. Zoological IBS CHAPTER XXXII. Botanical . . . . . . . . . . .... . . . . . . VJi CHAPTER XXXIII. * A Hundred Years Ago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 "CHARMING MISS FOGAKTHY." CHAPTER I. Mr. Thim Fogarthy 200 CHAPTER II. Miss Ella Fogarthy 215 CHAPTER III. Mr. Nicolas Esmit 218 CHAPTER I V. Dr. Fagin .222 CHAPTER V. Balm Moe 225 PREFACE. + N tho year 1877 I had the pleasure of contributing a short sketch of St. Thomas, D.W.I. , to a deservedly popular Almanac pub- [ lished in that island * This was followed in 1878 by another, including St. Croix, and supplemented by some wood engrav ings, which I had the temerity to execute myself. To both of the Almanacs of 1879 and 1880, I was also a contributor. It is a matter of regret that this valuable and interesting publication ceased to appear after 1881. The present " Leaflets " may be said to be the out-come of my work in that direction, with this difference, that each chapter partakes of the character of an essay in which life in the Danish West Indies, and that of tho Danish West Indian in particular, are faithfully depicted. It is to be hoped that they may prove acceptable, and that the illus trations may not be too severely criticised. To work at night without any previous practice in an art like that of wood engraving, and to write at intervals snatched from professional studies and other occu pations, with the thermometer at 82 degrees, is somewhat trying. Only the desire to be the first to illustrate a book on the Danish West Indies is my excuse for presuming so much. * The " St. Thomas Almanac and Commercial Advertiser." Printed and published by A. Walloe, Esq. vi PREFACE. To those of niy friends who have assisted me with their suggestions and useful information, I beg to convey my deep gratitude. In such works as these it is difficult always to be original, and to do much without a reference to others :—to whom I owe a tribute of thanks. These obligations fulfilled, I leave the rest to a generous public. St. Thomas, D.W.I., February 2nd, 1888. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR. SirgN THE Caribbean Sea, forming part of the Archipelago of the 8| Antilles, are three little islands belonging to Denmark : St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John. They are as remarkable for their fertility as they are for the industry and intelligence of their inhabitants. ^ St. Thomas is not only extremely picturesque, but is one of the best ports of refuge in the West Indies. Its population is about 15,000, and is composed of foreigners and natives. Many of the latter, who form the majority, are very well educated, and occupy important positions in its commerce and local administration. It is among the intelligent foreign and Creole residents of this cosmo politan island, and upon its principal street, that the popular physician, who is the subject of this sketch, has taken up his abode. Dr. Charles E. Taylor, E.K.Q.S., Member and Secretary of the Colonial Council of the Danish Antilles, was born in London in 1843, of an honourable and well-known family in that great metropolis. His father was such a skilful manufacturer in vegetable ivory, that he distanced all competitors at the great Exhibition of 1851, obtaining a gold medal and honourable mention. The youthful Taylor was sent at an early age to Erance, to an excellent college, the Pensionnat Beaulieu, Guines, six miles south of Calais. There, under the supervision of excellent masters, he made remarkable progress, acquiring rapidly the elements of a liberal education, several modern languages, and distinguishing himself for his application and intelli gence, and carrying away most of the first prizes. Upon leaving this establishment for the purpose of returning to England, he was destined by his family for the Bar, but a reverse of fortune preventing his father from giving him a University education, he sent him to Canada to enter a mercantile firm. And now our friend entered upon such an adventurous life as only the pen of a Murger could trace in its picturesque detail. •saiaNi xsaAV usiKva airx HO>ii sxa^y&n xua qsiuudg OTp oSpojAiomj jo }po?s siq oq. Smppi? 'save A oav^. poureraej 9l[ OJQUAV l^qtlQ JO JOTJO^IIl Oip III JOTTOAT?J!l JTIO ApSOp A\OJJOJ O? sn qiraiod ^ou soop p?sodsip mo ootids oqx -oouoios pire uoprcoupe ui jpsraiq oq. jopodns uqui jo Appos oqq. 'ojt^ SuiJopuTJAi siq jo ^spnn oqq. ni uoao Cuppas pm? 'sorpips siq SupoojSoTi joa9£[ -jCupsep siq Ajpuqq po^oqo oj-j j T?uoinoTioqd T^oiSoToqoXsd xopStn^ -poqsiTd -raoootj oq oq s-gav qj A\oq jo nopdoouoo ejqissod ^so^t[Sits oqq qnoTpiAi ^nq 'joqqnu poqiuqgpo t? iraiuioooq jo T3opi oqq. qqiAY possossod Sifimpj was. ojj joj poqjcdop ojoq jtio 'ipTiogj oqq JO ooj9uitiioo 9SU0IIIUIT Oq^ JO OJqilOO Oqq pill? '90TI13JJ JO SUOTSSOSSOd SinqspnoTi ^soui oqq. jo oiio aYtouuoj 'Xqp quqq. tiioj^ •sooiiijo'gs pnu sj^q. Auvm os T30Liouiy qsoo oq st?a\ qoiqAv jtjaa ppppqiuj cpjip ojojoq euip ^ioqs 13 ^nq i pi39jq ^ITup 81T[ ifllTTlOTIJip q^TAi SOTTTpOTUOS SlTni.IT?0 'tJpTJTITJQ JOAO |{T3 pOTJ[0Al3J| Oq 'sgojnosoa: -[Tjijo^um najqq. 'sdTjqjod ^mop.TB o.tottt q^T^ -qoiiTn os Avon^ o^ poSuo]; oq qoiqAi jo ppoAi %vi{% jo xo^toa oq^ o^ni Ap^tijosej jpsraiq Avo.iq^ oq ^nqoiA pjq^TOj pnt3 ^[niui^ stq Ji\iio ipiAV ooqon'Q SniA'egrj •uiiq o^ po^uoso.id Xjjunp'B 9J9AV Xoip si? inoqi pidop p];noo oq 'soti^tia s^i pni? soota s^i (suio^sno puu sjoun^ui sc^i SniXpn^s ifq ^T?q^ os 'ppoAi oq^ ^noq-u iuuoj o^ 'pAUJ^ o^ ^xoipTTT? ui3 oq o^ poSuo"[ oq 'o.3ottoo ^v, nnq poqsiiiSnpsip p'eq xpiqAi sossooons X jTjjo^q oq^ jo -ojq ppjOTiauoo jo soppsooou tlio^s qtq 01 jpsmiq o^TjpoixiTuoooT} o^ ^pioiijip ^i pmioj oq nmp iq^TjuuQ in .totioos ou sr?A\ '9^1? jo s.itjoX n99^jq. Xpo.Tiios ^[jop SunoA oq'j 'opsp.it? os nop -isodsip v q^i^ -oisnra otitjuT uio.ij o^ou v A\qd o^ o^qTj Snioq ^noq^iAv siq^ pu-o ^oireid pnt? uqoiA etp X|qi^on 's^Tiouin.psui p.TOAos no ui9q!i po'4no9X9 9jj -^qSipp jo TioAuoq ipaoAos tj o^ sjoj^oq siq po^iodsimp ssoupoAis puxj XpTpnuput Supuipnod oip Tpii[AV jo 'soipopui puu soouup opo.iQ SuiqsiAi3j jo soi jos v 'uoppedoa: Atitj ^noq^iAi (sn ojojoq posiAOjduu oq sSuiuoao Suo\ jtioj jo oojq^ Suijtiq -ssojSuoq oiipiiopg pm? -[uuopi3TiJO^Tij uv y3 ojoip pui puq oqAv spneuj jtio jo osoip pnu jpsjno o^ ^Tiornqsiuo^su jo pofqo uv si3AV oq 'lOJopTjqQ jfu^s siq Suijnp 'odojng; o^ q&uaoa siq nodn 'ggg \ m ^uip oojSop v qons o^ puu 'X^upodso Tiinopnm tf ^spju ujoq v sxjav *iopfi3j] MOGRArillCAL SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR. IX language, and where by the amenity of his character, his accomplish ments and talents d?artiste he made many desirable friends. It will suffice for our purpose to state that after five years full of adventure, Taylor arrived at St. Oroix, one of the Danish Antilles, where he married and engaged in commercial pursuits. There he remained during three or four years, at the end of which he placed himself once more m route, only to go, this time, however, to the neighbouring island, which he made his permanent residence, becoming first a clerk and then proprietor of a book store in St. Thomas. But it was always the same thing, the same eternal buying and selling for a living. There seemed to be but little prospect of realising his early dreams or the brilliant future for which he had striven so hard, and for which he had made so many sacrifices. At any rate, if he did not write books, he had at least the pleasure of selling them, which after all was some sort of satisfaction, if not better in a pecuniary sense. Thirsting for knowledge, it was not long before he commenced to make himself master of the contents of the library he had for sale ; and surrounding himself with scientific works, he laboured with an incredible perseverance for many years to complete his education. This determined course, which has been continued without relaxation up to the present date, made a true savant of our friend Taylor, who soon acquired a deserved reputation in the West Indies and America, where his name figures in many scientific works of authority. But we must not anticipate. It was not very long after his arrival in St. Thomas before he undertook, in connection with the editor of the St. TJwmce Tidende (A. Walloe, Esq)., the publication of the St. Thomas Almanac and Commercial advertiser —the first publication of the kind which had ever appeared in the Danish Antilles. Endowed with multiple talents, he was not only a designer, but an engraver of his own drawings on wood. Without any special technical knowledge of the subject, he applied himself with rare perseverance to illustrate it with engravings, as well as other works, which he produced later on. The almanac of which we have just spoken contained, besides the matter special to itself, a remarkable account of the Island of St. Thomas, as well as an ethnographical study of the Caribs. It is worthy of remark that this publication had a great success, and was well noticed by the American and English press. It was not long before Taylor, whose education, owing to his inde fatigable industry, had become considerably extensive, applied himself to the study of medicine. The old school was still dominant in the Danish Antilles. Homoeopathy was not yet allowed in these islands. Nor was it hardly thought possible to make a doctor outside the Faculty of Copenhagen. Science was represented in St. Thomas by one apothecary, who, indeed, possessed the finest establishment of its X LEAFLETS EllOM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. kind in the West Indies ; but all competition was rigorously excluded ; no other would have obtained permission to establish him self. The healing' art was a veritable monopoly, and the happy mortals who enjoyed its privileges, after a few short years of work, retired to Europe in the possession of a competence. Taylor, though he was not yet a doctor, sought to break through this time-honoured custom. Declaring himself a partizan of the new system, homoeopathy, he urged the admission of its practitioners to the same rights and privileges as were enjoyed by their allopathic con freres. He believed that the homoeopathic treatment was much more economical, and, according to his own expression and experience, much better adapted to the " sensitive constitution of the Creole." It was not long before he ceased confining his ideas to words ; and, taking up his pen, courageously undertook a vigorous campaign in favour of the convictions which close observations and study had enabled him to acquire. This was not, however, without a certain amount of risk of arousing the ire of those whose monopoly he so audaciously threat ened and to a still greater degree, when he, in addition to homoeo pathy, became an advocate of massage and the application of elec tricity in the treatment of tropical diseases. Without concerning ,himself in the least at the sneers or the interested protestations of his opponents, he entered into correspondence with such scientists in Europe and America as could assist him with their knowledge, and confirm the correctness of his ideas upon these medical questions. About this time he was so fascinated by the science of medicine that he consecrated the greater portion of his time to its study ; the observation and investigation of hypnotic phenomena, which have created so much stir in the scientific world lately and of whose future value in therapeutics he already foresaw, possessing a singular interest for him. He had remarked, long before, how greatly hygienic and preventive medicine were infinitely preferable to large doses of drugs, and that homoeopathy, besides contrasting favourably in this respect, responded in every way to his convictions, the result of such laborious research. No sooner was he armed with the necessary knowledge than he determined to propagate the system of Hahnemann. At the same time he published a series of articles upon the therapeutics of elec tricity in the Medical Tribune of New York, then edited by Doctor Robert A. Grunn, a physician of great ability, and the author of several works of authority in medicine. The original ideas set forth in these papers by Taylor, brought him numerous complimentary letters from eminent scientists, who were of his opinion that preventive medicine, based upon sound hygiene, would one day supplant that of the old school. Finding his efforts so justly appreciated outside of the country in which he lived, he redoubled his efforts to make his theories BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR. xi accepted among his fellow citizens: — a most difficult task, but one which in time he accomplished. The many and rapid cures which he • obtained in so-called incurable cases, acquired for him a great repu tation in the Danish Antilles. Encouraged by such success, and inspired with love for his fellow-creatures, he consecrated each day of his life, a part of his time to the assistance and cure of the sick, with out ceasing to study or to attend to his commercial affairs. The satisfaction of doing good and the esteem of the public was the sole recompense which he sought in return for his labour. Unfortunately his love of humanity was prejudicial to the medical monopoly which existed in the place where he lived. It was of no account that the system which he practised was different to those of his confreres. Their interests were at stake, so it was resolved to finish this talented man, whose generosity of disposition threatened to over throw the fabric of their monopoly. It is true that the doctors then in St. Thomas knew but little of homoeopathy, massage, nor the appli cation of electricity, which Taylor had put into practice. Yet none the less did they claim the right to reserve to themselves the practice of even that which was unknown to them. Soon a rumour went round that our friend was shortly to be prose cuted ; but to attack him was a difficult matter. It was not a question of taking steps against a vulgar charlatan, but against an educated man, one more so, perhaps, than the doctors of the country in which he had endeavoured to improve the science of medicine, working disin terestedly to help his fellow-creatures, preaching and practising sobriety and temperance, and enjoying the esteem and consideration of the people. Nevertheless, he was brought before the Court by the King's Physician for the illegal practice of medicine. A fearless partisan of medical liberty, Taylor showed how unjust and dangerous it was to give a monopoly to one class of citizens to the exclusion of other intelligent men, and how fatal was the system to progress. The response of the tribunal was a very severe penalty, qualifying the sentence, however, with the remark that " he has never asked nor received payment from his patients, and that several of his patients had felt soothing and curative effects from the treatment used." Sure of his integrity, our friend preferred imprisonment than to pay a fine for having done good —for, in reality, the only crime he had committed was to help the poor, to assist and cure the sick. Seven times forty- eight hours bread and water and fourteen days common imprisonment was the sentence inflicted upon him. No sooner, however, had he crossed the threshold of the prison than the people of St. Thomas, indignant at this unjust condemnation, paid the fine, and carried him home in triumph to his sorrowing wife and children ! ... It is the eternal history of persecution recoiling upon the heads of the persecu oq; \c?i3 jpsttnq pojtspop sAuavju st3q oq ;bt[; ppu Ajpjt?q poou o^ a'011!0!?0]^ nI ^qSnoq;ooJvhl puu qT3ui3iJO joj opiDLitnuoj su stjav oji •0jii;ujo;iq ui put? uthoisuui 13 ^spJt? ut? -';ood v, ';smSur[ 13 st? poqsmSupstp st3Ai oq qoiqAi joj s;uop3; osoq; put* pjJOAi oq; jo uuui T3 st? soptjunb stq joj ^U(l — po^uttmbou noAV A^pi30jp3 ojoAi A*oq; qoiqAi q;tAi '0ouoSqp;ui put* ooueps stq .ioj 'sdtjqjod 'qonui os ;ou — raoo;so ;so;ti0j3 oq; jo strain put? 'A^qxqpjoo q;tAi unq poApooj ^oSuotqQ 10 '^ixqQ pui3 Av£ pui3 ^[JOj^ Avojs^ jo 'uimr) -y ;joqo£i; 'jopjt^ Jopux?xojy 'ouptpout jo sjossojojj oq; jo AiqS -jny jo Jo;sL>;jy\[ ptiu 'oupipo]^; ui Jopo(j po^iuipta s^av oq uoi^niniuxo ^m3i[^ij[q v jo puo oq; ;x? c;.rt3 ;poijjip stq; jo oSpop^oujf 13 ojitiLot? o; jopjo in ;sora;n oq; o; jpsuiiq ^ui;joxg[ -uoi^.TiuipT? pui3 podsoj siq po;pxo T30iJ9iuy jo suoi;uoAni pui3 souoAoosip oq; qoiqAi ui AlaoSjns jo iCpn;s oq; o; jnopj-B q;iAi jpsuiiq poqddi3 oq 'oupipout jo ooi;oo3vid pnt3 A^jooq; oq; jo o3popwom[ pnnojo.xd v Xpi3o.i{i3 .outat3I[ ';i3q; o;l>;s 0; ;uop -qjiis oq jjiAi ;i ^uopi^s v st3 ojq siq jo oor;ou a\ios.iiio v ;nq q;!^ •sxnuoqj] "^g jo o[dood oq; jo soqsiAi pooS puu s^ojSoje oq; ^q poAio^oj 'x3oiJouiy joj po^[JT3qiuo oq ^jiAi stq jo 0J130 oq; o^ ssoutsnq snojodsojd v SuiAuorj -so^puy qsrat3(j ot[; ut ost;ouid o; uotssiuuod oq; iuti[ joj Suiuri3;qo jo ;ooCqo oq; q;tAi ^puuojj praopQ oq; jo sjoqtuoiu puu ux?mjti3qo otp ^q popx?oq ^[juutuoQ jo Sut^j oq; 0; possojppt? si3AV uot;t;od 13 'outpiruoui oq; uj •uioq; ;sSuouiu ost;ox)jd o; ;qSij \vSq\ oq; ojinbot? put? sotpit^s potpoui stq Stit;ouImoo jo osodjnd oq; joj uotjoiuy jo so;x3^g| p0;nijr^ oqc^ o2 ppoo oq ;i3i[; os 'Xououi jo tuns e&m\ v puu cssojppi3 ut3 q;tAi suinoqjQ •;g jo oplood oq; Aq po;uosojd stiAi oq cspj'i3AVj0;jt3 sA\q) aioj y -sjo; BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE AUTHOIt. xiii death of nearly two hundred persons over-confident in the efficacy or harmlessness of his prophylactic system, and of which the press has to recount almost every day a new death after a so-called " successful treatment." It was in the year 1885 that our friend Dr. Taylor came to Europe, with the object of becoming acquainted with the principal savants who compose the Ligue Internationale des anti- Vaccinateurs, of which he is one of the most active in the far-off country which he inhabits. Before his departure his biography and portrait were published in the Medical Advocate, so well-known had he become in the United States and the Antilles. On the other hand, he was the recipient of many honorary titles and distinctions from various scientific and literary societies. It was not without a feeling of regret that he left America, where he had spent so many happy hours of student life and had been so courteously treated. As soon as he arrived in England, he placed himself in communica tion with our distinguished friend William Tebb —the recognized head of the anti-vaccination movement in Great Britain — and applying himself again seriously to medical studies, he passed a second examination, successfully before the Faculty of London, thus consecrating doubly his professional knowledge. Visiting Charleroi in the capacity of delegate to the IV. Congress of the Ligue Internationale des anti-Vaccinatcurs, of which we have already spoken, and which was presided over alternatively by Dr. Hubert Baens, of the Academy of Medicine of Belgium, and by Professor Vogt, of the University of Berne, he made several important communications to that scientific assemblage. Most of them, whether verbally or written, were upon the condition of the West Indies viewed from a medical and sanitary standpoint. He also demonstrated statistically that in these countries no more than in others, does vaccination preserve the so-called protected, from smallpox. Proceeding to Paris in order to make himself acquainted with the condition of medical science in France, he was actually preparing to pass an examination before the Faculty of Paris, if he had not been called suddenly to London upon urgent family affairs. His solo pre-occupation, even while travelling, seemed to be study and the acquisition of knowledge. In London, the honourable distinction of Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society was conferred upon him. Returning to St. Thomas he was welcomed with enthusiasm by its inhabitants, but no sooner had he settled himself down in the hope of reaping some reward for his labour than fresh persecutions were com menced against him at the instance of his Danish colleagues, whose monopoly he threatened by his presence. xiv LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. It was not long before he plainly perceived that his charitable confreres were not so much against homoeopathy as himself, and the prospect of his practising among them. Now that our savant friend had acquired his legitimate title of doctor from an accredited faculty, his situation seemed impregnable. Upon what grounds then were they going to attack him ? No better way appeared feasible to the Danish physicians than to declare war against all foreign doctors desiring to practice in St. Thomas, and but a short time elapsed before the Eoyal Eesolution which authorised the Governor to give permission, provisionally, to practise to foreign physicians, was withdrawn by the Minister of Finance, Denmark, and the popular physician informed that if he desired to practise in those islands, he would have to undertake a voyage of more than three thousand miles to Copenhagen to pass another examination as doctor. And this in spite of the fact that he had done the same thing twice before the faculties of London and Chicago. These new and vexatious troubles only served to increase the popular sympathy for him, and he was almost immediately afterwards elected Member of the Colonial Council by a large majority of votes. In this honourable assembly he demonstrated with reason that St. Thomas, being an island absolutely cosmopolitan, the Frenchman, the Spaniard, the German and the Englishman were as much entitled to be attended by a countryman as the Danes were —more especially as Danish physicians were admitted to practise in many other countries besides their own. The enemies of Dr. Taylor met upon these grounds, and commenced shortly afterwards a war of persecution against the more prominent anti -vaccinators. Our friend replied vigorously to the assault with his pen, and afterwards in the meetings of the Colonial Council. Here he was as resolute as he was indefatigable. It was a grave question of public hygiene and of individual liberty. The vaccination law obliging parents who refused to poison their children with the virus which the vaccinators transmit from arm to arm, with the possibility of transmitting a host of maladies as well as syphilis, to pay a heavy fine, or, in default, to be levied upon or imprisoned. Dr. Taylor, who is actually paying at this moment six dollars fine every month to escape the action of this fatal law upon his children, remained valiantly at his post. His last work in this direction has been the presentation to the Colonial Council of a petition signed by the principal inhabitants of the island, praying the King of Denmark for an extenuation of the fines of those who have no longer faith in the protective power of vaccination. Unfortunately, it is the same in medical questions as it is in religious —Might makes Right, and the strongest wins. Nevertheless, Dr. Taylor succeeded, by his persuasive eloquence, in BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR. XV convincing his colleagues of the Council, and the transmission of the petition to His Majesty, recommended by the Chairman and Council, was voted by a majority. It is to be hoped that this measure will be only preparatory to the abolition of the law of compulsory vaccination all over the world —a law which contributes in no small degree in the Antilles to the propagation of innumerable skin diseases, not to speak of leprosy itself. The last work of the accomplished doctor, and to which he has consecrated two years of labour, is a history of the Danish Antilles of the merits of which our readers will appreciate on perusal. He has, after all, realised the dream of his youth — to write books. And if he is not yet a celebrated author, we feel certain he will become one. Young yet, in the enjoyment of perfect health, thanks to his temperate habits and manner of living, surrounded by a charming family, our friend Dr. Taylor promises to live long enough to see the triumph of those sound and rational ideas in the defence of which he has devoted a life full of trials and incident. PH. LINET. Paris, 2Sth February, 1888. LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. CHAPTEE I. ST. THOMAS.— HISTORICAL. I&F THE history of the Danish Antilles before the discovery of the Virgin Islands by Christopher Columbus in 1493, we know next to nothing. In vain do we search the musty records which the early Jesuit fathers have left behind them, or p]od wearily through their works in the hope of finding something to enlighten us. But for the thousands of years which must have elapsed before the first European Colonist ever set foot upon these shores, history is dumb. A few carvings on a rock, some stone chisels, collars, bowls, necklets, and hideous looking semblances of heads, said to be the work of the Caribs, are all that remain of themselves or those who were before them. We know that the names of Gralibi and Carib were given to those inhabi tants of the Antilles whom the Spaniards encountered in the early days of disco very, and that they believed themselves descendants of a race of people originally from the Mainland. We also know much of their habits and customs and how they lived in the days when the Freres Prechetirs attempted to convert them. But of their ancestors and past we are in absolute ignorance. It is a blank page for the future historian to fill up. CAllIli BOWL. 2 LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. CARIB NECKLACE Nor do we know much more about the settlers who preceded Erik Smidt the Dane, whom authentic history places as the first of that nation to take possession of St. Thomas in behalf of the kingdom of Denmark. We find it recorded that in the year 1666, there were twelve persons (Dutch and English) with their families and slaves living in the island, but we are not informed whether Smidt met them on his arrival or not. One can readily conceive the feelings of himself and his little band of followers, as they sailed into the spacious harbour of St Thomas on the morning of the 30th March, 1666. They had, no doubt, suffered greatly on the voyage, and were glad to exchange the filth and vermin, bad food and stinking water of their ship —" de Endracht"—for a pleasanter sojourn upon land. And yet without that vessel, the one link which held them to " Kjaere Danmark,'7 they were shut out from the rest of the world. They must have been a gallant lot of men, hardy and brave, to dare such a journey for the sake of settling in so insignificant a spot as the island was then. But those were the days of adventures, of individual enter prise, when ships were fitted out, long voyages made, savages exter minated, their countries appropriated, and new colonies founded. There are but few records left to tell us of the doings of these early colonists, or of the Copenhagen Company which they claimed to represent. Erik Smidt is credited with the intention of building a Eort on a hill which he named after himself, * but which, owing to his demise shortly after his^ arrival, was not carried out until later. That the little settlement must have been in sore straits shortly after wards, is evident from a report sent to the Home Government by Pastor Kjeld Jensen Slagelse, who had assumed the command. This was dated " Smidts- berg," 3rd of July, 1666, and stated that they had provisions only for nine months, and that they would have to leave the place at the end of that time if no reinforcements and supplies came to them. It seems difficult to believe that carib relic. SUch an appeal as this, should have been * Now known as Luchetti's Hill. ST. TnOMAS.—HISTORICAL. 3 left unregarded, but as we hear that some time afterwards a Dutch Governor named Huntum, landed in force and broke up the expedi tion, it is evident that no attention had been paid to the matter. It is unfortunate that it is not possible to find out in what year Mr. Huntum made his descent on St. Thomas, and put an end to the Danish occupation. We only learn afterwards that he had compelled the Danes to leave the island, had carried away all the arms and goods he could lay hold of, and made himself generally unpleasant. One can hardly read of the struggles of these early settlers without a feeling of pity. Meagre as are the accounts which have come down to us, there is enough left to show in what a constant state of terror they lived. Added to the natural difficulties which they had to encounter,, such as scarcity of water and provisions, they were in daily dread of buccaneers and pirates. Not that they themselves may not have carried on a predatory warfare, when the occasion offered, for stealing a few cattle or slaves, but as a rule they gained their livelihood in a more legitimate manner. As fish was very plentiful, fishing formed a part of their regular avocations. They netted them, and caught them in different ways. They also speared turtle or turned them when they came up to lay their eggs in the sand. And it is said that they roasted the iguaua, and made a savoury stew from the agouti. At best, it must have been a precarious existence, and one whose attractions were few. Only the indomitable spirit of the Danes, Dutch or English, seemed fitted to encounter such hardships as the "Virgin Islands offered to their first colonists. The less hardy Spaniard and Frenchman had already appropriated the more fertile and productive portions of the Antilles. But the actual history and progress of the colony of St. Thomas, cannot be said to have commenced before the time that Jorgen Iwersen became Governor. This was cj the 23rd May, 1672, when he landed in that island as chief of an expedition sent out from Copenhagen by the Danish "West India and Guinea Company. We know but little of the personal character of Jorgen Iwersen. But it is reasonable to suppose that he was a worthy representative of the country he came from. From the different orders which were issued under his administration, it would appear that he was not a man to be trifled with. A strict disciplinarian, it was not long before he EARLY COLONISTS SPEARING TURTLE- b 2 4 LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. made Ms presence felt in the little Colony. There was no shirking church under his rule, for every person who spoke Danish, and every one who did not, were bound to attend service every Sunday in Christians-fort, when the drum beat, under a penalty of twenty -five pounds of tobacco. They were a pious people in those days, and the law made it incumbent on every householder to encourage his EABLY COLONIST TURNING TURTLE. servants to be likewise, and if he allowed them to do work on a Sunday which could have been done on a Saturday, he was to pay a fine of fifty pounds of tobacco. Hand and hand with godliness went a martial spirit, which compelled every man to be in readiness to defend his Lares and Penates, as well as the colony, at the first alarm given by a neighbour or at the Fort. A glance at some of the old edicts of Governor Twersen will con vince any one of the much better times in which we live and of the freedom we enjoy. In those days no man could leave the island without the Governor's permission under a penalty of five hundred pounds of tobacco ; and the person who aided another to leave sur reptitiously, had to pay a fine of a thousand pounds of tobacco and be responsible for his debts and liabilities. The restrictions on white servants were equally severe, and innumerable fines were levied upon those who purchased from them or harboured them if they ran away from their employer. Negroes fared far worse, and were often cruelly punished for the slightest offence. " Christians-fort " was now in the course of erection. A fact which is rendered quite certain by the Governor's order of January 6th, ST. THOMAS. HISTORICAL. 5 CHBJ8TI ANS-r ORT. 1674, to one Carl Baggert, to the effect, that he should build his house on another spot on his estate (the present Government-hill) as the Governor had observed several times since the building of this Fort was commenced, " that it is not advantageous to the Fort, but at some time or other might be prejudicial that Baggert build his house so much higher than the Fort, insomuch that everyone who comes to him can completely overlook it." We also read of Governor Iwersen purchasing a slave in 1674, to serve the company as a master mason for seven years in the building of a Fort for the defence of the colony. The Rev. J. Knox, in his "History of St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John," leads us to conclude that the Fort must have been already built at the time of Governor Iwersen' s arrival, but the above facts and later researches go to prove conclusively that this interesting edifice was under construction in 1672, and was under " fair way " in the year 1674, when the slave above alluded to was purchased. The history of the Fort seems to be nearly allied to that of the Lutheran Church in St. Thomas, for from the earliest period of the building of the Fort, we find mention of the Church being kept within its walls, sometimes quarters were set especially for the service of the Church ; at other times we read of Divine services being held in the armoury or other convenient rooms. The Fort was also used as a residence fop the Governor for many years after its erection. From all accounts the Colonists lived pretty contentedly under the iron-handed rule of their Governor, growing steadily in numbers and prospering greatly. In 1680, there were some fifty estates on the island, engaged princi pally in the cultivation of tobacco. Its population was 331 souls, 156 of whom were whites, and 175 slaves; for whose protection in those palmy days of piracy and buccaneering, the watchful care of such a sturdy Governor as *J6rgen Iwersen was often required. It is regretful to note that this gallant Dane after having been replaced, 6 LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. at his own request, by one "Nic Esmit," came to an untimely end on his re -appointment as Governor of the Danish West Indies in 1683. He was thrown overboard by a mutinous crew from the vessel in which he set out from Copenhagen to reach St. Thomas. This, after they1 had shot the captain, and decapitated some seven or eight prisoners. The rest of the Company's functionaries and the trans ported prisoners they set ashore at Flores. Retribution soon followed the mutineers, who bent upon piracy and having but little knowledge of navigation, went ashore with their vessel ^at Marstrand, Sweden, where they were handed over to the proper, authorities, and finally condemned to be hung outside the eastern gate of Copenhagen. It was now that the want of labour began to be felt in the Colony, and to remedy this, that the traffic in slaves was encouraged by Christian Y., who purchased in Africa from the King of Aquambon the two forts of Frederiksburgh and Christiansburg on the Gold Coast, and ordered ships to proceed thither in order to purchase slaves for St. Thomas. With this addition to the working population, agriculture received a fresh impulse, the cultivation of sugar was introduced, and efforts were made at the same time, to embrace the advantages of its excellent harbour, and to add the benefits of com merce to those of agriculture. Three men had already filled the post of Governor in the island since the resignation of Jorgen I worsen, Nic Esmit, Adolf Esmit, his brother who deposed him in 1683, and who was deposed in his turn in 1684, Gabriel Milan, whose rule was of short duration, and Adolf Esmit again, who by intrigue and his superior ability managed to get once more reinstated as Governor, retaining the post till the year 1690, when, on his own petition, he received the royal discharge. In this year .a violent earthquake took place on Sunday the 9th of April, at four o'clock in the afternoon. It is the only one recorded which could in any way be compared to the memorable one of November 18th, 1867, as it is spoken of as a terrific earthquake, lasting a long time and cracking the walls of the Company's storehouse ; the sea receding a while after, so that fish could be picked up from the bottom nine or ten fathoms out. In the same year it would seem that an attack upon the Colony by the English was apprehended. For this reason precautionary measures were adopted by placing a sentry on each of the four bastions of the fort and closing its landgate. Frederiks-fort, a tower which Government had built upon Smith's Hill in 1689, and which is now known as "Blue Beard's Castle," was also provided with a breastwork of thick Gri-Gri planks at the top for the protection of the sentry. The alarm, however, proved false and their fears unfounded. We now come to a period when the colonists were startled by the ST. THOMAS. HISTORICAL 7 FREDERIKSFOUT, OR BLUEBEARD'S CASTLE. intelligence that the King of Denmark and the Company had farmed out the whole island to one George Thormohlen. A little before that time, a Com pany of Brandenbur- ghers had been per mitted to establish themselves in St. Thomas for the pur pose of commerce. They had prospered exceedingly. As cer tain rights had been secured to them by treaty; on the cession of the island to Thor mohlen, who was to possess entire control over its affairs and enjoy all its revenues, the King, in order to secure to him all the export and import duties paid by the Branden- burghers, compounded with that Company for the same for three thousand pieces of eight per annum, to be paid in two instalments. There is no doubt that these changes were most distasteful to the Colonists, who were now to be subjected to taxation. Their opposi tion to it was strenuous, and when on the 30th of March, 1692, the first regular troops were garrisoned in the island, and further taxation for their support was urged by Thormohlen ; it was steadily refused and ultimately abandoned, In 1694, the Company threw up their contract with Thormohlen, who had ruled the island since the 9th of May, 1691, and had appointed De la Vigne as his governor. The Company then sent out their own governor, Lorentz, to replace him. From this it would appear that the Rev. Knox's statement that " Thormohlen's proprietorship ceased with his death," is erroneous. Governor Lorentz' s own statement of his assumption of the post is conclusive. He says, "We anchored in the harbour of St. Thomas at two o'clock in the night of the 22nd of November, 1694. We were hailed from the fort with instructions for the Captain to come on shore. I therefore went with the captain and three others, and made myself known to the corporal, who then opened the small water-gate for us and went in. De la Yigne descended in his morning gown from his residence in the tower. We entered the audience-room of the Eort, when, after a little conversation, I told him the cause of my 8 LEAFLETS EllOM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. arrival was the talcing over of the island. De la Vigne proposed to me to take a walk down in the town till daylight, so that he could then fire a salute ; but I demanded that an alarm should be fired, which was then done, and I thereupon went down in the town and conversed with the people. At break of day I returned to the Fort, The planters were assembled under the seaside grape trees under the Eort walls." On the 14th December the Governor inspected the fortifications, and, not rinding them to his satisfaction, recommended several "We have before alluded to the con stant state of anxiety in which the inhabi tants lived from the fear of being attacked at any time by the neighboring colonists or pirates. There are several instances on record of which the following are illustrative. It seems that from some cause — curiosity or otherwise—some Frenchmen visited the eastern point of the harbour, and inspected the four cannons which were placed there by Governor De la Vigne. This battery was never expected to be worth much in case the town had to be defended from attack, yet the curiosity of the Frenchmen was sufficient to create an uneasy feeling in the community, where it was supposed that the inspection was made for the purpose of embracing the first opportunity to carry off the cannons. A guard of four inhabitants was therefore placed at the point for the purpose of controlling the exit or entrance of all vessels sailing from or into the harbour. No sooner was this alarm dispelled than a council of war was held, in consequence of an expected Spanish attack. On this account the fortifications were to be repaired, the inhabitants supplying slaves for the purpose. The Avater battery was to have trenches on both sides, and to be supplied with gabions. From the fort and water battery trials were made on the 2nd May, in order to test how far the harbour could be covered by shots from four to eighteen pounders, and on the 22nd of that month measures were adopted to supply the tower to the North of the Fort with water. At this time internal troubles were also feared, for many planters had from time to time moved to Charlotte Amalia (the eastern part of the town) and built dwelling houses there, in order to be in the vicinity of the Fort. These internal troubles were looked for from BUCCANEERS CRUISING. ST. THOMAS. —HISTORICAL. 9 the slaves in the New Quarters (neighbourhood of Estate Tutu), as there were no white managers. On the 3rd June lists were prepared for the defensive force in such a manner that each of the four bastions of the Fort was to have an officer with twenty men. Frederiks-fort was to have twenty-five men, and the Northern Tower nine men. But whether these precautions were taken against a probable rising of the slaves, or against an expected Spanish des cent, is not clearly stated ; perhaps it was from both, as there is a statement made from which we glean the fact that the planters, during April, sent their wives and chil dren to Curacao, fearing a Spanish attack. There was, however, an enemy against the appear ance of which no steps were taken, and which was altogether little expected. This arrived at the island on the 20th of July, and was not long in setting at naught the many precautions which had been made against other unwelcome visitors. We allude to a severe hurricane which occurred on that date, by which all the works of reconstruction were destroyed, and the healthiness of the place 80 impaired that the force of the garrison, by February, 1697, was reduced to one lieutenant, one ensign, one drummer, and five privates, while a month later, of all the officials the book-keeper was the only one left alive. With this reduced force, it became incumbent on the inhabitants to do service for the protection of the place ; this step was rendered all the more necessary on account of the attitude assumed by the large number of maroon slaves gathered in the Western part of the island. It was in the year 1701, while Johann Lorentz was still Governor, that Pere Labat visited the island. The account of this visit, detailed in his work on the West Indies,*1 gives a fair picture of the state of the colony at that time. Of its commerce, he makes this remark :— " Denmark being almost neutral in the wars of Europe, the port of St. Thomas is open to all nations. During peace it serves as an Jtl.ACK HEAlin's CASTLE. * Voyage aux Isles as far as Nassau and St. Thomas were concerned. The ports of the West Indies had all more or less sympathized with the so- called rebels of the South. Their piratical craft had been welcomed and sheltered. The men-of-war of the North found obstacles placed in their way. It was more or less conceded that had the United States possessed St. Thomas during the war of the Great Rebellion it would have saved millions. For these and many other reasons it was considered a desirable acquisition for the United States. In the meanwhile, with a rapidity not always usual to Denmark, the treaty which had been concluded with the United States for the sale of the Danish West India Islands, was ratified by a unanimous vote in the Landsthing or Upper House of the Rigsdag. This completed the action of Denmark with regard to the Treaty. It now only remained for the United States Government to fulfil its share of the compact. Two years and a-half dragged wearily along, during which the St. Thomas people were alternately buoyed up or cast down by the news of annexation. They had voted for it almost to a man and awaited impatiently for the end. Erom causes which have never been satisfactorily explained, the Treaty was not ratified by the United States Senate. The opposition of the Radical party and the impeachment of President Johnson were assigned as presumable reasons for a postponement of one year. Then came others for further postponement. These did not prevent the United States from purchasing Alaska from the Russians shortly afterwards, for nearly the same amount which was to have been paid for the Danish West India Islands. Space precludes an elaborate discussion of the merits or demerits of this transaction. It is satis factory to note that the conduct of Denmark throughout the whole affair was straightforward, dignified and honourable. There is no ST. THOMAS. —HISTORICAL. 25 doubt that the failure to conclude the bargain was a great disappoint ment to many. Along with the affection which the people of St. Thomas and St. John had always manifested for Denmark and its King, there was a genuine admiration for the American people, whose energy and enterprise so well accorded with their own, and which by a fresh infusion it was hoj)ed the island would tide over its past calamities and resume its wonted place as the commercial centre of the West Indies. OHAPTEK IV. ST. THOMAS.— HISTORICAL. |w§ N THE meanwhile, a dulness began to pervade the community M§ of St. Thomas. Its harbour, gay with the colours of all (Vlj'fc^ nations, its hotels always crowded with foreigners, either en VtAy route to their homes or for business purposes, had now ex- perienced a great change. The warehouses filled with the ^* products of English, French, and German manufactures, and which, in the months of October and November, were the resort of purchasers from the neighbouring islands, were now quiet and calm. The distressing times of the end of 1867 had been bravely faced, and it was naturally supposed that when the storm had sub sided the usual order of things would be resumed. No one anticipated that 1868, 1869, and 1870 would bring us greater woe. The busy seasons came and went, but each was less than its predecessor. Merchants began to compare the present with the past, and on referring to their books, would find that at no time of the year in former days had they made so few entries as in these. The future gave but little hope of encouragement save that which chance might give. And now another problem was to be solved. The loosened bonds between the Mother Country and these islands were to be again re-tied. The Crown was once more to re assert its sovereignty, and the King to take anew His loyal West Indian subjects to His heart. The hope that a happy development, not only in a moral, but also in a material respect, would be power fully advanced under American rule, had long since died in every breast, but how was a rapprochement to be effected between Denmark, St. Thomas, and St. John ? Were they to vote themselves back again, or were they to consider that their voting themselves free from the Mother Country was but a formality ? Statesmanship soon found a solution to the question. A proclama tion had sold them, another one would take them back. A perusal of it will show how kindly this was done. 28 LEAFLETS EllOM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. "WE, CHRISTIAN THE NINTH, " By the grace of God, King of Denmark, the Vandals and the Goths, Duke of Sleswig, Ilolsteiii, Stornmarn, Ditmarsh, Lauonborg, and Oldenborg, send to our beloved and faithful subjects in the island of St. Thomas and St. John, Our Boyal Greeting. " Yon are aware of the motives that actuated Us at the time to give ear to the repeated and urgent requests of the North American Government for the cession of St. Thomas and St. John to the United States. We expected that Wo, in that manner, should have been able to lighten Our realm of the heavy burthens incurred by the then recently-terminated war, and We hoped that the annexation to the United States would have afforded the islands advantages so impor tant that they could have contributed to soothe the pain which a separation necessarily must cause in the Colonies, no less than in the Mother Country. You, for your part, and tho Danish Diet on the part of tho Kingdom, have concurred in these views, and We all met in tho mutual readiness to accommodate ourselves to what appeared to Us All to be recommended by the circumstances. " Unexpected obstacles have arisen to the realisation of this idea, and released Us from Our pledged word. The American Senate has not shown itself willing to maintain the Treaty mado, although the initiative for it proceeded from the United States themselves. Ready as we were to subdue the feelings of Our hearts, when wo thought that duty bade Us so to do, yet We cannot otherwise than feel a satisfac tion that circumstances have relieved us from making a sacrifice, which, notwithstanding the advantages held out, would always have been painful to Us. We are convinced that you share these senti ments, and that it is with a lightened heart you are relieved from the consent, which only at Our request you gave to a separation of the islands from the Danish Crown. "In, therefore, making known to you that the Convention made on the 24th of October, 1867, for the cession of the Islands of St. Thomas and St, John to the United States of America, has become void, We entertain the firm belief that Our Government, supported by your own active endeavours will succeed in promoting the interest of tho islands and by degrees efface all remembrances of the misfortunes which, of late years, have so sadly befallen tho islands. To this end We pray Almighty God to give Us strength and wisdom. " Commending you to God, " Given at Our Palace at Ainalienborg, the 7th May, 1870, CHRISTIAN E., L. S. The demand for reform was now general, and, before long, steps were taken to set forth the desires of the people. The circumlocutory ST. THOMAS. HISTORICAL. 29 manner in which the administration of the Colonies was managed at that time. The expenses attending it by the necessity of keeping up a Governor and a President, which latter was at the same time a Vice-Governor, and both of them important representatives of the Danish sovereignty, their salaries, with table money, an entire swarm of higher and lower officials, a military force, all directly or indirectly paid by the two islands, called loudly for change. And a careful review of the financial burdens which were laid upon the islands in those years, will show how great a necessity there was for it. Unfor tunately, instead of sending home a deputation composed of its best citizens, or those most qualified to represent the actual condition and wants of St. Thomas at that time, a Petition addressed to His Majesty was got up, and was signed b}' 1,111 of the principal inhabitants of the island, praying for certain reforms which would give a greater measure of self-government and control of internal affairs, than that which the island possessed. It has never been quite certain that it bore the fruit which was expected of it, at any rate nothing immediate transpired. Por while His Majesty was graciously pleased in his reply to learn with satisfaction of the loyalty of his people, and to assure thorn that with their support it would be his aim and that of his Government to promote the interests of the islands. The vague ness of the Colonial law at which the petition was principally directed continued just as vague as ever. The old laws which were obsolete and unsuited to the times, and which are occasionally, even now, brought forward for particular purposes to the discomfort and dismay of the many, are yet unrepealed and ready foi the unscrupulous to use as it may suit them. On the 11th February, 1871, the seat of Government was removed from St. Croix to St. Thomas. His Excellency Governor W. L. Birch, Commander of Darmebrog and Dannebrogsmand, taking up his residence in that island. His Excellency was specially charged by the Home Government with the task of amending the laws, and it was hoped that His Excollenc}^ acknowledged legal abilities would have enabled him to bring matters to a successful issue. One of his first acts, however, was to enforce the provisions of Article 7 of the Press Law against the Editor of the St. 'Thorn a Tidende, a paper accredited with the reputation in those days of being a warm and consistent advocate of the rights of the public. The result of this action on the part of Government, which the Editor stigmatized as a persecu tion, was a scathing article in the next issue of the paper, on the 2oth February, against His Excellency the Governor, with a definition of Tyranny and a Tyrant. What the consequences might have been it is difficult to say, for masterly as was the stylo in which the article was written, legal acumen would surely have picked out a weak spot on which to have based an action for libel But His Excellency had 30 LEAVLET3 FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. not tlie time nor opportunity to do so, just as he neither had the chance to make known the changes he was about to introduce. He may never have seen the article, though report said it had contributed indirectly to hasten the occurrence which followed. It is certain, however, that His Excellency retired to bed on the evening of the 25th at about eleven o'clock, and there was nothing unusual observed about him. Next day, Sunday morning, His Excellency did not make his appearance at his usual hour. There were some gentlemen waiting to see him, and being pressed for time, as they wished to see him before going to St. Croix, it was determined to call him. Knocking at his bedroom door and failing to elicit any response, the door, which was locked, was forced open. His Excellency was not there. The door of the bath-room was next tried, and that having been forced open, His Excellency was found lying on the floor near the bath, perfectly insensible, having evidently fallen backwards, and dying. He was quickly carried to his bed, where, in a few minutes, he expired. A post mortem examination showed that His Excellency died of enlargement of the heart (hypcrtrophia cordis). On the 30th June, His Excellency Chamberlain Franz Ernest Bille, K.D., arrived in St. Thomas as Commissioner Extraordinary and Governor of the Danish West Indies. He was to reside in St. Thomas. On the 1st July he held a Levee at the Government House, at which several officials, consuls, merchants, and private gentlemen were present. On the 3rd of August a change in the Police System was inaugurated by the acting Police Master, Mr. Fischer. The town which had gone to sleep under its old system of insecurity, woke up to find itself under the control of policemen patrolling the streets, each man on a regular beat. The effect was magical. Order now prevailed. The reign of loafers and vagabonds was at an end. On the 23rd October, a frightful hurricane took place. Fearful havoc was caused in town, many lives were lost, and many persons wounded. The heaviest gusts of winds were from half -past four and five p.m. when they came from the North-West. Then it was, that the great destruction was completed. The fierce roaring of these fearful gusts, the noise of zinc sheets, and the sheets hurling through the air and along the streets, and the crash of falling houses in that gloomy half-hour were awful. As usual, the merchants subscribed liberally to relieve the immediate distress occasioned by this great calamity. The private subscriptions amounting in a short time to 6,600 dols. On the 16th of February, 1872, telegraphic communica tion between St. Thomas and Europe was established throughout the line to Havana and thence to the United States and Europe. A new Lighthouse was erected on Muhlensfeldt Point, and was formally delivered to Government by the contractor —Mr. Carl Borg— on the 10th June. ST. THOMAS. HISTORICAL. 31 On the 1st July, a dinner was given to His Excellency Governor Bille, by the Colonial Council, on the eve of his departure from the island. It was a fitting tribute to a man who, from the first, had pursued a just, equitable and liberal policy, and under whose short administration, so many valuable reforms and improvements had been inaugurated. It is not saying too much when we assert that at no period of its history had such a spirit of harmony existed between the Government and the people's representatives. His affability had made him most popular, and his ready tact a great many friends. He was succeeded by His Excellency Governor Stakemann ad interim. About this time the first steps were taken towards having the law regarding the monopoly of physicians abolished. A memorial numerously signed was presented to the Colonial Council, which asked for the abrogation of the law, which prevented foreign physicians from practising in these islands without first going to Copenhagen to pass an examination. Representations on this subject had again and again been made to the authorities, but as regards doctors, the invariable objection was that the law of Denmark precluded anyone from practising on Danish territory without a Danish diploma. This law so suitable for Denmark was perfectly right and proper, as any doctor who might happen to be in that country and wished to practice there, could easily pass his examina tion in Copenhagen. But to the foreign doctor who should happen to be in St. Thomas and desire to practice there, the case was very different. To require him to make a journey to Copenhagen to procure a Danish diploma, when he was already provided with a Spanish, German, French, English or any other one from a respect able medical college, was simply to establish an invidious monopoly in favour of one of the national elements in St. Thomas to the exclu sion of others. In such a mixed community it was natural that they required a mixture of medical skill. As was remarked by an able writer at the time, " A patient's faith in his doctor is one-half of his cure. The German wants his German doctor, the Italian his Italian, the Spaniard his Spanish, the Frenchman his French, and so on. There is no earthly reason why they should all be forced to employ a Danish doctor. The thing is monstrous, it is unjust. It is a remnant of that pernicious exclusiveness which is abandoned by all enlightened nations." His Excellency Governor Garde arrived on the 24th September, 1872. Governor Stakemann returned to St. Croix, where he resumed his former post as Yice-Governor. In the month of October appeared a notice in the St. Thomce Ttdende announcing that the Ministry of Finance had by Royal Resolution of 25th September, been authorised to grant foreign physicians permission to practice in the Danish W est India Islands when they, by certificates which the ministry might accept as valid, could prove that they had 32 LEAFLETS FItOM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. passed an examination at a foreign respectable University or Corpora tion, and the Governor of these Islands was furthermore authorised to grant to a foreign physician preliminary permission to practice, until the approval of the Ministry could be obtained, provided that such certificates or other information of which he might be in possession, did not leave a doubt of his title and ability as a physician. In accordance with the above-mentioned Eoyal Kesolu- tion, of which the foregoing is a version, permission was granted to Doctor M. Andouit, French Naval Physician 1st Class, D.M. of the Faculty of Paris, to practice in the Danish West Indies. This concession, so tardily made, which worked so well, and was of so much benefit to the people of St. Thomas, it is said, was only obtained at the intercession of Governor Bille then in Copenhagen, who had long seen the necessity of doing away with vexatious mono polies and placing these islands on a footing with other civilized com munities. On the 16th March, 1873, H.B.M.S. " Challenger " arrived on a scientific expedition and a tour round the world. The distinguished scientists and officers were cordially received by his Excellency Governor Garde. It is pleasing to note that one of their number, in writing of St. Thomas to the Daily Neivs London, said: — "After careful enquiry, I am inclined to the opinion that St. Thomas has been very much maligned, and that it is not the undesirable nor unhealthy spot it is generally believed. The fact is, and ought to be recognised, yellow fever is not indigenous here, but is imported from what is still called (in local parlance) the Spanish Main, or some other of the West India islands. There are no noxious mangrove swamps to breed malaria, as in Jamaica and in other places, and receiving, as they do, the full strength of the salubrious "trades," all the year round, the "Virgin Islands possess unusual advantages in a sanitary point of view." On the 24th July, the "Variety Dramatic Association " gave its first performance. It achieved a great success from the first, and was spoken of at the time as highly creditable to native talent, and fully deserving of the enthusiastic support which was given to it. It was under the administration of Governor Garde, that the oppor tunity was taken by His Excellency to object, in the Colonial Council, to certain criticisms of the St. Thomcn Ticlende. This paper had long been a thorn in the side of evildoers, and wily politicians. For some time it had been edited by a man of considerable journalistic capacity. Had he possessed less, and been more chary of calling things by their right names, he might never have been noticed. But this time the Government was in earnest. Outraged by the efforts which had been made to undermine its authority, and to render it contemptible in the eyes of the people, it was determined to suppress ST. THOMAS. HISTORICAL. 33 the Tidende. And by virtue of a Koyal Resolution, which had been kept in reserve for such an occasion, and a communication from the G-overnment, the editor was informed that permission to publish it was withdrawn from him. On the 1st October it appeared under the editorship of its present proprietor, upon whom had been conferred the privilege of publishing it, and who has, by his prudence and manage ment, retained it till now. It was not long, however, before sufficient influence was brought to bear upon Government to induce it to relax its severity, and a new paper, the St. Thomas Times, appeared under the nominal editorship of the former proprietor of the St. Thomcz Tidende. Devoted to editorial amenities the two papers prospered with varying fortunes. Having now their own battles to fight, Government escaped criticism in print ; but a glance at the proceedings of the Colonial Council will show that there, the battle was still waged for further reform. On the 27th October, the Apollo Theatre, as it is now called, was inaugurated by the Alexandra Dramatic Association, for the benefit of the Architect, Mr. C. Berg. Trade had now considerably declined. Besides the Royal Mail Steam Packet's magnificent fleet of steamers, other lines had started and extended their operations throughout the West Indies. It was now possible for a merchant in Porto Rico or elsewhere to have his goods brought direct to his own doors, without the assistance of St. Thomas. Planters could also export their own produce direct. There was no longer any necessity to send it to St. Thomas to be shipped. The consequences soon became palpable to everyone. Purchasers became less every year. Still a goodly number of vessels yet fre quented its port, and many passengers visiting it en route to other places per Royal Mail Steamers gave it an appearance of activity not seen elsewhere in the West Indies. On January 9th, 1875, by virtue of the power vested in him by Colonial Law, Section 36, His Excellency, Governor Garde, dissolved the Colonial Council. This was the first dissolution which it had encountered during its somewhat stormy existence. Entering upon its work with many reforms to effect, and important changes to make, it is no wonder that many disagreements had arisen between it and the Executive. It is somewhat important to note that the same members were returned. The St. Croix-St. Thomas Cable was successfully laid, on the 20th inst., by the " Hooper." And the first message sent from St. Thomas to St. Thomas through the West India Islands, was sent that day. the time occupied being fifty seven minutes, allowing for detour and detention at each separate station. On the 13th April, 1875, St. Thomas was placed on the black list, as an unhealthy place, by the Lords of the Treasury, on the reconi- D 34 LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. mendation of Lord Derby. It may possibly be there now, for auglit we know, for they are not much quicker in England, than here, in wiping out antiquated spots and prejudices. It is worthy of remark, that during the administration of Governor Garde many improvements were made, notably in the direction of beautifying and ornamenting the town. To this day many of them are pointed out as being the fruit of His Excellency's forethought and care for the Islands. On the morning of the 2nd December, 1875, the Floating Dock was thoroughly tested and pronounced a decided success. On that day the standards of Denmark and England were^ unfurled from its flagstaff amid the hearty cheers of the workmen. Up to the present time it has continued in excellent condition and in good working order, forming a valuable addition to the facilities of the Harbour of St. Thomas. On the 5th January, 1876, His Excellency, Governor Garde, left on a mission to Denmark to carry out certain plans in connection with the sugar cultivation of St. Croix. It had long been considered desirable that improved methods for the manufacture of sugar should be introduced into that island. The establishment of a central factory seemed one of the best means for the attainment of that end. This was included in His Excellency's programme, who assured the mem bers of the Colonial Council at an extraordinary meeting before he left that he would leave no stone unturned to advance the interests of the community. His absence was to have been only for a few weeks ; this extended over some months, owiog to unexpected obstacles and difficulties to overcome. Just before his arrival, another hurricane visited our shores between half -past twelve to five o'clock on the morning of the 3rd. This time St. Croix was included. The damage to that island was frightful. Fortunately, there were not many vessels in the harbour of St. Thomas. Several of these, how ever, were damaged, a few shanties were blown away on shore, and a good many houses had their tiles or sheets of tin blown off. For tunately for St. Thomas, being so far removed from the centre, it escaped a worse fate, for it was believed by competent meteorologists to have been one of the most terrific cyclones that had ever visited the West Indies. Amidst so much trouble and adversity, it is no wonder that the arrival of His Excellency, Governor Garde, two days afterwards, was like a ray of sunshine upon the people who had suffered so much, and who were now almost on the verge of despair at such a repetition of calamities. And all the more so that it soon became known that he had succeeded in accomplishing a great deal of good for the islands. Up to that time the island of St. Thomas had been without any educational facilities beyond what a few private schools could give, and what the natural intelligence of its children could acquire ST. THOMAS. HISTORICAL. '35 afterwards during the course of a busy, commercial life. The poorer classes were deplorably situated, no provision had been made for them as far as public instruction was concerned, so if ignorance pre vailed among them they were scarcely to be blamed. It was a matter of surprise to everyone to see how deficient the Island was in this respect, and the dawn of a new era, the main object of which was the education of the people, was hailed with lively satisfaction. The arrival of Mr. 0. Bache, with the entering of that gentleman ujjon his official duties as School Director, was the first step. The next was the publishing of the School Ordinance of 9th November, 1875. Shortly afterwards a fine building on Government Hill was purchased and, under the name of the St. Thomas College, it commenced work on the 2nd July under the inspection of Mr. Bache, assisted by a staff of able teachers. September 1st, 1877, marked a change in the Postal arrangements of the islands and the abolition of the British Postal Agency, which had been established in St. Thomas since October, 1842. This change was brought about b}- the entry of the Danish colonies into the General Postal Union. The reduction of rates on letters, which was the direct consequence, gave great satis faction to the community. To illustrate the cosmopolitan character of St. Thomas, there was now numbered among its merchants a Chinese firm who, under the appellation of Yee Poo Chong and Co., did quite a business in tea and Chinese " curios." The Communal Schools were opened on the 3rd June. In connection with this wise step for the education of the masses, the handsome donation of 6,000 dols. was made by Councillor A. H. Eiise, K.D., Apothecary, of St. Thomas. On the 2nd October came the startling news of an insurrection having broken out among the labourers in the island St. Croix. Close upon this news came a crowd of homeless fugitives from West End, whose tales of suffering at their hands struck terror and dismay into the hearts of those who had relatives or friends in that ill-fated spot. His Excellency Governor Garde, accompanied hy the Police-master and fifty soldiers, left in the Eoyal Mail Steamship " Arno " as soon as pos sible that day for the scene of action. As told elsewhere, it was shortly afterwards quelled, and the ringleaders shot or otherwise punished. Large amounts were subscribed in " Our Little Isle" and elsewhere for the relief of the sufferers. YEE POO CILOXG. D 2 98 •saiaxi xstcay nsiuva snix row.* sxaTuvai •otuoq pATjjt? Apoods v puu eSiseeud ^trcs'BOTd pn-n 0J13S v. .ioj qsuv eno nuqcj. o.ioui A<\ poA\o]pj svus. oq 'Jiioqxuq oqq. jo yno pounds Ap&ojs u zvxuSvq diqe poo.8 oqq. st? pm? 'noi^t^j^qraosip siq ssgu^lai J^qAV S<*"UDI 0Xft uo pQiqniosst? spA\0JQ •ttoS'cqnodoQ joj c^jgj ©q '0881 'lI^V J° T#85 nO '^wuuo(]; jo osiiojj pjAX)£[ oq; sp.reAvo; tiOT^OAop piru ©ao{ roq^ q;iA\ unq ssajdmi o; pm? 'oycjtssod ^rros'ccqd si? a^s siq 02[uut o% ^q.chios ottoa\ioao qoiqAV Suunp 'puma* srq pepoooone sot^tai^soj pire A^oraS jo pimoj: y ^soa: oq; pip insT^onSuin praoejod tia\o sijj 'jfyramnraoo oji^tio oq; jo sqxueq oq; uoav oq 'Surjf eq^ jeq^t?^ srjj jo sSui^oe.iS pins soqsiM. poo.o oq; jo .lo.ruoq oq^ sy •ojojoq eitoAxre (4 po.i0pxi0^ ti00q .ioaqu pi3q si? uoi^oejp? pm? A^pjAVq jo k'tiOT')ujjsTioinop qtme q^i ay poAiooo.i si?ay qons st? pirn 'pos ntJipuj; ^soa^ P0J^ iI0A0 Pmt 0TlAV 00lII,T And yet that which has come down to us, is founded upon so few ' ^ facts that one might as well believe in the old legends about them as anything else. It is a pity, though, that so little is actually known about them. We have, in another part of this work, alluded to the fact of the first Governor, Erik Smidt's intention to build a tower on the site known as Luchetti's Hill, but that this was frustrated by his demise, and only carried into effect in the year 1689 by Government. A careful examination of both towers leads us to the conclusion that the tower to the North —the so-called Black Beard's Castle —was built before Blue Beard's, perhaps shortly after the commencement of Christians -fort, which was, no doubt, the first building of the kind erected in the island. Of Black Beard's Castle, some further details, kindly placed at our disposal by the present owner, may serve to complete this account. In the year 1759, a benevolent lady, Mrs. Catherine de Windt, widow of Jahns Jahnsen De Windt, bequeathed to the Heformed Dutch Church at her death, which occurred on the 3rd December of that year, the estate Catarinaberg. This estate reached down into the town ; and although at the time it was bequeathed, it was only avail able as an estate, its town lots after 1792, became exceedingly valuable. Unfortunately the whole had been sold prior to that time, to the Revd. Erancis Verboom, who realised from the sale of the town lots over 100,000 dols. He had paid only 38,400 dols. for the entire estate. On the 12th June, 1800, F. M. Verboom sold the Castle to Mr. Thim Eogarthy, after whom it was called Fogarthy's Castle. From him it passed to Hanna Fagin, who, on the 4th August, 1815, •B^tre^iqiiqin b^t poounoin J9A9 so^Jid ymfl. Jon 'pnxqsi oqcf. jo ttoissew -sod hi joao 9J9A1 Bioonuoonq oq^ 'ivjj^. JOAO^uqAv s^nnooox? on oxb qj.qt[% quity tioX no% qoiqAi Xaxtysiq jo b^otjj xoqos oq;). o^. ojoui oono 3px?q onioo 'nrujq jriOiC tit SuiioSuq dn poxnjhioo oA-eq noA^ sto-ioj rao^neqd oqq. put? 'noA q^onoq onoos oqq. 3[ooj Sni^xcd x? q^m 'Xuavc sopuj A^ayojs noisTA oqq. stj neqq. pnu 'raoqq. t$tai 3[nup 03. posnjoo: oqAV jjo SnipunoAi pur? ^ni^Tjoq ni A"xq ojiis-gokI ^oyudzS osoqAV 'osoqq. sn sjjAop ponrujq-ojx^q qons q^iAv s^ooxjs oq^ ojdooj U*V08 oq^ jo nonroj^noS su A^qtml) Jioqq. jo o^stty v BpnojsT osoq^ i\v jo B^u'u^iq'Bqni oq^j. 9AT?$ uo^jo 09 'snonredinoo ojta siq qcnAV oijai 'pxoog; 2[0tqg[ su J09neoonq ppq 13 qons jo Sntpntq oqq. ojn^oid jq 'nreSu Siioopni omoq yv Apjus '^qnop on soraiij. pnGsnoq^ v 'soApsinoq^ SniqsiAi 'aaojo ssojAVtq 1? qons* jo jtjoj snoixne ni Snop? Snnldpq. exo0JO JQJpraoo jo W.// qsiu'CQ jo qo^Ti(j Apraoo x? o.T9q^ pne o.ioq iftiAi 'noureos ss9j_5[00.i jqoqq. put* 'so^ni pnu snrt^duo ti^iai s^ooj^s qt$ p(j •sioq&mqnopnejg; Aqun^s oift jo s(|soq£ 0114 dn tjcq -o3p9 s(j9^av qtq ponq q.t}q^. s^inonionoq. nopooAY qraq-A^mxml) oq^ sio^stjui opqq. i$iai po^iq-cqni oqAi 'soAtqs pnt? uojpjiqo jpq^j. 'soaiai jqeq^ q^Ai sjeq&mg; qsint?(j pne qo^ri(j pp pooS t^tal nAio^ oqq. ojdooj; -SiTOAxqs urcoTjjy pnt? sjouooqos poi^Jid jo stujoj oqq. puo^s apqq. ni dn oxnfnoo pno 's.io^Ai s^i nodn Aiyzui ^tjotj Avon qoiqAi sjoxntje^s nuooo oqq. ssratsiQ 'QovyL Jioq^ A^dnooo qotqA\. ^•BJO ^nppo^-niLT^ oq^ qsintJ^ -spssoA Snqius qera^Q; jo qo^nQ pp q^TAi. jnoq.Tuq s^t 2[oo^g *n9q| p95[00| oo^d 9q^ Avoq jopnoAi pnu 'ejout jlo sxqqA. ojtoos avoj n 3[oi3q oS pnnit .inoA^ ^ponqoui A^TjxJOT^ntjnioa: ji ^utf fnoi! q^uonoq q$i\ Xsnq oqq. nodn nAiop \oo\ noX moqq. jo ono nodn pgqoiej -ssOcTot? qxwso J9A9 no£ nreoxp A^x?p n »toj spds ^sotoa 9q^ GJU iCoqji *si3aioq^ jo silup XpTJO oq^ nt ^nd nooq OAuq ^snnt SJOAU4 pp oav^ os9q^ qoiqAi o^ sosn oq^. nodn po^^noods nocjjo oat;t[ o^y •po^irao oq ^on ppoqs jo^xj]; oq'| 0^ ^tsta 13 q^noq^ 'ox^stjq s£pjx3og; QXi\Q mo.ij ponre^qo oq 0| ono oq^ ni3q^ johtj qonni joa\o^ siq^ nxo.Tj avota oq^ 2[mq^ 0^ •pg^oodsni oq A"tnn hots -sinijod osoqAi t^tai ^touavo ^nosojcd oq^ Xq ^Aoqu ^qmq nioo.i ^inus v pno? ^goTqdo.T nooq oATjq s.ttu^s pnx? sioon oq^ noq^ ooutq -do^ oq^ 0^. IqS ^nonjip i^iAi pynoo sjo^tsia ^vx^ ^tjavtj poxqinn.xo pnq .toavo^. oq^. jo ioTj[0(j.nt oqq. jo qonm os ^x^ncl ^8X3 ^^{^ stj mxg pnu pips si? suav i[cTOAVTjx?Ai oq^ qSnoqq. c988t nI s.ipq siq A"q pps sx?ai %i noi[^ \irudoo: jo ^no "[pj pnn po^oo^Son qonxn X.ioa stjav %x 'pntqsi oi^ ^jo| oq jo^ji? ^nq 'Xjo^TJA.TOsqo nn sn joavo^ pp oq^ posn ^pninr jo mi\% -[tionnono^si? ni? jo 5nioq ^Touf^ nn^dijQ '1881 ^qo^K q^ oq'i no '.xouCx ■y suuioqx 0^ (9q pnt? ^no.ijjnog oj.totj; o^ 1qz%1 V'lvH lMZ 9IW no ^t pps put? ui onixjo ^jltioq SntpoQ; oq^ q^x?op siq ^y 'QZSl \{10l 01$ no £opuiT?£) 'SoqjQ o^ %i pps n.mq. ni oqAi 'A'p^jg; q.8nj-j 0| pps S13AV oot3"[d oq^ A^up ^xo_^[ •jfy.iodojd oq^ no oStjS^toiu A^q pojnoos 'q^tjop »ioq X^nn oouxjAio^ Ap^noni 1? j^os.Toq 0^. StitAvToso.t uiStj^ unnnjj; ^q^raSo^ e^oxJtjqQ "q^eq-czixa; 'jo^q^nup doq o^ ^t poj.Tojsnt?.^ ST. THOMAS. BLUE BEAItl/s AND BLACK BEABJj's CASTLES. 73 And yet the thickness of the walls of the towers and the many embra sures commanding every point of attack, sufficiently indicate that they were for the defence of the colony. We are pretty sure, however, that old Thim Fogarthy resided in Black Beard's Castle, and that Miss Hanna Fagin lived with him in those good old days when the Thomians were not a marrying nor a church-going people. We are also certain that not very long ago Blue Beard's Castle was tenanted by an old Italian, who raised treasure from the soil in the shape of excellent vegetables. Beyond this we have not been able to go, at any rate, there they have stood for over two hundred years, defying the ravages of time. Silent spectators of the hopes and joys, the griefs and sorrows, the petty fears of strife, the quarrels and bickerings, the peccadilloes and shortcomings of the hundreds of people all working like bees in the hive at their feet. Could they but speak ! What a tale they would tell. Of wealth-laden traders, of cargoes of slaves, of oppression and wrong, of pestilence and death stalking through the one long narrow street lining the shores of its bay— where men made their gold—hoarded it up in their cisterns, and, when rich beyond measure, retired to the land of their birth, not leaving as much as a stick or a stone, a fountain or school in memory of the island that had made them so rich—not so much as a thought for its future. CHAPTER XIV. ST. THOMAS.— DANISH WEST INDIAN HOMES. WEST INDIAN home is all doors and windows. This is no exaggeration. The climate requires that every dwelling should possess the largest amount of ventilation. It is not always that it has glass sashes, their place is supplied by jalousies, which, painted of a bright green, contrast cheerfully with the brick or whitewashed walls. The houses are not often built of more than two stories. Prudent builders make the upper storey of wood, and the lower of brick or mason work. This is to guard against earthquakes and hurricanes, two reminders of the instability of earthly things that are not always welcome in the tropics. Each window is provided with strong shutters and hurricane bars. As a rule there are no knockers or bells attached to the door of entrance. So you signify your presence by rapping with the hand or walk in, just according to the footing of intimacy upon which you stand with the family. It is difficult to give an idea of the interior. Builders in these countries have followed their own devices. Barely are the rooms rectangular or even straight, there is always a difference in size somewhere. We have seen rooms which were built more to accommo date the ground upon which they were erected than with any regard to architectural beauty. In good houses they are lofty, and airy, well papered or painted, but there is little in the way of decoration. The floors, which are generally bare, with the exception of a handsome rug spread here and there, are splendid. They are made of pitch pine and are so cleverly put together that not a nail is to be seen on the upper surface. A few engravings or oil paintings are hung upon the wall. In some of the old families' houses one or two of their ancestors "done in oil" by some peripatetic artist years ago may glare down upon you from above. How those old people managed to look so prim and starched and stiff, when they sat for their portraits, is difficult to say. It must have been just as warm then as now. The furniture is substantially made of solid mahogany, and is kept 76 LEAFLETS FKOM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. beautifully polished. A cottage piano occupies a conspicuous place. Not always in tune, which makes its jingling far from pleasant to the sensitive ear. We fully agree with a great composer that no young lady should learn that instrument, unless she intends to make it her profession. The Creole ladies are very tasty and keep their houses in excellent order. They love flowers and little knick-knacks, especially crotchet work. The " tidies" which they throw over their rocking chairs, sofas, and music stools, are marvels of intricate workmanship and skill. The ubiquitous "photo" album, civilization's last infliction, is also to be found, and is about the first thing thrust into the visitor's hand upon calling. Most houses in St. Thomas have gas in every room. But no mantelpieces nor fireplaces. These are not wranted in a temperature so equable. Scrupulous cleanliness is the order of the day, and is as necessary in the "hall," as the reception room is called, as it is in the bedroom or smallest outhouse. Iron or mahogany bedsteads prettily draped with snowy muslin curtains and mosquito nets, a toilet table with glass, a marble washstand, a magnificent mahogany press, and a chair or two, complete the furniture of the sleeping apartments. A fine mahogany press is the pride of every Creole beauty. It is here she locks up her dainty dresses, her laces and perfumes, and very often her heart in the shape of tender words or loving letters, and maybe the portraits of those loved ones, too sacred for the profane to gaze upon in an album. There is no mistake about the value of a good press in such a climate, where centipedes, scorpions, and cockroaches play a little game of hide and seek from, morn till dewy eve. There is a dining room, too, often commanding a pleasant view of town or harbour. There the morning coffee, eleven o'clock breakfast, and six o'clock dinner is taken, and sometimes a small dinner party to commemorate "paterfamilia's " birthday. And such a dinner. Not even at Delmonico's can they beat the Creole ladies for tastefultable decora tions or succulent toothsome dishes. "We have heard old epicures say so, rolling their eyes and smacking their lips at the remembrance of some of these gay and festive occasions. We have often wished they were once a month instead of once or twice a year. But they are expensive, and if you are a wine drinker —the wines are so good — that, what with all the health drinking, it is just as likely as not, that next morning may remind you that "he who breaks must pay." Every respectable house has a bath room, where the matutinal wash is indulged in by each member of the family. It is indis pensable and refreshing. The water-closet arrangements are very poor. Even large and commodious dwellings on the Main Street, being entirety unprovided with so necessary a convenience. This has been somewhat remedied by the Dry Earth System. The kitchens are built on the same plan now, as they were two hundred years ago. ST. THOMAS. — DANISH WEST INDIAN HOMES. 77 There are no open grates, no conveniences for roasting. Frying, stewing, or baking is the rule, and the cooking appliances are quite primitive. Nevertheless, mysterious and savoury compounds issue from these regions, and as long as "Papa John" or "Aunt Sally,'7 can accomplish the chef d'eeuvres of a Soyer, it would be unwise to seek to penetrate into the how and manner of their doing it. Servants are coloured, and as a rule are not much worse than elsewhere. Unfortu nately, since the " old time" families are dying out and honourable- servitude is now becoming exchanged for shabby gentility, they are not quite so well posted up in their duties. This makes it awkward for the mistress, who has to act as a perpetual driver to get anything done properly. Pules to govern them have long since died out. And as you are obliged to keep your doors open, and as they do not always knock before entering your room, privacy is next to impossible. They are civil and obliging when kindly treated, and very honest. Perhaps it is the peculiar style of doing things in a West Indian household that contributes to their want of j>erfoction. A lady rarely goes out to shop as they do in Europe. Even the highest personage in the island is a rarity in the streets. It is easy to understand how dependent a lady must be upon her servants, if they do nearly all her marketing and shopping for her. The cook lays out the money which purchases the daily food, and the housemaid buys most of the small things her mistress wants from the dry goods and fancy stores. This is accomplished by sending for articles to look at, or an inspection of pattern books. The amount of labour this entails upon the unfortu nate shopkeeper is enormous, and can only be paid for by larger profits on his wares. Though why the ladies will not go out oftener, is not so difficult to understand. If the stores were more attrac tive, goods better displayed, and elegant show-cases and plate-glass windows more fre quent, there is no doubt that the men who introduced them would do all the business, and see most of the pretty faces in Charlotte- Amalia. We draw a veil over the mysteries of the market-place and provision shops. They belong to the cooks. The dwellings of all classes are •kept very tidy. No one is afraid of cold water, nor to use it. Floors are regularly .scrubbed, and is a proceeding necessary enough if the THE MORNING MILK. 78 LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISII WEST INDIES. insectivorous life, which abounds in these countries, is to be kept at a respectable distance. With all deference to my readers, we would observe that too much scratching1 in a warm climate is detrimental to the skin and exhausting, not to speak of its suggesting unpleasant reflections. Mosquitoes are plentiful after rains, and at certain periods. Of course, one can sleep under a net, but this is not always the healthiest thing to do in the West Indies. Home life is pleasant enough, if one can content himself to live in the bosom of his family, and not long for the flesh pots of Egypt. Men go to business early, open their stores, sell, write, talk, drink, or smoke, as the case may be, eat their breakfast at their place of busi ness, or go home for it, return to work, close up at five o'clock, and are within doors again for dinner. A quiet chat with your wife, or a friend or two, who may drop in, a round game or a dance with the children, and that is about the routine of daily life in the one com mercial town of the Danish West Indies. On Sundays good people go to church, the rest stop at home. Some more devout attend twice a week. At four o'clock on that day the stores may be opened, only the cafes and rum-shops avail themselves of the privilege. A military band plays in the Emancipation Garden twice a week —Thursday and Sunday afternoons. If you wish to see the rising generation of St. Thomas, take a look at them on either of those days. Near the Emancipation Garden is the so-called Eish Market. And near to it, and on the King's Wharf, are to be seen the fish women and boatmen ; each a study by the way. The fish women —black and comely, with a dash or two of coffee colour thrown in here and there —are cheerful, industrious, and good-natured. Had they a more suit able place in which to retail their finny wares, it would be better. The boatmen —with whom one makes his first acquaintance upon landing — are very apt to be like their kindred elsewhere in the line of extor tionate fares. Their business is a poor one now-a-days, and with the decline of commerce, few of them are in a flourishing condition. Porters have to take out a license, for which they pay a small sum monthly. Mechanics, when skilful, do fairly well. It is a pity that the good workmen are dying out and that no effort is being made to replace them. The ambition of every father and mother seems to be to make their son a clerk, or some such helpless article when out of an employ. This tends to overcrowding, and the ruin of the only profes sion left for Creoles to follow outside of a decent trade. The laws which govern apprenticeship seems to be ignored by mutual consent. Formerly a young man, after he had served his time, had to make a " masterpiece," which had to obtain a favourable verdict from two master workmen before he was allowed to work even as a journey man. Now, every loafer aspires to be a boss painter, carpenter, blacksmith, or builder, without such tedious formalities. ST. THOMAS. —DANISH WEST INDIAN HOMES. 79 The laws are mild, and equitably administered. There is no trial by jury. The court proceedings are protocolled in Danish. The Policemaster has a great deal of discretionary power. This is wielded with great prudence. The judges are impartial and incor ruptible. There are many excellent institutions, among them that of civil marriage. Many years ago the good people of St. Thomas dispensed with those formalities which make "twain one flesh.' 1 They were not a marrying people. At least so says old Nissen in his little book on St. Thomas. So late as the year 1835 only 662 persons were married out of a population of 11,071. There were few married among the whites, and still less among the coloured. Now-a-days, marriage is the only passport to respectability and good society. When any one dares to defy prejudice he is socially ostracised. There is less illegitimacy than one would suppose. The act of marriage legitimises all children born before the ceremony. . An act of acknowledgment before the judge will even do so. No child can be hopelessly bastardised as in some other countries, which might profit by the wise provisions in Danish law which protect the innocent off spring of the errors of parents. Civil rehabilitation has recently been made possible upon proof of five years good behaviour from the date of punishment for a crime. On the other hand, there is much that is antediluvian. But this is Colonial. In Denmark itself, there have been great advances in Liberal ideas, which have not yet been extended to the Danish West Indies. Christmas Day, the following day, New Year's Day, Ascension Day, Easter and Whitsuntide, the 25th July, the commencement of the hurricane season and the 25th October are observed as holidays. Wedding days and birthdays, christenings and confirmations, are kept up as elsewhere, and make glad the people who sell fancy goods and cards, and those who enjoy parties and good dinners. There are no undertakers in St. Thomas. This costly appendage to modern civilised life does not exist. As soon as a person dies, a carpenter takes measure for the coffin and makes it. The body is afterwards washed, laid out on the floor, is saturated with ice water and kept there until dressed and put into the coffin. This is made generally from white pine, and covered with black or white stuff to order. The floral offerings are many. An invitation sheet is sent round. The newspapers, if the deceased be a prominent citizen, condole with the relatives, and also invite through their columns. Twenty-four hours or so after death is about as long as a corpse can be kept above ground in the West Indies ; so at five o'clock the next day succeeding the demise, all the friends assemble in full dress, a hearse is drawn up, bearers are selected, and two by two they march in procession to the cemetery where the remains are consigned to the grave, the last home of all of us. OHAPTEE XV. ST. THOMAS.— EARTHQUAKES AND HURRICANES. Ipf^fjIIERE are few things which so unhinge a man as a hurricane or |§g|§ earthquake. Everything is so pleasant and the climate so enchanting in the West Indies, that in the midst of a peren nial spring, no one ever dreams of such calamities, until like a thief in the night an earthquake rouses you up, or a hurricane blows you out of your house and home. Such awful visitors are never welcome, and if you have once met them you scarcely ever care to go through the same experience again. There is this difference between the earthquake and hurricane. The former takes you unawares, the latter gives you time to think. You may be in your bedroom or your u hall/" your store or your bath-room; the quake comes, and if you have not the strongest will, your first impulse is to run. It is awkward to be taken so suddenly, for just according to where you may chance to be at the time, so will be the manner of your appearance after you have rushed out. To fly from your bath room, with only a bathing Juh for a covering, is not only improper but very ridiculous, when you come to realise your position after the shock is over. And yet such funny things can occur and cause a laugh, even after such a calamity as an earthquake. The St. Thomas people, are reminded now and again of their existence. Sometimes in the day, sometimes in the night. You are in a dreamless sleep per haps — all the cares and troubles of the day are forgotten—when a sudden shake of the arm rudely disturbs you from your slumbers. "Po you feel the earthquake ? " asks your terror stricken wife. You are dimly conscious of a rumbling sound, you hoar the glasses on your sideboard rattle, the bed vibrates. You start up, but before you are fully awake to the fact, the shock has past and all is still again. Not that you care to sleep. Eaint recollections of the frightful shock and tidal wave of November 18th, 1867, come flitting across your memory, so you get up, look at your watch, note the time, and gladly hail the daylight. Not that the earthquake,' to which we have just alluded, ST. THOMAS. —EARTHQUAKES AND HURRICANES. 81 did most of the damage to St. Thomas. It was the tidal wave which, rushing in upon the deserted town, did most of the work of destruc tion. Up to that time hardly anything was known of such phenomena to the inhabitants of the Danish West Indies. Within the memory of the oldest inhabitant no such convulsion had occurred. Coming just after the terrific hurricane of October 29th of the same year, it capped the climax of terror, which those who had suffered from this last calamity had almost begun to get over. It is interesting to take up the newspapers of that time and read the several accounts. How houses were deserted and people lived in camp life, in tents upon the hills. And yet we cannot say that the results of this earthquake left such an impression upon our mind as the great hurricane which had preceded it. Perhaps, calamity upon calamity had blunted our feel ings, and one or two more or less just then would have made but little difference. We have never been able to forget the aspect of the town and harbour of St. Thomas on that memorable 29th October, as we sallied from our own dismantled dwelling to look upon the work of destruc tion which a four hour's cyclone had accomplished. Mighty vessels were torn from their moorings and swept upon the beach, trees were rent from their roots, houses were toppled over, the sea was yet lashed into fury, and hundreds of people were crushed to death or drowned. It is not an ordinary storm which can work its will with the powerful and heavy steamers of the Boyal Mail Steam Company, and out of them the " Rhone " was totally lost at Peter Island ; the " Wye " was wrecked on Buck Island ; the " Conway "went on shore at Tortola ; the "Derwent" at St. Thomas; while the "Tyne" and "Solent," though " serviceable " were dismasted. Fifty other vessels were wrecks, the town was in ruins, and we never saw such sorrow and distress. It is hard for the placid denizen of quiet soils and temperate atmos pheres to conceive the tremendous force of such a tempest. Of tjqmoons, cyclones and hurricanes—they know next to nothing by experience. Occasionally they have a high wind, which unroofs their sheds, showers down the tiles, strews their iron shores with wrecks, and makes sad havoc among their seamen. But such a tempest can no more be compared with the storm wind of tropical regions than their mild, half-felt earth-tremors with the earthquakes, which, under the equator, demolish cities, alter the coast line of continents, and create or destroy islands. The elements in tropical zones seem truly to share the character of the people, and to acquire a passionate frenzy un known elsewhere. It is well known that the awful tempests of the earth's central belt are all whirl-winds, turning furiously on a centre which moves with great rapidity upon a curved line. Modern nautical science has given seamen adequate directions how to judge of G 82 LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. the course of these aerial terrors, and thus to steer out of their vor tices. But when the fury of the atmospheric maelstrom passes over an inhabited spot, or a harbour crowded with shipping, as in St. Thomas, then a desperate list of losses and deaths is sure to bo recorded, especially if the buildings are slight in construction. No gear which is not of the best and which is not doubled or trebled, will hold the ships exposed to the stress of the revolving storm. Anchors "conie home," cables crack, the windlasses of vessels are wrenched out bodily, so that the only temporary resource is to make the cable fast round the foremast ; spars and rigging go over the side ; the wild water, maddened to frenzy, tosses the largest ships aloft, snaps their tackle, and washes them high and dry upon the shore ; and the air is full of a hideous noise and confusion, heightened by cries of despair and death ; a noise which lasts until the vortex of the hurricane has passed the spot, and howled away across the land or sea in its destructive course. Yet science promises that we shall master even these elemental tyran tries some day ! Man is not made to be for ever the trembling victim of those visitations which at present appear so inevitable and capricious. The barometer is a certain prophet of the cyclone and hurricane, and when we understand it better, and have —as we shall have —universal magnetic communication, the approach of these tre mendous eddies of the aerial ocean will be announced beforehand and provisions made against their force. When such apparently malig nant scourges of the earth shall be more completely understood, and their powers disarmed by scientific means, we shall probably find them, like all things else which were called "evil" in our ignorance, to be parts of a splendid and salutary system, acting for the general good. Z o Aovj. pui) opwnhd oqi A<\ po&iTTjputios .toaoh si oqqnd oqq. X^uonb -9S1IOQ \)p[TSS,0(I OJUAI.ld SU QUIT JO qjTAV UOIJOOUUOO Ul .otliqiAJOAO do02[ oj A'ouopuoj v si ojoqj, -os Aipnijou jou qSnoq^i 'oqqnd oqj oj nodo SI JJUOO STqj ^-[[X3n!raoN "qSllOIlO AjpilI5[ pOJUOJIl OJH TLOA* pitt? 'jOAOAYOq '}! OJOJOq 90HQ -AVT3]; Oqj JO AjSoClUU 0X[J qjlAV 00HJ OJ 0011 j jqSnojq 0JX* noX tijuii avotaoj oj spoepsini jtioA jo ouo ajoao 0Ai?q jttay no a" uca\ouk su ojnd,, si? jou oji? noX ji og *os op oj pojjiuuod cpn oji? jo no A pp; ^otmx?o joq^p Aqi[\ 'p9jp 9Ji? noX XqAv nmuooiTod oqj spu oj osn on jo si )i \fyoixui? ^vojS q^TAV ^q^niuj o.ix? jojsuuiooqod oqj o.iojoq ootid -.in. Midi; siq pin? tiot^^io oqj nooAv^oq osdtrp xpiqAVSJiioq jnoj-ifynoA^ jo • ( (T 3'/1X H 51 (IO IV ) vT.il Od - S X VI XS I>T II f> r)ApAV!i oqj cpo;io nooq st?q oq XqAv oniSuuq 'ojq siq joj 'jonmro pA! pun ^o.xoqAvomos u osooj aukios,, u suq oitay |unpiAipni oq; .to JoopjiAO oqj oi ^n$[ *9jiuisi£uin oqj ojojoq jpsunq ^uoso.id oj unq joj Sutti.totu ^xoti soalijt? emirj oqj JIBUTI J9^mn 9qj joao s>[inq^ Apojuos ojj •sjojjoj on st?q 'uouiooiTocI OA\q. A"q po^noso.id \mv oSunSuiq snoo^moo tii ^ pvjqOTlOO 'lIOlJl^IO V 'nOZTjp STIOTI^ITA Oqj OJQ *S.I0pU9JIO JOUUU liodll Ij^ 9ouo^nos ftossud prrc 'sjareplmoo s.reoq 'sosuo eo^SiisoAui pnupt iilih fjiqi jo .lojsrnnooqoj oqj 9J0JJ -uost.i^t; put; J.moQ ooqoj oq; oju "SUHIIOO 3HX a>IOJ£[a— 'SVKOIIX 'X8 *IAX ^IXdVHO 84 LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. remarks of "barristers in a caso of crim. con. Nor horror-stricken with the details of scandalous divorce suits. They know that Mr. Jones or Snooks has been cited to appoar at the Polico Court, and they hoar all. he has to toll about it when ho conies out. Thoy know his sontenee, perhaps, but as the account of his trial with the edifying proceedings, never appears in public print, the affair is soon forgotten, and the individual, after having fulfilled his sentence, passes out of mind or drops back into his placo in the community. And should his offence be criminal, he may, by a persistent course of good conduct, regain his position among his fellow mon. Wo think this preferable to the glare and publicity of some other places that wo know of ; and whore judges are as considerate and impartial as they are in these islands, wo are not sure but what we would as soon be tried by them as to place our fate in the hands of twelve free and enlightened fellow citizens. As we have said before, everything is conducted as quietly as possible. The Policemaster sits behind a table covered with green baize. A stout mahogany railing intervenes between this and the persons cited. A writer sits also at the table, generally to the right of it. He takes down the proceedings in a large protocol. A policeman is in attend ance, and occasionally one or two clerks are engaged in writing inside the railing. The Policemaster opens the case by informing you of the charge made against you, in English if you only know that language. He translates your answers into Danish and dictates them to the writer. Everything that will throw light upon the case is taken down, but no one is put upon oath unless it be requested. It is supposed that you are telling the truth. You may have to appear many times, at any rate until tho investigation be completed. An immense amount of pains is taken to get at facts, and a great deal of evidence is carefully sifted before a decision is arrived at. No one can be convicted of an offence except upon his own confession, or it be proved by two wit nesses. Stealing is so sevorely punished that burglary is hardly known. For this reason the inhabitants may bo said to sleep with their doors and windows open. Bolts, bars, locks and staples are only put up for the dread hurricane. We have always envied the exemp lary patience of the Policemaster and his assistant, when hearing the most frivilous cases. It is only the hardened offender who may expect no quarter. Murders are rare, and anything like premeditation is quite uncommon. Capital punishment is not enforcod, and it is many years since an execution has taken place. A few yoars hard labour is meted out instead. The force of policemen is not very largo, but quito sufficient to keep the town in order. Einos, imprisonment and bread and water, the rattan, or working on the streets in the chain gang, are the different modes of punishment. The prisoners are very well fed. Debtors are confined in Christians-fort. Thoy are allowod to see their friends from early in the morning till eight o'clock at night, when the ST. THOMAS. — J5KFOKK THE COURTS. 85 evening gun is fired. They are also permitted to have their own furniture, books, papers and writing materials, as well as to take exercise in the courtyard. The creditor has to allow the debtor 32 cents a day for his maintenance. The debtor can walk out a free man if the amount is not forthcoming punctually. A man cannot be impri soned for the same debt twice. The rooms have bare whitewashed Avails, iron-barred windows looking out on the harbour, and pitch pine floors kept scrupulously clean. It seems a ridiculous practice to imprison a man for debt. It would be as wise, perhaps, to imprison the creditor for giving credit. Who knows but what a business on a strictly cash basis might not be the outcome ? There is a Reconciling Court, before which disputants appear in order to settle their differences without going to law. It is an admirable institution, and saves any amount of lawsuits. Lawyers are not permitted to plead in this Court. The Judges are two, and are selected from the citizens. Before these, the parties at loggerheads pour out their wrongs and plaints, each one stating his case, and each being patiently listened to. The Judges, who serve without remu neration, do their utmost to bring about an amicable understanding, and, to their credit, nearly always succeed. Persons failing in their obligations before this Court can be proceeded against summarily. There is an ordinary Town Court, a Special Court, which may be held any day, a Criminal Court, and a Dealing Court. This investi gates the circumstances of all deceased persons, sees that wills are properly executed, administers to the affairs of all those who die intestate, and takes charge of all assets, in cases of bankruptcy, on behalf of creditors. If a member of the Colonial Council become bankrupt he loses his seat. Unless a man be more than ordinarily gifted, to become a bankrupt in St. Thomas virtually settles his career. To throw up one's affairs in the Dealing, does not release the unfortunate merchant, though he may surrender all he possesses. He remains always responsible for any deficiency, and if he cannot get his croditors to agree to let him work again until he can recover himseK, he is at the mercy of anyone flinty hearted enough to imprison him as soon as his "proclama," or time of protection, expires. The only advantage he derives from going into the Dealing is the immunity it confers until it is closed. For this reason, men, however honestly inclined and desirous of remaining, are forced to leave the island for countries where they can commence life again, with no such prospect as imprisonment. •jo^uiAi uioq^iou 'pjoo 13 jo s)stqq eqi oduose o:j. jo '.iro jo oSxinqo v qoos oxpvv. osoxj^ ioj s^ioso.t xi^jt?oq et? ^dooxo 'xuoq:) jo p.ioooa: o^ op^q ^ttq OAtjq pmoA\ xxtnu jtjoxpoxix oxp). 'eoptyurioo uioq^nos \\v in opu eq^ BAVtq Xrt^Tirus jo ooxxt?A.tosqo oxiros oxp). q.ioa\ put? 'sotdo.i) oxpi nx ootqd .lexiuop ou si o.toq^ 'wmfoj* a\oxi oxpi .lopxift 'ost?osip 'oouoiibosuoo v 'put? ^imoTira.rud pouSioJ q'qij ouoS sA^p uj o? .mo nooq -ioao Btiq uox)t?)xut?s ijdxxis jo orqtJA ox{) jo Hoiduitjxo ^so;qi?[jq oq^ jo ouo mi put? 'xiopxpuoo Aq^pjoq k^x joj woipuj ^0AV oq^ tiT :pioxixuio-o.xd sput?)s avoxi pxxtqftx su[!i ^t?q:i oip^B oav xxoxpvv ^eojitnmi oq jjjav osod.md .mo 'wXtjp-u-Aum po.io^p «x eiq^ p[t? si? put? 'ootqd oq^ o) snouoJftipni ^ou o.xt? sosuofiip owoq) st* :m£[ -pouxop oq oq. qou sx 'fi^oo.ris *)x qamo.xxjj ^TrcdurB.1 po:>[jt?')w 'wostjosxp .xoqqo pxit* iMojoq'.) '.xoaoj aiojjoa' poj.xoduix yin$ pxit? 'iCqqitoxpm sreAv wxsxxioqj, 'A4x.x0dso.td s^i jo ^qSxoq ©qq ni Wt? s.itioA! Xxiuxu ^uqj/ *swq pxt?s Xjq).xt?x[ stnj odop[o.ij^ pxit? u ^po^UOAUT .IOAO 8t?AV. Kt? 'lIA\0'l OX[) AXOpq UlSUq SSQTOpp HI pQ^OOOUOO noqAi uosiod oqq .ioj ut?d .ftuxddi.xp v ojq^x.xoA ftu xpiiAY [.)o.x jo ssxuu v. ')woxiqt? pxit? ipixxis .ftuxoq (oo^ 'put?^! oqj^ -spuxAV opi).T4 ^(ix^t?.to^rAxix put? ^xit?)«xtoo oq^ Xq poxjxpoixt iC^uo.xS sx xxtts oq^ jo ^t?ox[ oi[^ 'soxdo.x^ oq^ tixx^xAi po^t?xi^xs x^nox^iy •snoTjqtips pxit? oxxq A"ppq.x^rao.t ex o^tituxp g^j 'sojiiu ^ A'.p^xo ^utJ^«xp ^so jty^ ox[^ uo oox^j o^.ioxi^ put) ^se^xui A^.ioj ^ut?^sxp 'q^nog oq^ xio xxo.iq Bt?q -soytui ooaq^ jo x^puojq oSL\tOAt? ut? q^xA\ ^so^ put? ^sug; so{txn uqo^ixx^ ^sottq'B ex q)Su0[ sin y/Q8 ,99 D^9 opn^Suot put? M M o8l epxi^x^x ni soq 'soxpuj ^se^ qsraua 'etjxiioqx -^g jo put^px g[H»!i??§ itax naxavHO st. ttiomas. —medical. 87 And hero we present a few of the factors we consider most favour able to the inception of disease in our tropical towns. In the West Indies, rum is exceedingly cheap, as, indeed, are all kinds of liquors, a nominal duty on them only existing. A man-of-war arrives, and, as a maticr of course, Jack gets leave to go on shore, imbibes to his heart's content, and if not locked up for disorderly conduct, spends the night on the streets as " drunk as a lord," and exposed to the dew of the tropics. The ship leaves a few days afterwards, and our sailor, barely recovered from his debauch, gets an attack of bilious remittent, which, in a crowded forecastle, assumes an aggravated form, and is duly noted down by the attending surgeon as yellow fever ; the town or island last left, getting the credit for being a focus for the same, the man's receptive and the ship's unsanitary condition being left out of the question. Or let us suppose a stranger, just landed from Europe or America, accustomed, perhaps, to drink liquor several times a day in his own country, and to eat four or five meals. He fancies he can do the same here. He finds the climate hotter, as a matter of fact, and the idea of wearing woollen garments next to the skin, ridiculous. Indeed, he feels more or less inclined to walk about in puris naturalibus, were it allowable. He, too, indulges and keeps late hours in what Palgrave so justly terms, the " tepid moonlight." Who shall say that this man is not a fit subject for any kind of fever ? Eminent professors of theory and practice know full well, that given proper conditions of life, of rest, of comfort and happiness, intermit tent or remittent forms of fever, the so-called malarial types are scarcely possible, and that it is the badly nourished, hard-working, exposed and drinking unfortunate, who gets them. This obtains in temperate zones, why not in the tropics ? It is true, that a long continuance of very high tempera ture, followed by heavy rains, such as are only seon in these climates, may bo one of the predisposing causes, just as the pestilential exhalations from a marshy soil may be another. But these count for nothing as compared to a dirty town or city, where the vultures are the scavengers, and the hogs eat up the offal. As nothing compared to the emptying of sewage into harbours and rivers, or the aggrega 88 LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. tion of human beings into small spaces, such, as cellars, tenement houses, or the holds of dirty ships. Dirt means disease anywhere, and dirt in a warm latitude means death. Cleanliness means health, in proof of which we point with pride, in confirmation of our theory, to the island of St. Thomas. There are several excellent physicians in the Danish West Indies. The public posts are filled with graduates from Denmark, who also enjoy a remunerative private practice. In St. Croix, the doctors are all Danish, and the time is not far distant when the same will be the case in St. Thomas. This is best illustrated by the following letter, read at a meeting of the Colonial Council, on the 13th July, 1886. " Government for the Danish West India Islands, " St. Croix, 8th May, 1886. [No. 687.] " According to the decision arrived at by the Minister of Finances on the 3rd of March this year, after communicating with the Eoyal College of Health, the given authorisation to Government by Eoyal Resolution of 25th September, 1872, provisionally to permit foreign doctors to practice in the Danish West India Islands, which was com municated to the Colonial Council in Government's letter, of 21st October, 1872, No. 1,611, will for the future only be carried out during epidemics and other special cases. " In general, foreign doctors who come with the intention to practice will have to await the Minister of Finance's sanction. " Which Government does not omit officially to bring to the know ledge of the Colonial Council. " (Signed) C. H. Arendrup. "(Signed) H. Hanshell. "To the Colonial Council for St. Thomas " and St. John." As may be imagined this unexpected curtailment of a privilege, which had given to the island the benefit of foreign medical skill for a number of years, met with strong opposition from the Liberal members of the Colonial Council, one of whom presented a petition signed by the leading merchants and inhabitants of the Colony protesting against any such change whatsoever, and recommending the establishment of a Medical Board. After a lengthy discussion it was decided by a majority of the members to recommend the petition to the favourable consideration of the Home Government, and to appoint a committee to frame a draft of representation to the Minister of Finances, requesting him to recon sider his decision. A year has past and gone, and the people of St. Thomas submissively await a reply. Since then one applicant has been referred to Copenhagen for exami nation, and another, a native of St. Thomas and a graduate from the ST. THOMAS. — MEDICAL. 89 University of New York, lias been informed that there seems to "be no reason for granting his request. What may be the fate of future foreign doctors applying for leave to practice in the Danish West Indies is difficult to say. Few would consent to be made a convenience of in times of epidemics, fewer still could afford to await a reply which, in spite of rapid transit of these days, might take many months to give, and then put the petitioner to the expense of a journey to Copenhagen to be examined. Comment is superfluous. Only the narrow-minded men of our profession will rub their hands in contem plation of such a paradise of medical monopoly as the Danish West Indies promises to be. It has been said in excuse that this has been aimed principally at American doctors. In that case we should be sorry, if this were really so, to hear that some of our excellent Danish colleagues in New York and Chicago, whose talents have made them justly respected, should find their own privileges curtailed when attention is drawn to this fact. Or to put it nearer home, how would young Danish doctors or chemists like it, if, with genuine diplomas in their pockets, they were told on going to foreign countries that they could not exercise their professions, unless they undertook a voyage of three or four thousand miles to be examined, or that there seemed to be no reason for allowing them to practice ? Not that this would meet our approval, even as a well -merited return for the same conditions of things in these islands. Such stupid Conservatism is ruinous to medical advancement and those who, in their Conservative moods, would endorse such an attitude towards foreign physicians are obstructions to genuine progress. It was not until the year 1881 that the Homeopathic system of medicine ceased to be looked upon as a sort of harmless quackery, and the little sugar pellets became legally recognised as medicines in these islands by the authorities. Up to that time sundry good Samaritans went about with their boxes of pilules among the poor and destitute sick, who had been either given up by the regular practitioner or who had lost faith in his methods of practice. Had these sick peo ple died, it might not have attracted attention, but as many of them unexpectedly recovered, the belief in Homeopathy increased. A prose cution against a practitioner which ended in a sentence of imprisonment, on bread and water, and his subsequent release a couple of hours afterwards upon the payment of his fine by the a poor path- nt. people, was the first sign given by its opponents 90 LEAl'Xr/r.S I'llOM THE DANISH "WEST INDIES. of their objection to the system in quostion. And it was not long before both boliover and practitionor were soon made to know what tho majesty of the law had in store for them if they dared to give even pellets of sugar to their friends for tho cure of thoir ailments. As a consequence, a large number of the community petitioned that a duly qualified Homoeopathic practitionor bo allowed to practice. They are yet most submissively awaiting his advent, and with tho last blow aimed at foreign physicians, it is probable they will wait a littlo longer. The limits of this chapter will hardly permit us to give more than a passing notice of the diseases incidental to these islands. The extended description necessary for their complete elucidation would bo tedious to our lay readers and of no particular interest to those of the pro fession, who might prefer to refer to their text books. We take pleasure, however, in reproducing one of the sanitary reports. These are published in tho official paper by the Landphysicus of St. Thomas. These reports, which owe thoir inception to our former esteemed and successful King's physician, Councillor A. Magens, K.D., are fairly illustrative of the class of diseases to which the population is most subject, and their averago occurrence :— SANITAEY BEPOBT FOE 4tit QUAETEE, 1887. A. — Ltst of Diseases uep-outed weekly dy i Small-pox Chicken-pox Measles Scarlet fever Diphtheria Croup Whooping Cough Mumps Gastric fever Typhoid fever Exanthematic typhus Yellow fever . . v Dysentery Asiatic cholera . . ■Intestinal catarrh and acuto diarrhoea Erysipelas, facial and ambulant Puerperal fever Purulent infection Intermittent and remittent fever . . Bronchial catarrh and bronchitis Influenza . . . . . . Pneumonia Sore throat Rheumatic fever Medical Men. :— 21 142 1 436 09 4 25 10 Carried forward 717 ST. THOMAS. — MEDICAL. 91 Brought forward 717 27 Gonorrhoea . . . . •• •• •• •• * • • Venereal Ulcer 10 Acquired syphilis . . . . •• •• •• •• •• 6 Hereditary syphilis ~~ Itch ~~ Delirium, tremens Chronic alcoholism •• •• ^2 78 i 11.—L'iST of causes oi' Deaths : Liver disease . . . . •• •. •• •• •• •• " Intermittent and remittent iVver . . . . •• •• •• - 1 Spine disease ... . . . . ■• •• •• •• •• * Cancer . . . . . . . . •• •• •• •• •• 1 Leprosy . . . . . . •• •• •• •• •• ** 1 Brain disease •• •• •• •• Apoplexy . . . . . • •• •• •• •• •* ~ Chronic alcoholism •• •• •• •• (> Bronchitis . . . . . . •• •• •• •• •• 4 Consumption . . . . . . •• •• •• •• •• ^ Heart disease . . •• •• 10 Chronic diarrhoea •• •• •* 1 Infantile atrophy . . •• •• •• 8 Haemorrhage . . . . . . •• «• •• ■• •• 1 Old age 10 Accident •• •• •• 1 Drowned . . . . •• •• •• - • •• •• * Unknown 109 0. —The Mortality was 109, and represents ax annual Death-hate of 29*0(1 per 1,000 persons living, the Population estimated at 15,000. Children. Men Women abovo 15 above 15 TOTAL. 0—1 1—5 5—15 year. years. years. years. years. 21 13 5 31 39 109 D. —The Births numhered 111, of which wkke : - Males 62 Females . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Still-born 4' Total Ill St. Thomas, in January, 1888. JOH. WISSING, Acting King* 8 Physician. 92 LEAFLETS EROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. As will bo seen by a perusal of the foregoing, there aro many diseases which do not figure as actually occurring, and which seldom or never find a place in the case-book of the physician. The exan themata, as a rule, run a very mild course, and scarlet fever is almost unknown. An authority on the subject, Dr. Kalmer, of St. Croix, says that he has never seen a case during his residence in that island, and that the same might be said of typhus. With regard to yellow fever, a case or two may bo imported now and then, but these are promptly quarantined, or relegated to the fine lazaretto at Muhlens- IVldt Point. As far as small-pox is concerned, it might be said that it is owing to the Danish West Indies being such well vaccinated com munities that it has been almost banished from them, were it not an awkward fact that cholera and yellow fever have shared a like fate without vaccination. It is also worthy of remark that with the advent ■ofstrict sanitation it disappeared with these, and that whenever it has occurred, it has commenced with a vaccinated or re-vaccinated person. The vaccination laws aro very strict as extended to these colonies. Fines are imposed every week until the child be vaccinated. Should a party refuse to pay for conscience sake, a levy is made. In default of means, imprisonment on bread and water is the alternative. The Landphysicus, in case of epidemic, may, after conference with the •Superior Authority, cause every man, woman, or child to be re- vaccinated, under a penalty of a daily fine of fifty cents. It is not our intention to enter upon the merits or demerits of vaccination, and especially of a rite which, after so many years in which to test its virtues, yet requires compulsion to make it acceptable to the people, some of whom look upon it with abhorrence, but we cannot do other wise than enter our solemn protest against arm to arm vaccination in any tropical country, more especially in those where skin diseases of the most frightful forms, such as elephantiasis, the yaws, and leprosy exist, and where it is next to impossible for any physician to know the pedigree of the healthiest looking white or black child who may be presented to him. Few parents will confess such an inheritance as leprosy, even to their most trusted physicians. That " skeleton in the closet" is kept there until there is no help for it. It is but just to say of the local authorities that they give everyone who objects to have his child vaccinated a fair hearing, and that they do not browbeat anyone because he may not believe in vaccination. Many prefer to pay the fines which are inflicted, rather than run the risk of injuring their •children ; though it must be confessed, fifty cents a week continuing throughout a number of years is a heavy price to pay for exemption. There is a Communal as well as a Military Hospital, and also a Hospital attached to the Roman Catholic Church. This accomplishes a great deal of good in a quiet sort of way, receiving the sick of any denomination. Medicines are supplied free to the poor from the 8T. THOMAS. MEDICAL. 93 apothecary shop upon application, and proof of actual inability to purchase them. The prescriptions for these medicines have to be countersigned by the Communal physician. The foreign physicians* have not this privilege, though they give a large amount of gratuitous assistance. There is no workhouse nor reformatory in this island—no place for the utterly destitute. It is a sorrowful fact, but none the less true, that no one of those who made such immense fortunes in days gone by ever thought of founding a place for those whom mis fortune or want might overtake at the end of their career. Indeed, so striking is the lack of such institutions in these islands that strangers are apt to compare them unfavourably in this respect with others in the West Indies. There is, however, a great deal done by way of private charity in St. Thomas. In spite of this, with the decline in its jn'osperity, a great deal of want and misery are beginning to make themselves felt among the poorer classes. To relieve this alone, it would be well if the Executive and the Colonial Council were to patch up their differences. * Drs. Villavicencio and Auguste Nemours. These gentlemen had already received permission to practice before the change in the Royal Resolution. CHAPTER XVIII. ST. THOMAS.— AT THE WATER'S EDGE. HE wharves and warehouses of St. Thomas are suggestive of its commercial importance. The wharves are substantially built upon wood or iron piles, and in most cases jut out into the Harbour for a considerable distance. The warehouses or back stores, as they are called, extend from the water's edge to the front stores, which open on the main street. Iron railway tracks are laid down in almost every store-yard. These are used for the carriage of goods from the landing-place to any part of the warehouse intended for their storage or display. The wharves present a busy scene, especially after the arrival of the Intercolonial, European or American steamers. When the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company had its head-quarters here, it was livelier. Since its departure a good deal of the carrying trade has fallen into the hands of the other steamship companies, notably the German, which has put on more steamers in consequence. Each wharf has its sign-board, boat-houses, and out-houses, as well as loafers sunning themselves, or others, more industriously inclined, on the look-out for a job. Then, too, there may be the boatmen belonging to the different ship-chandlers. A square-rigged or other vessel is signalled from the Point, a boat is quickly lowered, they jump in, and, with their boarding clerk, who has rushed down in haste, away they go, sailing across the harbour, perhaps three or four skiffs representing as many firms, in the hope of a prize. A vessel in dis tress, a " lame duck " as it is called, or a consignment. No matter, so long as it brings grist to the mill. As the harbour is still the resort of a great deal of shipping, and large vessels in particular, it is from these that St. Thomas draws a great deal of its business. Hence the water's edge, with the exception of the hurricane months (lasting from the 25th July to the 25th October), is always a scene of activity. If it be considered how many in St. Thomas derive their living from the flotsam and jetsam which the sea may bring to it, it is not to be ST. THOMAS. —AT THE WATER'S EDGE. 05 wondered at that ship-chandlers, riggers, and outfitters look blank should the harbour be empty. Though this is never actually the cas<-, there always being a few vessels in port, even at the worst time of the year. There is much more to be seen at the water's edge of St. Thomas's Harbour than might be supposed. From the fisherwomen to the "Cha- Cha," the individuals one encounters there are a study; notable the " Cha- Cha," a nickname applied to those natives of St. Barts and Saba, who form a small colony by themselves on the outskirts of the town. These people, who are fair-complexioned, make an honest livelihood by plaiting straw hats, selling fruit, such as oranges and pine-apples, and by fish ing. At any time their fragile craft may be seen skimming the deep blue waves outside the port. It is astonish ing how they manage to keep these ^ canoes, for they are nothing else, '~2§= afloat in the water. Simply a " dug out," formed of one piece of wood, about 12 ft. by 2 ft., with a larje sail, they go flying out to sea with their occupants, who seem perfectly indifferent as to turning over or not. If they should capsize, however, the men hold on to the boat, turn her, bale her out, jump in, and away they go again, as if nothing had happened. The "Cha-Cha," lives frugally, and is very in dustrious. We have already alluded to the boatmen who, in their trim-built wherries, carry you on board, or bring you on shore. " Champagne Charley " is a fair specimen. This service is well organised and under the control of the harbour-master. Passengers rarely complain of extortionate fares. The riggers, sail-makers, ship carpenters and caulkers are a class apart, which will only take Danish coin in pay ment for their services. It is a pity that the rest of the working population are not as united in this respect. Not far from the water's edge, on your way down street are to be found the ice houses of Messrs. Raven and Co., at one of which a busy crowd of labourers may be seen, when the ice vessel is in, discharging its cargo. The heavy blocks of ice are slid upon an elevated stage towards the ice house, where they are grappled and stored away by men accustomed to such labour. Just below a number of urchins from blackest ebony to brown mahogany, are THE CHA-CHA. 96 LEAFLETS ER0M THE DANISH WEST INDIES. disporting themselves in the water. Splash they go one after the other into the briny fluid, making the air resound with their shouts of merriment. A little further down is the factory and small marine railway belonging to the Eoyal Mail Steam Packet Company. In these places a great deal of repairs are done for other steamships besides their own. Formerly, a large staff of hands was employed. This has been considerably lessened during the past few years. The Gras Works, ably superintended by D. Stiven, Esq., gives employment to many at the water's edge, besides furnishing light to the town. But it is at the coal wharves where the greatest activity seems to prevail. A typical wharf is that which is leased by Messrs. Brondsted and Co. From eight to ten thousand tons of coal may be found piled up, in huge stacks, at a time. This enterprising firm, coals from fifteen to sixteen large steamers monthly, and is agent for no less than seven lines of steamers trading here, besides. Mr. E. Moron, to whom we are indebted for many interesting particulars concerning the coal labourers, says, that no class of our labouring population has been so persistently maligned. We have before alluded to the tendency of some authors to describe the negro of the Danish West Indies, and especially some of them, as licentious and immoral, but we unhesitat ingly challenge a comparison with the lower class of the white popula tion dwelling in the large cities of Europe or America. The hard working coal wharf labourer of St. Thomas would not lose by it. As a rule, they are orderly and industrious. The coaling of a steamer is a sight worth seeing. No sooner is it in port than a horn is blown. This is the signal for the coal carriers to assemble, and it is not long before a hundred or more of them come trooping into the coal yard. By-and-by they may be seen running to and from the shore and the steamer with the heavy baskets of coal upon their heads. The greater part of them are women, who enliven this severe labour with their songs. These are sung in a minor key and a shrill nasal tone, generally alluding to some one they wish to make fun of, or to some local event. It is wonderful how rapidly they can coal a large steamer. Four or five hours is sufficient. Machinery has been suggested instead, but up to now it has been shown not to be so available. Seen at night the coaling of a steamer is highly picturesque. Huge flam beaux light up the scene. The coals glint and shine in the glare of the torches like so many diamonds. The dusky figures of the women, many of them of lithe and shapely form, moving along at a rapid pace, their hips swaying from side to side, not ungracefully, beneath the weight of their burthen, the snatches of song which break from them at intervals, the splashing of the waves against the great beams of the wharf, the escape of steam from the huge vessel along side, the shouts of command issuing here and there, and the feverish haste which seems to reign everywhere, must be seen to be under- •saicr^i xs^iAi irsTxva mix mm& sxauva'x 96 •eSpo s(,i9qx?A\. oqj yts Sm\T[ .noq; uive oqA\ ST?uioqjG tit osoqi •[p jo 'sd-Bq.Tod '^sop.rcq oqq. 'ouo pxtsq *b si qo-[ Jteqx *OTdo0d j.reqAY poo 9qq. oq poo.§ op oq. 3[oos A/eni oqAY ssooons ono a\ioa9 ttsiai ©ai ^jcpd .mo .to^ 'qnuj .reoq .moqTq jpqq. A'a3j/\[ -A^.wqp]; 90tqd u9Tpq. 0AT?q qoiqAY je^oq ©q^ .toj soSireqo %vqj8 ©qq. poqnqiJ^qT? eq £ein ^neqmnoui qiiosg.id 9qq. Aqq'eqoTi 'suoiqiuiraiouop ttba'otso^ oqq. jo bjo^siutjij oqq. jo suoiq.i0X0 yuQxS oqq. ojA •uioqq. Suouru q.n9TTl>9.ij ssg{ ouioooq tjtai siqi quqq qqnop on si eJ9qq 'pooS .noqi .toj opiuu Suioq o.tt? sqiojjo .T9p9.i& aaoh 'qSnoqj^ *jjo Tii9qq jo ^sotu solwoo quqAV si uoridumsnoQ •o.oi? pjo pooS v qot?9.T Au'eui qo^ \ioqqi30A\. jo sq.ios jjo oq. o.rasodxo put? dtqsp.rGq jo ojq T? st qj 'sinuoqjj -qg oq. Sut.iq qoiqAV SJ9SS9A .oiiqps jo s.i9tuT?9qs 9qq. tuo.tj poo .chn.&inqosip joj 'A/op .T0d squoo oaij -XquoAos oq. Aqxis uio.tj si A"i?d .noqq. poA\qdtuo snq^ %ou uoq^V MOTireo^s v jo .cfrttpoo 91$ Snunp g^93[STjq pojpimq 00.11$ .to OAvq. si? attbui SU SuiAXTBO OTUOg 'Spimod OATI-AqOUItl Oq. OATJ-Aqq.cho TUO.TJ SuTTtStOAV poo jo ^93[snq .i9d qu9o 9110 st Ami .iraqj, 'peujunran ji pnoi.Tj opuioj i? qquv .10 'tuoo.t tjtuus ouo tit ouop .oxitai^ u'nV jo 3[0Tqg; „ uqi SB UAVOU^ UA\0^ 0t[J JO qXL'd ')Ul[4 III ATJOU[0 p[9A\p AoqjQ -J.TT?qAl pOO oq) si? .loq.runb 3TJi3p 13 qons tuo.tj poqoodxo oq oq. AjpxBq 9pCqs b tit dn posso.ip 'sodnouj. ui quo u.mq. squoiuosnuitdt osoqq. o^ p9^0Aop sAup-no pnt? *.[.ioav .itoq; .loqjy "\\ ^npd qoua^o sp.xo^ *p9pioo.iddT? jo poo^s CHAPTER XIX. ST. JOHN.— HISTORICAL. ^l^IIE Island of St. John lies in latitude 18° 18' 8" N., and longitude 64° 41' W. It is eight miles long and four miles wide in the broadest part. It was first formally taken possession of by the Danes in 1684, but was not colonized by them until 1716, when several inhabitants of St. Thomap received permission to cultivate it. The English attempted to dislodge them next year, but were compelled to desist hy an order from their own Government. The island consists of a mass of rugged and uneven hills, the highest of which attains an elevation of 1,000 ft. It is considered to be the best watered of the Virgin group, but although possessed of great natural advantages it enjoys little or no commercial prosperity. St. John is a free port, and its soil is very fertile. Coffee of a superior quality, as well as sugar and tobacco, have been cultivated there to a considerable extent in former years, and might have been to this day, had sufficient labour been forthcoming since emancipation. Its gradual decay may be attributed to this, and to the fact of many of its planters having transported their capital and industry to St. Croix and other places. Only a small quantity of sugar is produced »>nthe island at the present day, while as far back as 1775 there were sixty-nine estates of which twenty-nine were sugar plantations. St. John may be reached by any of the sloops running between the islands, or from the east end of St. Thomas at Smith's Bay, where one may cross over in a boat to Cruz Bay, which, consisting of a few detached houses, is called the town. Many years ago it rejoiced in a battery mounted with cannons, and there was also a lieutenant with a detachment of some twenty odd soldiers quartered there. Now only the Judge and a couple of policemen represent the majesty of the law in this peaceable and well ordered island. Dutch-creole was once the prevailing language, many of the planters being of Dutch descent. The population, which now numbers about 900, speaks English, and is represented in the Colonial Council of St. Thomas by three h 2 100 LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. members, one appointed by Government, and the others elected by the people. There is no resident doctor ; this want being supplied by occasional visits from the Landphysicus of St. Thomas. Society is virtually nil, probably on account of the difficult roads and tho distance of the estates from each other. It is only on horseback that ono can ride on the steep cliffs and mountains of the whole island, and it is not without a certain sense of fear that you traverse some of tho pathways which are cut out of the side of the hill and overlook an abyss of several hundred feet. The highest peak in St. John is named the Camel Mountain, and affords a fine view over the whole country, tho sea, and surrounding islands. When you reach the top you are actually transported to another climate, so bracing and deliciously cool is the atmosphere. It is a great pity that the island is in such a state of uncultivation, and it is sad to think that for want of labour so much good land is going to waste. There are several bays running in shore ; among them Eii: Bay is the most famous, on account of the Carib inscriptions upon the rocks near by, and of which we shall say more in our next chapter. But of all its bays, indeed of all to be found in the Banish West Indies, there is none more serviceable for large ships than Coral Bay. Extremely wide, and surrounded on three sides by mountains which protect it from storms, it is during a hurricane that it is one of the safest. The dip of the mountains is so steep that ships can go close under the land. It rims very far in, which makes it difficult for sail ing vessels to get out when the trade wind is northerly. Once upon a time the hopes of St. John were centred upon this place as the possible rival of St. Thomas. The inhabitants even went so far as to lay out the land in magnificent town lots as the future port in these islands which was to attract all the trade. Sic transit. Scarcely a fishing boat goes in there now. The lover of natural scenery will find much to reward him in his rambles over this picturesque island. Not to speak of the lovely views which are to be found everywhere, there are places on the hills and abrupt precipices by the sea where may be found pretty specimens of quartz, crystal drops, yellow and white. Should boating be prefer able, a pull to St. Mary's Point, where tho granite cliffs, studded with mica, glimmer in the sunshine, or to Smith's Bay, when it is calm, is not easily forgotten. The bottom of this bay, which is of beautifully white sand, spreads out like a carpet, and is covered with all sorts of marine plants. These are of bright and varied colours, springing up in graceful forms, and, owing to the transparency of the water, seeming quite near to the observer. It is a rare and pretty sight, and always calls forth admiration. There are many other places to which a visit may be paid by the excursionist, from which enjoyment may be derived as well as health and recreation. ST. JOHN. — HISTOItlOAL, 101 It was in this island, in the year 1733, and shortly after its settle ment, that a bloody insurrection took place among its slaves. Of the causes of this fearful outbreak there is not much said in contemporary history. It is the old story of the rising of an enslaved people against oppression and a tyranny which has scarcely a parallel. The follow ing placard issued by the Royal Council just prior to it, on the 31st of January, 1733, is a sample : — 1. The leader of runaway slaves shall be pinched three limes with red-hot iron, and then hung. 2. Each other runaway slave shall lose one leg, or, if the owner pardon him, shall lose one ear, and receive one hundred and fifty stripes. 3. Any slave being aware of the intention of others to run away, and not giving information, shall be burned in the forehead, and receive one hundred stripes. 4. Those who inform of plots to run away, shall receive ten dollars for each slave engaged therein. 5. A slave who runs away for eight days, shall have one hundred and fifty stripes, twelve weeks, shall lose a leg ; and six months, shall forfeit his life, unless the owner pardon him with the loss of one leg. 6. Slaves who steal to the value of four rix-dollars, shall be pinched and hung ; less than four rix-dollars, to be branded, and receive one hundred and fifty stripes. 7. Slaves who shall receive stolen goods, as such, or protect run aways, shall be branded, and receive one hundred and fifty stripes. 8. A slave who lifts his hand to strike a white person, or threaten him with violence, shall be pinched and hung, should the white person demand it, if not, to lose his right hand. 9. One white person shall be sufficient witness against a slave ; and if a slave be suspected of crime, he can be tried by torture. 10. A slave meeting a white person, shall step aside and wait until he passes, if not, he may be flogged. 11. No slave will be permitted to come to town with clubs or knives, nor fight with each other, under penalty of fifty stripes. 1 2. "Witchcraft shall be punished with flogging. 1 3. A slave who shall attempt to poison his master, shall be pinched three times with red-hot iron, and then be broken on a wheel. 14. A free negro who shall harbour a slave or thief, shall lose his liberty, or be banished. 15. All dances, feasts, and plays are forbidden unless permission be obtained from the master or overseer. 16. Slaves shall not sell provisions of any kind without permission from their overseers, 17. No estate slave shall be in town after drum-beat, otherwise he shall be put in the fort and flogged. 102 LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. 18. The King's Advocate is ordered to see these regulations carried into effect. The Eevd. Knox says :— " If the mind revolts at the perusal of this placard, it must be remembered in mitigation of its severity, that a largo body of the slaves were but recently introduced from Africa, and therefore still ignorant, vicioun, and even savage ; and that the situation of the Colonists was becoming in a measure desperate from symptoms of disorder and rebellion." We do not doubt it in the least, and are not surprised at all that " at length they broke out in an open and bloody insurrection on the 13th November, 1733. Our only wonder is, that they did not strike for their freedom before." From the graphic account furnished by the same author, and which is the only available, if not the best, up to the present it would appear that eight soldiers commanded by a lieutenant and a sergeant were stationed at a fort which had been erected at the West end of the island. This was insecure, and poorly furnished with arms. Governor Gardelin, of St. Thomas, had been on a visit to the island, and was to leave on the following Sunday. That was the day fixed on for the insurrection, and it was the plan of the slaves, princi pally those of the Amina tribe, to murder the Governor and all the white inhabitants, and then hold the island in their possession. A kind Providence delivered the Governor. On Saturday, he observed a large vessel passing to the South, and supposing it to be one of the Company's ships, rowed off to her in a small boat, and proceeded to St. Thomas, taking with him his daughter, Mrs. Soctman, wife of Judge Soctman, of St. John, and her infant child. Early on Sunday morning certain slaves were admitted into the fort, bearing bundles of wood for the use of the soldiers. It was their custom to do this on Saturday evening, but sometimes it was deferred until the next morning. In the bundles of wood the slaves had con cealed their knives and cutlasses. At a given signal they rushed upon the soldiers, and succeeded in cutting all down except one, who saved himself by hiding beneath a bed. The sergeant had sprung through a window without the walls of the fort, but injuring himself so severely as to be unable to escape, was also murdered. The lieu tenant was absent upon his estate. As had been agreed upon, the slaves, now in possession of the fort, fired two guns, which was to bo the signal for their success, and for all those engaged in the con spiracy to rise and murder the whites. Alarmed by the guns, and seeing the commotion among the slaves, several planters, headed by John Beverhout, with their families, rushed to the estate of Mr. Durlo, now " Little Cinnamon Bay" ; the house on this estate being on an eminence, and protected by two cannon. In the meantime a fearful sacrifice of life was taking place on some estates. Whole families were massacred in the most horrible manner. Among these ST. JOHN.— HISTORICAL. 103 were Judge Soctman and his daughter, Mr. Kint, the children of Mr. Boker, the overseer of Mr. Moth, the wife of Mr. Kruger, and twenty-five other men, women and children. The bloody work had boon sudden and without mercy. After murdering Judge Soctman, and placing his head upon a pole, they held a council around his mutilated remains, whether they should kill his daughter, a beautiful child twelve years old. Overwhelmed with grief at the death of her father, she entreated them to take her life also ; upon which they rushed upon her, and immediately her mangled corpse lay across that of her beloved parent. This daughter had placed a string of beads (which she had prepared from certain seeds found on the island with her own hands) around the neck of her little infant sister, when she left her the day before. That infant was afterwards Lady Lindberg. At her death, which occurred when she was upwards of ninety years of age, these beads were found suspended around her neck. She had ever worn them as a memorial of her murdered father and sister. The planters who had fled to the Durlo estate, immediately dis patched a boat with a letter to the Governor of St. Thomas informing him of the insurrection, and entreating assistance at once, and deliver ance from their imminent peril. This letter was signed by Messrs. Beverhout, Charles, Runnels, Badger, De Wint and Zytsema. The consternation and grief produced by this letter (which also stated who had been murdered) were great. It was overwhelming to the Governor and his daughter, Mrs. Soctman. Vessels were at once despatched to bring off the survivors. By this time the slaves had surrounded the eminence upon which the mansion at Durlo estate was located ; and they were only repulsed by the heroic conduct of an old Englishman, assisted by the rest of the planters. He poured down upon the con spirators, thirsting for their blood, a destructive fire from the two cannons, killing and wounding many. This forced them to withdraw to the foot of the hill, and, under cover of the cannon, the planters were enabled to embark their wives and children for St. Thomas and Tortola, on board the vessels which had now arrived for their assist ance. When these fugitives arrived at St. Thomas, the excitement and tumult there were greatly increased. An alarm was fired from the fort, fearing that the insurrection might extend to St. Thomas, and the garrison of ninety men were got under arms, assisted by sixty sailors from vessels in the harbour, headed by Lieutenant Stibot of the navy. A large East Indiaman (the vessel in which the Governor had come from St. John), was also moved close to the town. After this precau tion, Lieutenant Taarbye, with thirty soldiers, Captain John J. Creutzer, with the young burghers, and John de Wint, with the Jaeger Corps, fully armed and equipped, proceeded to St. John. Upon their arrival at Coral Bay, they at once stormed the fort, and drove out tho slaves. Assistance was then dispatched to the Durlo estate, 104 LEAF171.TS EKOM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. where the planters were still holding out against fearful odds. This detachment met with obstinate resistance in attempting to roach the house. The slaves wore armed with the muskets taken from the fort, and with knives and cutlasses fastened on poles, but they were ulti mately driven off, and the planters relieved. Holding possession of the fort and this house, a council was hold, and it was found impos sible for so small a body of troops to suppress the insurrection, or even dare to venture out upon the estates. Inquiry, however, was instituted into the extent of the insurrection and how far any of the planters were spared. Dr. Cornelius F. Bodger w^as the only survivor, save those who had sought refuge on the Durlo estate. The slaves had spared him on condition that he wrould attend to any who might be ultimately wounded. It was also learned that the Creole negroes had not sided with the rest of the slaves, and that the insurrection had first broken out on the estate of the company, now called " Caroline,' ' and had extended to the estates of Messrs. Suhm, the former Governor, Hendricksen, Soetman, and Peter Kruger, until it had spread over the whole island. This information was derived principally from a servant of Dr. Bodger, named Christian Sout, in whom the conspirators had every confidence, but who was a friend to the whites. He afterwards became very useful as a spy, and for his fidelity received his freedom. He was highly intelligent, and signally skilful and successful as a botanist in the use of the medicinal plants found in the island. The force sent from St. Thomas, finding itself unable to contend against the superior number of the slaves engaged in the insurrection, returned with all the planters, leaving the slaves in entire possession. Upon their return, the Royal Council engaged the services of Capt. Meaux, of Nevis, whose vessel was lying in the harbour, and was manned by sixty men, to regain the island. He likewise failed, after making an unsuccessful attack upon the fort at. Coral Bay, in which two of his sons wrere killed by his side. The book-keeper from St. Thomas was now sent to Martinique to seek aid from the French. The Governor of that Island very promptly despatched four hundred men with their officers to Coral Bay. This force encamped near the Fort, from which the negroes fled at their approach. They were joined by all the available force from St. Thomas, and the former planters of St. John. By sending out different detachments in different directions along the north and south sides of the island, and driving the insurgents before them, they forced them to concentrate on the north-east side. Here they were surrounded by the troops. Finding all chances of escape cut off, they first held a feast, and rather than fall into the hands of those from whom they could only look for the most severe and merited punishment, they resolved upon self-destruction. Threo hundred were, after a few days from the time they were surrounded, found ST. JOHN. — HISTORICAL. 105 lying dead at Brim's Bay, now "Anna Berg." Seven others were also discovered in a ravine, a short distance off, who appeared to have been the leaders in the insurrection, who had shot each other. Seven guns broken to pieces, save one, were found lying by their sides. Tradition reports that the three hundred had cast themselves from a high precipice on the rocks below. The historian Host says they were shot, and were found lying in a circle. A few had been taken prisoners. Two of these had been summarily executed in St. John and twenty-six in St. Thomas, some of the latter having been made to undergo the severest torture. The insurrection was thus suppressed, and the island recovered after it had been in possession of the insurgents for six months. Of the estates, on forty-four the buildings were all destroyed, whilst on forty-eight they bad been preserved. The Governor's estate had suffered the most. Many planters were, of course, ruined, and those who found themselves involved in debt, retired to Tortola. The expense to the Government in quelling the insurrection amounted to 7,905 rix dollars, besides presents to the French officers. The Government in St. Thomas afterwards proposed to the planters of St. John to pay one-third of the expense which it had incurred in quelling the insurrection, but they refused, on the ground that the insurrection had commenced on the company's estate, where the greater number of the Amina tribe were labourers, and that the Fort had been left in too insecure a condition, and the force stationed there too small, considering the danger to which they had been exposed. The melancholy events of this year were long remembered by the inhabitants, and what aided to render it more painfully memorable, famine and disease swept off many upon the different estates. Never theless, it was not so long before it recovered some of its former prosperity, for in the year 1789 we read of its having a population of 2,383, of whom 167 were whites, 16 free negroes, and 2,200 slaves who were all busily engaged in agricultural pursuits. CHAPTER XX. THE CARIBS. N THE island of St. John, at a place called "Bif Bay" is a waterfall. The crystal stream rushes merrily along, forms a basin opposite a mound of rocky formation at a short distance from it, and continues its course to the sea. The inhabitants call it " Living Gut." A closer inspection of the rocks which skirt its border reveals the existence of several rude drawings upon them which present the appearance of having been made at a time when stone implements only were known to the executants. These traces of a people, who must have existed centuries if not ages ago, are of great interest, from the fact of their resemblance to those of a similar character upon certain rocks in Guadaloupe and St. Vincent, and antiquities attributed to the Caribs which have been found in Porto Eico and other West Indian Islands. A comparison of the manner in which they are drawn would seem to indicate a common origin, and did we possess a key to their meaning, it is possible that some light would be thrown on a subject which, up to the present, is an enigma to the ethnologist and antiquary. The discovery of a very valuable relic by 0. Berg, Esq., of this island, and now in the possession of His Excellency Governor Aren- clrup, is one of those circumstances which, trivial in itself, seems to clear up at least one point with regard to those who made them. In other islands, as well as these, especially upon Estate Tutu, St. Thomas, there have been found a good many traces of occu pation by the Caribs. These were always in the shape of implements of war and utensils for domestic use of the rudest descrip tion— hatchets, axes, battle-axes, chisels, and spear-heads of stone of that kind generally classed under the head of " celts." But this relic, which was dug up at the time of the demolition of a portion of Old Christians-fort, is of a more intricate and beautiful design than any thing usually executed by the Caribs. For this reason we would assign to it a much earlier date, as the production of the more peace THE CARIBS. 107 able Arrowauk. Smoothly and deftly chiselled out of a very dark green stone found only in St. John's and a few other places in the West Indies, it seems to repre sent either the head of an elephant, parr< t, or crocodile, according to the fancy of the examiner. The hooked nose of the one human figure, and the almost sphinx-like severity of the other are remark able, and are not the least striking features of this interesting curi osity. From the aperture of A to the other at B is a passage, and were the holes not so small it would be reasonable to conclude that it was a veritable Indian pipe of peace, and as such was used by its early possessors. We have before alluded to the similarity existing between the carvings at " Eif Bay," St. John's, and those on the rocks at St. Vincent. These, which are situated, in a valley on the Carribeans side of that island, are covered with incised figures. Like those on the rocks in St. John's, they appear to be of great antiquity, and the lines or grooves are so nearly obliterated that it is difficult even to hazard a guess at their meaning. The central figure, however, a face enclosed in a triangle, seems to resemble an aboriginal representation of the sun. The scroll is peculiar to them all. The relics from Porto Rico have the same characteristic, and the only difference at all, and which would seem sadly out of place to the uninitiated, is the cross on the rocks at St. John's. This emblem might be said to be a later production, if a care ful examination did not reveal the fact that it was made with the same class of instrument, possibly a stone gouge, as the forms of the faces. The proximity of both of these places to a waterfall, their romantic situation, and the similarity which they bear to each other have led to a variety of speculations concerning their uses. Some have conjectured that it was here that the Caribs held their cannibal feasts on the slaughtered bodies of their enemies, or of those young captives, whom they had kept or reared for that horrid purpose. Others, that they may have been the burial places of their dead or places of sacrifice. But as we find it recorded that the Caribs did not bury STONE RELIC FOUND BY C. BERG, ESQ., NOW IN POSSESSIONOF HIS EXCELLENC Y GOVERNOR ARENDRUF. 108 LEAFLETS FROM. THE DANISH WEST INDIES. their dead in that manner, and that they generally ate their enemies at once after a battle, it is reasonable to suppose that they were places of worship or groves where their religious rites were performed. When or how these primitive inhabitants disappeared from the Danish West Indies cannot be definitely ascertained. The first wo hoar of the Caribs in connection with these islands is on the second voyage of Columbus to the West Indies in 1493. After having landed at Guadaloupe, he continued his cruise northwards towards Hispaniola, and coasting the islands, he discovered what he presumed to be the last resident Caribs at the island of St. Croix. Here a boat's crow of Spaniards attacked an Indian canoe, containing several men and women. Even after the canoe was overturned the Indians fought in the water, discharging their arrows while swimming as dex terously as though they had been on firm land ; and the women fought as fiercely as the men. How long after the discovery of these islands the Caribs continued to inhabit them it is impossible to determine with accuracy. In 159G, when the Earl of Cumberland on his way to attack Porto Rico, visited the Virgin Islands, he described them as "a knot of little islands wholly uninhabited, sandy, barren, and craggy." Nor is there •any mention of Du Tertre and others, when treating of the early ■settlement of St. Croix in the beginning of the 17th century, of the -Caribs being then in that island. It is probable that as soon as the Spaniards were well established in Porto Rico, the Caribs, seeing the treatment which the Arrowauks received at their hands, and having already felt their superiority, would leave a vicinity which threatened them all with captivity or extermination, and join the main body of the tribe in the Windward Islands. Such were their canoes and larger craft, as described by Pere Labat, that this migration could easily have been accomplished. Olendorp, a German historian, says, they were driven away from the Virgin Islands in the time of Charles V., about the year 1550, the Emperor having ordered them to be treated as enemies and exterminated. Not that this was easily accom plished. The warlike and unyielding character of these people made them far from contemptible antagonists, and it is recorded that though more than a million of the peaceful inhabitants of the larger islands were murdered by the early discoverers, it was not without a struggle that the Carib race succumbed to its inevitable destiny.' Clinging with tenacity to their old faith and customs, they battled with the invaders to the last. Having a religion of their own, they would not be converted to the faith of their conquerors. Not with out reason did they argue, " You have stolen our lands and those of our neighbours, you have violated our wives, have massacred our people, desolated our homes and committed unheard of cruelties for the sake of gold. How then can you expect from what TIfK CARIBS. 109 we have seen of the bad life of you Christians, that we should wish to he like you ? " So fearful had "been the barbarities practiced upon them, that the very name of Christian inspired them with horror, and to call them so never failed to excite their ire and to make them grind their teeth with rage. From all accounts they were a well-proportioned race, stout and robust, and of such a good con stitution, that many attained the age of one hundred years or more. As in most of the Indian tribes exist ing to-day, their female consorts did all the laborious drudgery in connection with their nomad life. Polygamy was universal among them, and each savage, more particularly the chiefs, had several wives, esteeming it a mark of distinction to have a large family. As each woman had her own home it must have been conducive to domestic harmony. The old writers descant much upon the love of the Carib woman for her liege lord, and how good she was to him whenever he paid her a visit. They rarely quarrelled, the man scarcely ever giving way to violence, even in cases of infidelity. Sometimes a female captive would have her brains knocked out by a blow from his massive "Bonton," or war-club, especially after a debauch of Ouycow* ; but to the credit of * Ouy cow was an intoxicating liquor in use among them. It was made much the same as pulque is to-day, in some parts of New Mexico. Four or five of the most venerable old hags congregated round a large calabash, and chewing fast and furious the agave in Mexico, the cassava in the Antilles, they expectorated thV^ juice thus obtained into it, which being afterwards fermented, was relished at all their convivial meetings. MALE CARIH 110 LEAFLETS FROM TILE DANISH WEST INDIES. the Indians, be it said, such an act was most un favourably looked upon by the old men of the tribe. Divorces were uncommon. In all cases the woman took charge of the children, who, as they grew older, were taught to fish, shoot, and swim, as well as to make little baskets and cotton ham mocks, in which latter accomplishment they excelled. On attaining the age of puberty they were required to fast for three weeks or a month, when their skins were lightly tattoed or cut with the teeth of the agouti. "When a young man wished to marry a young girl to whom he was not enti tled by right of blood relationship, as, for in stance, his cousin ger- man on the female side, he simply asked her from her parents, and after partaking of a family dinner together, he took her to live with him. No degree of consanguinity prevented them from marrying each other. Many fathers espoused their own daughters, by whom they had children, and many mothers their sons, though this was a very rare case, but it was a common thing among them for a man to marry two sisters, or sometimes the mother and daughter. . This does not speak much for their morality, nor does the fact of their being a finely formed race exactly agree with the many theories of idiocy and deformity resulting from inter-marriage, which are so freely advanced at the present day. Though why they should have been exempt from any of the consequences likely to arise from marrying one's relations is a question not readily answered, unless we refer to FEMALE CAltllJ. THE CARIBS. Ill their hardy life, and their freedom from some of the peculiar vices attendant on civilization. The ancient Carib was a cleanly personage, and took a bath on rising early every day of his life. After this matutinal wash they lit a great fire, and crouching around it to warm themselves, for they were exceedingly susceptible to the cool morning air, they waited patiently for their breakfast. After that, they went fishing or hunting, at which thev were very expert. The least industriously inclined made clubs, and bows and arrows. The women were always at work, whether combing the hair of their hus- " bands, painting them CAKIB CANOE. 7x ° ysiuiroucoity preparing their meals, or making bread. They also did a good deal of gardening, digging the earth with a pointed stick. Here they cultivated many kinds Jof plants, of which they possessed an intimate knowledge ; for on them devolved the care of the sick and the wounded, whom they cured with great skill by the simplest means. The manioc or cassava was also grown in great quantities, and formed one of their staple articles of food. Those who remained at home, manufactured cotton hammocks, which were very commodious and healthy to sleep in, and sometimes took them a whole year to make. When new they were as white as snow, but, before using, they were stained, oiled, and rubbed with roucou in order to preserve them from the weather. Some of the men employed themselves in building canoes, of which they had two kinds. The largest were called Canoiia and the smallest Couliala, which were made from the trunk of a tree, hollowed out by the means of fire, and shaped by their stone hatchets. The Canoxias were usually from thirty to forty feet long, and were sufficiently capacious to hold forty persons. The Coal .alas were never more than twenty feet long and three or four feet wide, and were pointed at both ends. They were rowed in the same manner as the Canoiias with broad paddles and by pushing the water from them. Possessing no knowledge of the compass, they nevertheless made long voyages, keeping the uoucou. as near t0 ian(i as possible, though if they lost sight of it they guided themselves by the stars at night, and the course of the sun by day. Each Canoiia was governed by a captain, who superintended the embarcation of his men and the construction of the 112 LEAFLETS l-KOM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. temporary palm-tree roofs under which they suspended their hammocks, and used as a shelter when they rested in some strange place on their journey. It is a notice able fact that the men never inter fered with the women's employ ments, it being considered derog atory to their dignity to do so. Both sexes drank freely at their entertainments, which were held when they were about to go to war, or when the males verging on manhood, submitted themselves to be tattoed with the agouti's teeth to display their courage, fearlessness and endurance of pain. These feasts were also given after the accouchment of their wives, when they cut the children's hair for the first time, when they made their sons warriors, when launching a new canoe, when planting a garden, or erecting a new habitation. At these festivities dancing- was their principal diversion. Eubbing their bodies with a tarry-like gum, they sprinkled themselves with the feathers of birds, which adhering to their olive skins, gave them a strangely mottled look and a most comical appearance. Throwing themselves into an infinity of extravagant postures, they never failed to excite the mirth of the whole assembly. The dances were invariably accompanied with a wild music of their own, some playing a kind of flute, and the young men chant ing in a loud and discordant tone, only contrasted by the old men's deep bass voices, thick and rough from their deep potations, for they never-, joined in chorus until quite drunk and noisy. From time to time they washed down their exertions with sundry calabashes of oiiycou, of which each guest was bound to partake at stated intervals Nor durst he refuse, even at the risk of bursting — an accident, how ever, always kindly prevented by one of the strongest of the company so squeezing his friend's stomach as to force him to eject in a summary manner all he had drank, in order to make room for a fresh supply. Amidst all this noise and confusion, the master of the house kept perfectly sober, and, planted before the door with his massive club, he kept his guests in order. Not supposing that intoxication was a crime, the women, got drunk as well as the men, who always took care of their tipsy companions at these feasts, as it was considered a great crime among them to take advantage of anyone not in his or her CAHIB IN HAMMOCK. THE 0AKII3S. 113 senses. Their hospitality was unbounded, and it was considered an insult to refuse it when preferred. When a friend paid them a visit, ho was at once invited in and a hammock was slung' for him. Politely requesting him to rest himself, one woman brought him drink and another food. Having eaten and drank to his satisfaction, ho was saluted with respect by everyone of the house with the word Haleatibon, signifying "you are welcome," and after having invited his entertainers to join him in eating the remains of his repast, he bade them farewell. Whether stranger or friend, each was treated in the same manner, though an old man or one whom they thought worthy of great consideration, was generally painted with roucou and annointed with palm oil before leaving. As a rule, they ate three times a day, and like the Caribs yet inhabiting the interior of Guiana, the male portion of the family took their meals apart in the principal hut, while the women and children ate in their own little house. Du Tertre describes them as squatting like so many CAKIli CHIEF AND WIVES COOKING. monkeys round a large coily (half a calabash), which served them for a dish, their food consisting of a strange medley of crabs, turtle, and other fish, with plantains, boiled together, each Indian dipping his cassava bread into the calabash and helping himself to that morsel for which he had the greatest fancy. Salt was never used in the prepara tion of their food, and the flesh of many animals was considered unclean, though they did not scruple to vary their repast with the flesh of an unplucked bird, which, when half-cooked, the}- devoured with great relish. Next to the beautiful coat of roucou which was their only covering, and which served as an excellent protection from the ardent rays of the sun, they took a world of pains with their hair, which was long and black as the raven's wing. Drawing it backward, they fashioned it into an elegant top knot and dressed it with a profusion of feathers and trifles, which gave them a warlike appearance. They also pierced I Upommvji .wq nt nA\op gt?s SatAuq pooptu jt '^ireos sx^iVi p.tu9q oq^ 'oouui'coddt? -iMawYKuo aravo' ^sjy: e^i no oo'ej ^ipq; xnojtj .iit^q A\toA9 po>[onxd iCoq^ sy -8911110110 aioqi jo souoq oq^ itio.tj d^mn sox^siq^ q^TzW punoju Snnq o.i0xVi pnt7 'suois-uooo ^voxS no sjotqo tiioq^ ^q n.ioAi 9J9AV i[otqAv 'ouo^s jo osoi-p A^xxBtoodso ^q.^x9Av 08U9XXIIUI: jo ojoai exxq^oo osoxjq. jo oniog •po.inoo.id oq o^ ^on o.toai .ioxiltoj ox^ xi9X[AV so^u^peqne m posn 0.10AV e^xexp pnx? spoos s.xoAxp oxix[Av c^92[nonr pnx? pxxoSx? oxp jo q^oo;i oxp xpiAv po^tt9xn -muo 69013x^00x1 .10 feMt^xxoo o.toAV xnoxp jo 9xno^ 'utd nopoOAV x? xpxAi dq joavox oqq. xi9c!o ^doj[ ptra s.1139 .xt9qf| qSticufl s>xoox[* pos«i3d -oxxon^noxn %t jo xn.ioj oq^ xu B.x9ix^9j s^oux^d Suox ypr\)8 Aov$ 'xjouxAY jo eSx)Xp.xx?o oxx^ xx.8ixo,tx[^ i oson pxtti djx aoA\ox axQi\% 'e.x^o ,n9X[i Til ft CAlU Brt. and loft the greater part of his suit imprinted behind him, and Monsieur Aubert, her husband, having invited him, a short time after, to come and dine with them, they had a great deal of trouble to persuade him ; as the chief foresaw that he would infallibly stain the bench on which he was to sit when at table ; but having cast his eyes on the wooden platter that was set before him, and concluding that this- round article, which only wanted three legs to make a stool, was intended for that use, he carefully placed it upon the bench, and sat down upon it, amidst roars of laughter from the assembled com pany. In spite of their kind explanation of the uses to which a plate; should be put, and their protestations that no offence was meant, he became tremendously angry, and bluntly telling them that he did not know in what way or on what place he should sit before them, he strode away in great dudgeon, vowing that they never should be . troubled with his presence again ; and he kept his word, for no amount of persuasion could induce him ever to come back. Whence originated the horrible custom of eating the flesh of their enemies slain in battle is a problem for the historian and philosopher. In our own researches on this subject, we find that the Aztec priests on the occa sion of their sacrifices threw down the bodies of their victims, when pri soners of war, among the people, who feasted them selves and their friends upon the dishes they pre pared of the flesh. It is, therefore, likely that these savage customs were adop ted by the different nations composing the inhabitants of Mexico, and being after wards ingrafted in the belief of the wandering- tribes of Indians, anthro pophagy became, with them, as much a religious ceremony as it was a mode of slaking their vengeance and striking terror into the hearts of their enemies. It could not have been from any particular liking that they practiced it, for we find it recorded that they were ill for days after these horrid banquets. We have said before that they were a warlike people, but we also i 2 .pq 'o.rns o^piT) ^ott oji3 9Ai 'oouonbosuoo ux poxp SuxAraq joqxnnxi JX9q; JO OTTIOS put? ^IOT[(Io^SIJI[Q JO pUTqSI QT[% III ^S9Tjd 9ppJ9XI9A LlQA V TTOpO pUT? pOJJPI SxiTAt3q pq^ SX3AY (IX J9T^0T[^\_ -SJOJgnlbnOO XlXJpSXJqQ jioq^ jo qs9n oqq. Sm^9 xxxojj ponre^sq^ Annj9Jt30 ^0T# ^s °* G^irGJlS 'TTOT^duOSOp S9TJ0p pqij. P{Sl9 13 ST3A\ XXX9qq. 9dt30S9 ^qSltll 9091(1 9TSxiXS v, pxj!i juoj Jioq^ ut poA^ydsxp Aovfi A>9xxux3 9qq. 's9uoq 9xyi pgqoutijos pnx3 xjsojj oq'j p9A\9qo Aqt# Ivas. 9qx ^pxxroj 9q^ jo £mj poBpi3XH qt$ ST?A\ SUT^0A9J iqqXJJO:). 9J0XU S^S13CT9J[ 9S9T|^ J9pXX9J 0^ popqXipiOO pqAV \xopnpxxioj 9q^ q^xAi pi9poo 0J9A1 sjgxy^o oqq. 9jn[AV 'sxxijx3 put? s%q\ Gqi uoxixoay eq:). '^rc9q 9X$ op sjoxjji3Ay jxoq^ jo preipA ^soxxt oqjQ a-p95[000 uoqAi ^TpiAij fe'non9AT?j q^TAV m9q^ Suxpo 'oaxt oq^ no raoq^ Ai9jq; A^9q^ soo9i(I -[puis in S9imon9 »TEOi[q. dn po pi3X{ AVq^ J9ijX3 pqj,,, — : s£es oj^t9X 11 OE 'os °P °1 pQ^opp H99q A^qq. pi3q 9sdjoo opxxuxraxix 9T[; 04 A^pSipm pxn? oSujpo pappu ^Suq-[TAv 0At3q ppoAY pxxi3 put? 'nooiio.x q^xAv xn9q^ :ppd o^ (jpq jxoq^ |xo oq. 3uo\v xxoxuoav qSnono Mur^p^ A'pio 'pe^TOiis pxxx3 *0AUjq Xp^Sixo.xox^ oq o;i pgpaxxo^nx iC^uoto -qjiis i^nn nooiCno >[xit3jp Xq\\% (9Sx.xdj9^no .xraq^ jo ^xxo 9|qi3.moAi3j 0 1 14 04 st? ftxit3px^i3xxt .xx9T^ pe^nsnoo ^sjxj SnxA-gq i spSoss'B pxit3 8AV0([ '«avo»tjx3 pgnoexod xim^ 'sqnp oaxssx?xxi .TX9q^ q^TAV p9xxuy \ii3x\i e.Tt3xoop 01 p9Xirouax A^xioxoxuns 9xxi^09q snoxsstid xiQi{% pq^ A',m() n.uq.w '..p. > jo qoBQJJjpoos jo uopippt; oxft qjiiAi 'snmoqj, Isi '•! Siopio JQJS&Ol Qipj (<> ouios Xr[ posi'jottjd ri Suiqi ouius oq^m^ puis si u # j?UI5[OB.IO 'l^OJ ptTB 'lOO| SM{ l[4TAV qiJX?9 ;>X[1 ^QnJlS 'OSOI 9T{ X[OU[M. ttodti 'ajnqs siq paqsraij uoos [usp •jjoiJuiihdsxj «rravr) ,io poS aqj pun oAaxxaq 01 uosn.u AJ.>A0 SJ O.I.HfJj ■lUOt(| .TOj pajnd -o.td aaaq pnq ;nqi jjb jo qsndaj ^na| -pOXQ Tin optrai (jTAep ptlU JOl.TOp Jo) \n,iuA <>\[i 'yaQiywl siq paino .ftuiAnjj ■.i.uiunixi OTTIOB 0l[l A'[.ll!.)U .fyio.id III q?TBJ UAVO Bll[ jo s.iossajojd A"q opmu so.mo SIH)[llD1MTin JO ^SOTf OJOqAi aqi U.JlloS -.[Of OAnq 09 BTXtedS OT[AV 'jaj.miojq.) pp> |ioo5? oqi sppi; 'A'lqnaj III linqi UOI^B -in.ftinui XlQVfi qSnojqi o.xom cp9I9A099J BjuefiBd Jiaq; jo aubui ^iu[? 'raei[^ m paanid q^inj oqi sttAi xiang -pairnuixa ptjq Aoqi prrcs A\iqi qottjAV tuotda aqi dn Avojqi 04 osnoq aq; SuTAnaj 'ijnd p.ilOOJJB aqi p.>>[;>HS KOlUt^GUIOS A9t[j; ,Y/unuT BtTfjo asnno ox[\ su.u unq peraiofnt a7ot[i qotqii, •i[4i1u,i[ s4JaSuu v, mtij 1 9J0ta jo *pooA\ jo sjaiuqds pun 'qiaa; s^ttedJOB 'ouoq jo B93aid SB s^oeCqo tpne Apoq siq jo s^tud !iuojejjip raojj iieip Aoqi 'sixopiaBJixu o.ioui pris jnaddn saox:injado Jjaq; 93ibtu oj^ ■^I Uodn AjlXia^l poT[;U9jq pUU 'ijnd paiOTIIJB aqi .X9A0 R9TUXipU9Ae8 spuxiq Jiaqi passBd pun 'p95p>.qs 'pgqqxx.x 'piat^d oq^ poq.>uo.xddxj pA9p jo poS (papuopjd) pun ^soud o\[\ uaq; 'iou jt :niq i o;tjj sjq 04 ijaj pux» pguopnxiqx? suav qo;9.iA\ lood oq^ pnu [ttoisioep sixj xuo.xj [ueddn OB sl'.u «).ioq^ 'AYunxdo.xd siq }iio a'j.iim 01 ao^iaq -eq^ ji bu 'pxttj 'o« pius uq 'oxp 04 petiEipep ojoav uuxxt 3[0TS eq^ ji '^qq jo poj[sn sij.vv ;in[j ]pj 01 'aoxoA irnn^xp pxixi .xx?ap v. 111 popxiodsG.x ax[ (pa^!.9o.xjaini ifxixeq xiq •mxq oi pa.ixi9S9.xd ai9AS. sSni.xajjo pni? '>[aomtxiBq xxo^oa u in paox}[d sxiAV oq 'raox^ Sixoxiix! oann.xuaddx? sxq no (^m\% 9^19!1S of spoa.m.id o.x^xaj^ xx(j -aaxxa.xojjxp xjainu apnra 9Auq ^on ppioa qqSq n jo (pmu uq; 'spAop jo spoS Smeq inq 'sn o; a\i91sA'tu n si Qmy\ siq) pu a9s o; poSxjxiBUi Xaqf mojj -Xppuassn «iqi jo 9^U90 .>![} ui ix[Sij (mofjq mo.ij utxtoo xtqq 05[nxtx XSjix^nmnnx^ xuapotn jo sjsaud xno) snoi[ aq; pe.T9^U9 ax[ 'paqspitf uiixa .Sinaq XjaA^q •. ut p9Ai[ pnq £qt$ Qmi% ^q^ 04. (Iq -suosaod pejpunq xisi9A0 pe.ioq -muu uoi^pidod oq4 Qfg\ oq4 nj \T9qd04suqQ jo ptnqsi oq.j mojj seeSnjo.i qonej^ niu^ioo Ä*q peinof nooq pnq oqAY 'qsq-oii^ pun q>4UQ oq'| jo uoxssessod ui snAi xtojq *4g ££91 04 joud siuoa* Auniu .ioj 4nq4 s£os oqAi '9^14.19 ^ uq iCq pora.iuuoo Äj^xud st oq siq4 ui puu (fJZ9l nI XIOJ0 °} 9111130 q^II^a Pur? qo^CT ©qi^q^ so^a -l-'s^ipuj ^S9AV Qq4 jo £iO}.siq Sut^S0vT8;ut srq ui 'spxBAipg; un\Ci£[ 'xio.i;j *4& jo J9A94uqAi Suiq^ou jnaq 9A\ 959 [ jvoJi. 9q4 ^14 91U14 sit[4 uio.ij •mudg 04 soAt-jdua Jiaq4 poLixuo oqxW ^19441?]; 91J4 A~q opiiui 9J9AV sdauosi.ul pjOAog -spjutuudg 9q4 jo ouo pun qixuQ n jo q4X?9p 9q4 ui po4pS9J ipiqAi 'ui9q4 q4iAV qsiiiLip[s n 04m 40S Ä\)q4 gjojoq Suoj 4011 suav 41 4U({ £A4qn4idsoq quuQ 911.14 q4iAi sjojins oq4 p9woo[9AV Aevfi. 'posodsip Ajqnoonod 4SJU 4y '/ry Ry pinqsi oi[4 pgjjno soAijnu oqj^ -a^iuioia 841 ,10 'oorjj 040:0^ uiojj ti9>|U4 uaoq piji[ oi[AA 's^uuAVOtidy o^quoonod ojoui aq4 <ö9Ai4dno 9J9A1 iu9i[4 Suouty 'ö9i4isii9doj[d pqiuuuo *ii9q4 uio.ij t/seqw-BQ pa[{Bo Aai[4 uioqAi puu adiioppun-T) ui U99S puq oq os*oq4 04 .lujxtuis suuipuj AC[ YJ94iqi?qui 41 punoj 9q \i94UAV uru4qo 04 9J9q4 Snuoqouy 'C6^l q4 no ^oSnXoA u,i94S9Ai puooos siq uo snqiunpQ Aq po.i9AOOsip suai pun ^ v/qoiAiU99ir) jo 'AV. /H o^9 opii4iSiuq ui puu ''^ /tZ£ ,ff 0ll 9pu4i4Bj m saq 'x[ojo *4S 10 'zlhl0 jo aKYrI8I •^yoraoxsiH— 'XIO^TO "XS 'IXX miJAYBO oATRTipxo 'so^ttjan. if\ Ttooq 0AV,i[ 09. pres rt noi^tqndod ot[^ 909 x nj •uayo.tq qouo.Tjj oq:j 09. poxouin? mvSv, si?ay putqRi ot$ 'ptpo ^Xo^j Xq pQApssip uooq SutA'eq Xnx?dnioo RTO H9I nT t)in3 'i^I^W J° *T0PJ0 0lD- m0tIJ 'pinqst 0Ift posT?qOciiuI XutJdraoQ T3Tpii]; ^eo^ pouuoj: Xpviou t? '£991 nj -s^mojoo jo ^uour -ooiiqjntej jreq^oire q^iAY ^Rod Biq (4 potun^ea: oq 'X991 uj \T9qdo^8TjqQ '^g oq. iLnvp.i poSqqo rt?ai oq 'xiojq *qg in spis Sinxp^ *^0ItI°rI °1) •«uoj\[ iCq XToiQ *;g jo joiltoaq*) po^inodd-e Rim biojj n(j juotsuoj\[ u 6991 llI jo s^qStux etpj. oa xnixeiAi -qg pur? Avouiojoqixna; •lg '.Toqdo^suqQ -qg q^TAV 'xiojq -qg pojJOjsut?jq. AIX smorj '^£91 nI •A^uodsoid jo O'^ir i{Stt[ 1? p9qot?oj Aiicqoo oqq o.tojoq Suoj 'ion sum. put? 'op^ioj Aqqypg.ioni ouxnooq pojr?op pt?q X'ox^ qoiqAV SpUnCXTS 9q^ '[TOR UI&ITA 1? JO BOSt^TrnApH Oq^ q^TAV pitU MU'lfip.C v qons •T0PU£L *PURFI 0II^ J° noT^AT^no pnx? ^louioAOJdxni oqq. oc). jCS.touo i^tav ftOApsoioq^ poqdd^ put? ojoqs no peiun^oj Xoqq. 'poqsraSnTpG) o.toav Rouren oqq. si? tioor sy "noi^tuStqiuoo ^rxja stq^ jo sjo^oods oureooq A'oq-j 'sdiqR aipqq. jo pxeoq no oSnjo.T Sni^jj -spooAY oq^ o^ o.ni ^or oq potnuue^ep Xeq^ 'joaoj puupra uiojj jequmii *noqq jo p.xoAos jo bro[ oq^uoimq o'j pt?q noos oqAY 'sjojonbnoo Aiott oq^ o^ .Sutao.kT noT^e^OA osuop oq^ raodj Sutslto s.modi?A snouosxod otf j, '^[^pjoquii X.T^)A 90TT9nT)OBUO0 T? ST3 ptlt3 CS^S9.I0J UT qOTJ TTOq^ RUAV pUiqsr Oq^ •ooi^[ o^joj doj Tn9qq. uoatS U99q puq qonpvv pssoA 1? m pe^J^qmo ptra 'oST?SSi3q ptro sui.ti} Ji9q^ q^TAV ^.ioj oq^ Siuavqi (po%v.\ -n^idt?o q^Sn9{ 'qougj^ 9q^ jo q^Sue.i^s oq^ Siita\oui[ pu 'fip.i'BTnudg oqjj '^toj oq^ p9^9TS9q ^xtojq *^g< ^v, Sutat.ui3 'qoiqAV 'Tiu^Sri'B^ op 'H J9ptm ttOT^Tp9dxe ub ^uos oq ^TioniSpnC ^x?9jS q^iAi 8Hi3xd siq %\XlKw± 'pUTipT 9q^ JO nOTSS9SSOd 0% p9IIIin.T9^9p 'S9TPHJ ^so^V T[°u9iTiO[ J9A0 'ne-O-^tioirj pnx? stuqo£ jo ^qSnix 'iCouioj; *op X({ p9HJ9A0^ uoq^ 'R^qdo^RixqQ -^g ^ qoi^.T^p 9q^ 9qsqdinoooTj tttj onrcooq soipnj ;so^ tjsititj(j oq; ni poatjjs oq; jo noT;TjdtoxiTjni9 oq; ;xnj; 'irera jposnqij-qonm pm? ojqi?5[.TT3moj siq; jo noT;T5.i;sTniTTjpTj oq; Snunp stjav ;j * '8t>81 °^ tio;joqog hoa \j juiono^-jofrj]^ 'Xj;stjj pnrj 'LZm (n q;ounoj)Ji?g; jTjjmipy 'e;e;8I °? ^VWK J0P™n Jm. -tttoq '0^81 °^ P'WS ;nTjno;ii9Fj[ £g x 8 1 °^ ^roznog; JOjjiotmoQ wMQ '9[gj o; 'nqoqxQ jr?j9Ti9r)-joCnj\[ (ejgj zuoA oq; mo.ij ';noin -iijOAor) oq; jo px?oq oq; ;tj XjOAissooons poo;s a\oii puq H[^[aH '8f"8I — SHTAVIg HTHX .TO XOIX05ra«nSiII EUJj TLYOIHOXSIH— 'XIOTO *XS iixx HarxcTYiio 12G LEAFLETS FROM TEE DANISH WEST INDIES. MAJOR-GENERAL P.. VON SCHOLTEN. his pages. We prefer, however, to give the statements which have been placed at our disposal, of those who were active participants and whose knowledge of the events which took place would he more accu rate from this very fact. Apologising for any changes or curtailments we have felt called upon to make in order to suit the character of the present work, we shall now present to the reader Stadtiiauptmand Chamberlain" von Sciiolten's Narrative. In the week that preceded the 3rd July, 1848, I was confined to my bed with a rheumatic swelling in my right hand. On Sunday the 2nd July I felt a little better, and could more or less use the hand. On the afternoon of that day I received a visit from one of our most respectable planters. In the course of our conversation, he told mo that there were strange reports in circulation concerning the negroes, who, it was said, were to refuse to go to work on the next day, and to demand their freedom. He could not assign any further grounds for these reports than hearsay. Being accustomed to hear of war and revolu tion in Europe, as well as disturbances and riot in the French islands, from the fact of the majority in this little place, Frederiksted, seeking to make up for the monotony of their existence by spreading and listening to all sorts of idle rumours and scandals, this information made no further impression upon me. I bade him, in the meantime, ST. CKOIX. — HISTORICAL. 1^/ to acquaint the commander of the fort, and the policomaster with what he had. heard, and promised any self to inform my brother, the Governor-General, as soon as he arrived herein the "Orneri," abrig- ot'-war, which was momentarily expected. At about eight o'clock in the evening my physician came to attend to me, and he spoke of the alarming reports that were in circulation. As lie appeared to bo somewhat concerned about the matter, I remonstrated with him and spoke of the evil of spreading such reports, which, if unfounded, might awaken ideas among the slaves which it was to the interest of every one to prevent. Not that I feared that they would be disposed to violence or riot. They had been generally well treated and were apparently satisfied. About nine o'clock, I received a message that the Governor-General had arrived in Christiansted, and that his carriage which stood in my yard was to go up there, but as it was late, I gave orders to the coachman to wait until next day. In the meantime I went to bed. A short time after my servant told me that there must be fire in the country as the bells were being rung and shells blown. As this is the customary manner of giving notice of such, the thought of anything unusual did not occur to me. And as I could see no sign of any fire from my house, which is built on an elevation, I concluded that it was upon a distant estate, and again sought refuge in sleep. This lasted but a short time, when I was once again aroused by a loud knocking at my gate. Opening the window, I immediately recognized the voice of the Brandmajor commanding in Frederiksted, he told me that the negroes in the country were rioting and desired their freedom, and that was the reason why the bell-ringing and blowing of shells were to be heard. We then spoke about the plan of action we should adopt, and whether the alarm gun should be fired or the Brand corps and Militia should be called out. The Major having stated that the negroes were committing no excesses and only making a disturbance, I looked upon this as a good sign, for when one has evil designs he rarely makes a noise, but generally proceeds to action at once. Nevertheless, it was a doubtful point with me whether I, as Stadthauptmand, would be justified in firing the alarm, the militia law not stating anything definite or to the point as to who should give such an order. On the other hand, my authority only extended over the militia. Over the Fort from which the alarm gun should be fired I had no command whatsoever. There were many considerations which induced me to proceed with caution in the matter. To have fired the alarm would have been equivalent to placing the island in a state of siege. The power to do this rested only with the Governor. Moreover, such an act would have summoned the whole of the white population into town, away from their estates, leaving 128 LEAFLETS FilOM THE DANTSTT WEST INDIES. thoir wives, children and old women in the power of the negroes. With no one to check them, had excesses been committed, how blanieable it would have been to have acted so precipitately. I was confirmed in this opinion by a planter and military officer, who shared my views on the subjoct. The officer remarking that: " Should the negroes be intent on evil, they could easily prevent isolated members of the militia from coming in, and should the opposite be the case, he saw no reason for calling them from their estates, where they might by thoir presence be able to check violence and plunder." The policemaster —Andresen — coincided with these views, observing: "Let us not by hasty proceedings provoke the negroes. The bell-ringing and noise do not indicate that they are intent upon violence. We must proceed with caution if we do not desire to see things worse." These words from one who had a large experience of the character of the negro, carried weight with most of us. The opinion has since been expressed on more than one occasion, that the Brand corps, which was composed of free coloured people, should have been called out, but from prudential motives it was deemed advisable to limit their action until absolutely necessary. I shall now attempt to picture the events which followed. About two o'clock a.m., eight or ten mounted militiamen came in from the country and informed me that the condition was such as the earlier reports had stated. That there were noisy demonstrations and disorder, but nowhere had actual violence been committed. These gentlemen had left behind them thoir wives, mothers and children, so to speak, in the power of the negroes, without the least fear that they would be exposed to any kind of danger. They came to inquire if the alarm gun had been fired, and if such were the case, to meet as accustomed. I explained to them that the gun had not been fired, as it was not considered prudent to call them away at such a moment from their property, where they could best work to preserve order. They therefore returned to their homes. At four o'clock a.m., I sent off my brother's carriage to Christiansted, and by same opportunity a letter in which I described to him the condition of things in Frederiksted. At the same time expressing the hope that order and quiet might be restored by representations and negotiations. At seven o'clock in the morning, the negroes streamed into the town in large numbers. Shortly afterwards it was reported to mo that the police office was being plundered and demolished. The second Brand officer, who was with mo, after expressing the opinion that it was in no way advisable to call out the corps, undertook with some of the best disposed of his men to assist in the keeping of order. And it is but fair to say, that it was owing to the activity and repre sentations of the free coloured men that more violence was not ST. CROIX .—I IIST OIUCA L. 129 committed. Only three houses being plundered and wrecked. At a bout this time a negro came crying to me and begged me to write a letter to the Governor-General asking that he would come down to Froderiksted as soon as possible, so that by his presence he might save the town from further molestation. With this I joyfully complied, beseeching my brother not to delay, as only he would be able to quiet the negroes. In the meantime the Brand major had narrowly escaped with his life. Riding into town from his estate he was attacked by the negroes, a negro woman striking at his neck with an axe, which fortunately glanced off without injuring him. To show that he intended them no harm, he threw away his sword, exclaiming : " Take my life, if that can satisfy you, I come not as an enemy, but as a friend ! " With these words they seemed impressed, and allowed him to pass on his way. A crowd of negroes now came shouting and yelling up the street, and stood in front of my residence, demanding that I should proclaim their immediate freedom. Representing to them how wrongly they had acted by destroying and plundering, I advised them to keep quiet until the Governor- General arrived, as he alone could satisfy their demands. Seeing that they were now more peaceable, I went to the Fort, where several of the inhabitants of the town had assembled. These were most restless, not to say unreasonable. Some thought that to save the town from further disturbance, I should, in the Governor-General's name, have declared the negroes free, but, as, in my opinion, I had no such power, I could not, nor would not, take it upon myself to do so. Nevertheless, it was the opinion of every one that only the prompt emancipation of the slaves would save the island from further destruction. And now a considerable number of negroes had assembled together in the Fort yard. They cried and shouted, demanded their freedom, and called on the soldiers to fire upon them. This the commander of the Fort had some difficulty in preventing. Many who were present begged him also not to do so, as the town would surely be burnt to ashes. Of this there could not be any doubt, as near by, behind a corner house, which could not be com manded by the guns of the Fort there were several negro women gathered together with " trash " or dry cane leaves, which, at the first shot from the Fort, it was arranged they should light and throw into the doors and windows. The fire would thus have spread quickly through the town, as the houses were mostly deserted, and there was no one to check it. With a view of quieting the threatening multi tude, I Avent among them, accompanied by the Catholic priest* and a few of the bravest of the inhabitants. The priest, whose influence was very great, spoke to them, admonishing and exhorting them to be * Father O'Ryan. K 130 LEAFLETS EllOM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. quiet. On the other hand, on my addressing myself to one who appeared to be a leader of them, I received the following reply : "Massa, we poor negroes cannot fight with the soldiers, as we have no guns, but we can burn and destroy if we do not get our freedom, and that is what we intend to do." It was rumoured in the Fort that the negroes intended to storm it, and for that reason had procured an English flag, which they regarded as the symbol of freedom. I myself saw the flag in the crowd, and nearing the flag-bearer after some difficulty, I asked the young negro why he did not carry the Danish instead of the English flag, to which he answered : " Any flag is good on such an occasion." But on my speaking further he seemed visibly embarrassed, and moved away among the crowd. About ten o'clock a.m. a great noise was heard in the upper part of the town. Some said it was the Governor- General, but it turned out to bo the Stadthauptmand of Christiansted, Oberst de Nully, and the Governor-General's adjutant. The Oberst stepped out of the carriage and spoke to the crowd, which was so dissatisfied that the Governor-General had not come himself that they would not listen to him. Suddenly there was a great move ment among them, and with repeated cries of " Moore ! " " Moore ! " they rushed down the Strand-street. Here the infuriated mob com menced immediately to plunder and destroy Merchant Moore's store and residence. Mr. Moore himself sought refuge on board one of the vessels in the harbour. The cause of this unexpected outbreak is said to have been brought about by Mr. Moore's carelessly speaking to the negroes, who understood that he would request the garrison of the Fort to shoot them down. This would have been an easy matter, for it was quite possible to sweep the street with a couple of field guns from the water battery and the Fort gate ; but the commander of the Fort was besought not to fire for fear that in their desire for revenge the negroes would burn down the town and destroy every white person who might fall into their hands. Besides, as the actually guilty ones were in Mr. Moore's house, plundering, only innocent people who were in the street would have been killed. Several sailors from the English vessels in the harbour were now to be seen among the excited people, encouraging them by words and actions. And particularly conspicuous upon the wharf were several water casks belonging to these vessels, on which was written in large letters — " Liberty." It is worthy of remark, in contrast to these proceedings, that the free coloured population did their utmost to prevent the negroes from breaking into the houses and warehouses in the vicinity. Most of the whites were now either on board the vessels or in hiding. About this time a negro appeared upon the scene, who seemed to be in command of the immense concourse of people which filled the street. This was Buddhoe, or, as he was called later on, General Bourdeaux ST. CROIX.—HISTORICAL. 131 About three o'clock p.m., the Governor-General arrived, accompa nied by Kammer junker Upper Court Assessor Eothe. The General stepped out near the Fort, wont in among the crowd and declared the negroes to be free. He then requested Kammerjunker Eothe, and, as far as I can remember, Major G-yllich, the Brand major, to see that the negroes left the town, which these gentlemen soon accomplished. Later on a detachment of troops arrived from Christiansted, and at five o'clock p.m. the Governor- Gen oral returned to Christiansted, after having ordered the cavalry, which had recently arrived, to go back again. First Lieutenant v Holstein, with two pieces of cannon and forty men, remained over night in the Fort. The brig-of-war "Ornen," Captain Irmmger, arrived in the harbour shortly before sunset. The night passed quietly enough, though fires illuminated the hills of the north side. On Tuesday, the 4th of July, a number of negroes were seen on the road leading to the North side, and it was feared that, should they enter the town, it would doubtless result in bloodshed or incendiarism. In order to prevent this, Major Gyllich rode out among them, and, by repeated assurances that they wore now free and would not be brought back to slavery again, succeeded in inducing them to return to their homes. At the same time he persuaded the negro Buddhoe to accompany him to town, a wise move, for it was through this negro's influence over them that order and quiet were restored to this part of the island. In the mean time, Kammerjunker Eothe arrived from Christiansted, whence he had started in the morning with a number of printed copies of the pro clamation of freedom. Shortly after his arrival, three expeditions were organised to make their contents known among the negroes. Kam merjunker Eothe, the Vice- Brand major and myself proceeding to the North side estates, the Catholic priest O'Eyan, and a prominent planter, to Annally and Spring Garden, while Major Gyllich, Buddhoe, or General Bourdeaux* and two of the most respectable free coloured burghers went to the South side. The company in which I found myself arrived first at estate " La Grange." We had little difficulty in getting the negroes together, who stood around our carriage as Kammerjunker Eothe read out and explained the proclamation to them. Continuing our road, we came to estate " Northside," where we met the owner and his family who had remained there- during the whole tumult. They told us that during the forenoon of the same day, they had been attacked by the negroes from the neighbouring estate of "Ham's Bay," who under the pretext of wanting to take the overseer's weapons from him, attempted to force the dwelling house. The negroes of the estate defended them and prevented the intended violence. From that * He had obtained this brilliant military title on account of his fantastic attire. K 2 132 LEAFLETS rilOM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. place we went to " Ham's Bay," where we found it difficult to collect the negroes, who had forced the owner and his family to take flight in a fishing boat shortly before. After having restored something like order among them, we returned to Frederiksted. The expedition in charge of Major Gyllich, after visiting twenty odd estates reached as far as "La Heine." Mr. Beech read the proclamation on each of them. On the road they learned that there was a large gathering at estate ' ' Slob,' ' which had been doing a great deal of plundering and destruction. Though Buddhoe declared that he did not know the negroes on that part of the island, and it was remarked that estate " Slob " was outside of West End jurisdic tion, Major Gyllich decided to go there, being under the impression that he might prevent further troubles. Going up the hill towards " Slob," they met a man named " Martin King," chief of the " fleet," as they called this meeting. This negro who was half drunk and riding a white horse, and who seemed to be a leader among the crowd which they encountered, upon understand ing the object of the expedition, after a great deal of outrageous and foolish talk yielded to the representations of the Major, and by the influence he seemed to wield over the rest of his comrades, was of great assistance in restoring order among them. After visiting'- estates "La Heine " and " Mount Pleasant," the major and his party returned to Frederiksted. On Tuesday and Wednesday several j>ianters with their families, came into town, and sought refuge on board the ships in the harbour. The owner of the estate "Negro Bay," with twenty or thirty other managers and overseers also came in. An error which resulted in his estate being plundered. By this time prisoners were being continu ally brought in. The negroes bringing them in themselves. To this. Buddhoe mainly contributed. On Thursday morning at four o'clock a considerable force consisting of two cannon, infantry and cavalry under the command of Captain v Oastonier left the town. In the meantime the Fort was garrisoned from the brig-of-war. Though this, expedition met with no opposition, it served a good purpose, as from that time perfect quiet and order were brought about. Passing over the concluding remarks of Chamberlain v Scholten which have reference, merely, to some incorrect reports afterwards set afloat concerning the authorities and the circumstances which impelled them to temporize with the negroes, we come to the narrative of Chamberlain Irminger. This gentleman, who was afterwards presented with an address and a sword of honour in a golden scabbard, was at that time captain of the brig-of-war " Ornen." His statement is concise and to the point, and an impartial picture of the events which took place. CHAPTER XXIII. ST. CROIX.—HISTORICAL. Chamberlain Irminger's Account of the Insurrection in 1848. FTEB, a stay of several days in the island of St. Thomas, Governor-General v Scholten sailed in the forenoon of the 2nd faf?^ July, 1848, for St. Croix, in the brig-of-war " Ornen," which I commanded. " About four o'clock in the afternoon we anchored in Bassin (Christiansted), suspecting nothing of the row which the negroes intended to make. The General dined with me. At sunset he landed in order to proceed to Biilowsminde, and as he heard that I intended to have the ship painted, he invited me to pass the time at his beautiful country scat. About 10 o'clock, p.m. we retired to rest. The 3rd July, at about two o'clock in the morning, I was awakened by the General's servant with a request that I would come to the General as quickly as pos sible. I immediately repaired to his presence and found him already dressed. He then showed me a report from the Chief Commander of the Fort in West End (Frederiksted), Capt. v Castonier, which stated that the negroes were restless at that part of the island—that bells were being rung on the estates —and they were sounding the alarm on their shells (conchshells). "When I had read the report, the Governor- General said : u What is now to be done ? " To this I answered that I thought the best thing to do was to seek as quickly as possible to smother the disturbance at its birth, because every minute now lost would lend additional strength to the disturbers of the peace. It was my impression that twenty to thirty armed men should immediately be sent on horseback to West End in order to scatter the negroes apart. The Governor remarking that he could not dispose of such a force, I replied that I did not think it would be so difficult to get such a number of mounted militia collected from the nearest estates. 134 LEAFLETS PROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. In the meantime, the General's horses were saddled and we now both rode, accompanied by a mounted servant, down to the Govern ment house in Bassin. The night was a starry one and the weather exceedingly fine. We stopped now and then on the tops of the different hills which we rode over to listen if we could not hear the blowing of shells or any shouting. But all was hushed, and we heard only the rustling of the cocoa-nut palm leaves moved by the trade wind. As soon as we arrived in town, messages were sent to Major v Ealbe, who was Chief of the Fort in Bassin, Major v Geillerup, who lived in the barracks, Oberst de Nully, Major Keutsch and others. We now spoke of what was to be done. I still maintained that action should be taken immediately and that if the cavalry force which I had asked for could not be got, which I could by no means admit, other military must immediately be sent to West End. I fur thermore said to the General that I would go on board to let the men that could be dispensed with get ready to land, and, at the same time, get the brig ready for sea so as to be able to leave for West End by daybreak, if ordered. The General requested me to remain a little longer in the Government House so as to avoid making any disturb ance in town where all was still and quiet. The conference ended, I believe, in Major Keutsch' s coachman being sent towards West End for more information as to how it stood with the island. It was now nearly five o'clock in the morning. The time passed and nothing was done. I believed I knew the negro character, and that the riot could have been smothered at the beginning by decisive action. Seeing that my presence at Government House was of no further use, I told the General that I would now go on board, so that I could get the brig ready for sea, and to send armed men on shore, if required. This I did, and awaited the General's order. To my surprise I received none whatsoever, and about eight o'clock a.m. I again went on shore. There I was informed that Oberst de Nully and Lieutenant v Meincke had been sent to West End. I also found some soldiers drawn up and ready to set out, though I after wards learned, with orders not to go further than King's Hill (an estate in the middle of the island.) Interrogating the General as to whether the brig should not sail to West End, I received the answer that she might be possibly required in Bassin, and I would receive further orders. In Bassin, everything was quiet, and I began to believe that the whole affair did not mean much. Indeed, scarcely any one seemed to have any knowledge of it. I then informed tho General that every thing was ready as well for sea, as to send men ashore, and should the General have anything to order, I could be found in the Athenseum : a reading room nearly opposite the Government House. About one o'clock p.m., Lieutenant v Meincke arrived from West End and ST. OEOIX.—HISTORICAL. 135 reported the state of affairs. He brought at the same time informa tion that the negroes wanted to speak to the G-overnor-G-eneral himself. General v Scholten had the horses immediately put to, taking Kammerjunker Rothe with him into the carriage to drive to Frederiksted. This man, from what I had heard, had been always an advocate for the emancipation of the negroes. Before the General drove off, I requested a decided order from him as to whether I should remain lying in Bassin or depart for West End. After some reflection, he gave me the order. With this I left for that place. On my arrival, and immediately after having anchored, the " Omen's " boats were armed, and I went ashore. The King's Wharf was full of negroes, and everything was in disorder. Accom panied by some of my armed men, I went to the Fort. By the entrance to same, I met General v Scholten in his carriage ; he was just ready to drive back to Bassin. I reported my arrival, and asked for orders. The General's answer was : "I have given Emancipation. Eemain here with the ' Ornen.' " This was the last order I received froru him, and I did not see him again before my arrival in Denmark in the following year. In the Fort I spoke with Captain v Castonier, and shortly after, I sent, according to agreement with him, an officer with about fifty men as a reinforcement as well as for patroling. This detachment remained ashore some time. "By this time nearly all the estate negroes had left the town. Still everything was in the greatest confusion. Town-Bailiff Andresen's house and Police- Assistant Didrichsen's were entirely wrecked by the negroes. A Mr. Moore's house and store had' suffered to the extent of 20,000 dollars. Several lesser excesses had been committed, and armed negroes were seen off and on riding through the streets at a gallop. Most of the whites had fled to vessels lying in the harbour, of which the "Johann Marie" had over two hundred fugitives on board. On the night of our arrival, fires illumined different parts of the island." * As everything was yet in the greatest confusion, and deeming it of the utmost importance to bring about order, Yice-Stadthauptmand F. v Scholten, the commander of the Fort, Captain Castonier, Police- master Ogaard and myself, assembled, and after due deliberation, issued the following order :— " It is hereby made known, for the information of everyone con cerned, that in case the country people should come to town in a riotous way and threaten to attack the Fort, or otherwise to disturb the inhabitants, then, and in such case, where more than ten people * Extract from Captain Irminger's Report to the Minister of Marine. Des patched 12th July, 1848. po^iqilO.TIO S13Ai ^JOcTOtT 13 '.I9}J13 .£{8^UTp9TnUT£ 'AjqUA'CO tq^ITUU JO ^119111 -qo^op n q^TAY uissrag; uiojj peAixre spittf^ ^ireura^wj >iy noon ^y A''jlIOA08 oq. ifyxiS raOJJ piI13 'lI9lU98JOq jfylOJ OJ p9^UriOIttt3 9UOp3 90.10 J J0^13J Oqj, M9TU0^S'0Q A UW^dvQ JO pTOUtUIOO 9T$ J9pilll JJO p9qO.IT3HI 'so^so jo s.iqSi3ubtii piii3 [ jnq '9pIood X.i^unoo oq^ q^TAv odojjo^in o^ ^ou pojxs9p 9.ioj9J9q^ o.r\{ s^n^iquqiii 9|qi390i39(I py u-u9iltq,, juAV-jo-SLiq scA^s9l!i3j\[ siq 08|1? 81? [uop9J£ „ •sj9^oio; 9q^ Suipuoqojddx? pui? jop.iosip Suqpub ui soi^ijoq^ni? oq^ ^sissi? o^ uodn po^o 9.113 s^ui^iq-ttqui p9sod8ipqpAi ptre oyqi? -90B9d i\y *^oqs X^uu^sui pire 'sjo^olt «u q^iAV ^^i39p 9q f^iAi 'sosodjnd ^U9pTA JO "[13^0^1 JOJ ^UITIiqtUOO .I9UIll?UI JOq^O III JO 'SOI^LIOq^Tl'B eqi Suisoddo suos.iod jo uosjgd ^iid ^q^ pg^Spituojd ,Cq9J9q si ^1 ^uuq pui? pu^q oS "[^m jopjo pui3 ^iJBjnSoj ^x?q^ p9uii?^j9^uo 9q ubo 9doq 9q^ 90ti9piA9 ^soiu uiojj si? pui? ^pexpqqu^so-aj: oq o^ poououimoo si?q oq^ o^ oougipgqo puu jopjo ^uq^ p9UJi?9j 9Ai?q uoipipsijnC stq^ jo s^u'B^iq'nqut 9q^ ^T3q; uoipi?jsi^8 ^soui^n oq^ q^iAi st ^j,, — : ua\oui[ 9pi3m uoq^ 9^\\ 'iiomiD 'aamsioxsYO 'aa-ONiwai *o 'MaiTOHOS \i„ '8^81 ^Frq^o cp9^[iJ9p9J£ „ M9q^jnj ]i^uti ^ot? 0; po^quiossx? QA^q ^o^-fd 91^ ui X^uoq^n'B ^seqSiq oq^ 'pouSis -aepiin eq^ '9A\ ^p^ipouiuii p'B o^ uoipipsijnf sxq^ in uoqpqoj oj^on ^uoso.id eq^ Sutjnp Xit?ssoo9ii j9aoojoiu si si? put? 'suoponj^sni q^iA\ 881 ST. CROIX . HISTO K ICAL . 139 were already in Christiausted. The Governor-General had asked for this assistance from Porto Rico. As an instance of General Prim's* customary activity it should he mentioned that this fine body of men 580 all told, with cannon, and 30,000 cartridges were got ready and put to sea five hours after he had received the letter of the Governor- General. This prompt action and the fact that the insurrection had been repressed in the eastern and western parts of the island, con tributed much to allay the fears of the inhabitants, and to inspire confidence. On the 9th Chamberlain Oxholm came to West End and took over the Governor-General's affairs. In the meantime the coun try was quiet, and the negroes had returned to work on a few of the estates. By this time several of the rioters had been tried by court- martial and shot. Omitting, as superfluous, some remarks of the Chamberlain depre catory of the supinoness of the Government in quelling the riot, and its want of energy on so trying an occasion, we pass to the concluding portion of his narrative. " From the reports it will be seen that Kammer junker Rothe was sent as a sort of commissioner to Frederiksted, in order to proclaim the new Government established in Bassin. As I had already agreed with Captain v Castonier, to take over the command of the Fort with my men, while he undertook a march into the country with the military, I protested against subjecting myself to this Government, because — 1. I assumed after the account that Lieutenant Frank had given me, that General v Scholten was not so sick but that he could have signed an order to me. 2. There were in the new Government several names almost unknown to me. 3. Kammer j linker Rothe did not produce anything in writing, either from General v Scholten, the existing Government, or the other two Government Councillors, Kunzen and Petersen, concerning this newly appointed Government Commission. I, therefore, considered it my duty not to submit myself blindly to the command of this Commission, especially as the report said that the Governor- Gen era! had been deposed. When Captain Castonier returned in the afternoon, I in formed him of my protest. He fully concurred in my views. The other authorities in Frederiksted followed our example, and although Vice-Stadthauptmand, Chamberlain F. v Scholten, hesitated, he still signed the measures we took to restore order and quiet." On the 12th July I despatched my report from West End to St. Thomas to leave by the Packet for Europe. It bears that day's date. Written during the actual occurrence of the riots, it contains *Thon Captain-General of Porto Rico. 140 LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. my views respecting the events as they then appeared to nie. I hav6 seen no reason to change them. I never imagined that General v Scholten would leave the island, which, as is known, happened imme diately after ; consequently, my report arrived home with the same Packet on which he took passage. On the 24th July I left West End to be on hand to assist in St. Thomas. The 6th September I received orders to come with the " Ornen " to Bassin as quickly as possible, as riots had occurred, and it was not desirable, except absolutely necessary, to use the Spaniards. The Fort in Bassin was now reinforced by men from the " Ornen, " because, as is known, tho Government had given way to the Brand corps and discharged the energetic Police-master Erederiksen. '.Coi^ su pui? i o.mujuodd-u .uoqj ,qmui puq sooxSou puusnoqj oav; }noqu jo cIoo.t; i? %vtx$ p9).iodo.i Avon tinp^iiQopj ^uiuio^noirj -tu.uqu oqj po.iq Aqo^uipdmuu oq 'opmu U99q puq spu^rf uu .oiii.iU9j puu 'uavo^ oqi jo oomu^uo luoq^xon oqj uouuuo jo Suuu oq^ Suijuoq yim -^t ouod^s-od o; .i9qjouu uoijuooxa sji jo *pioTuora oi[j ^u ^souqu peAtoooj oq '.t.quo siqj ^no Aj.iuo o; 3popto uoaos ^sud-jpiq ]i^m .SupruAA^ ^qSiu }i? uavoj 9T[| pg^o.id oj ui^im oq-) jo gprqAV. oi]^ ui \\vo o^ os 'm.iTqu v>q; 9Jn oj poAuqp U9qj stuv .xootuo siqjj *jo poAO.iddi? o.toay ipnpw 'uo^tty puq gq s'TroT;m?09.i(I oq} jtuou9£) oip o^ po^iodoj tuiqj oqx^M a .ioCujyt •soAiqs1 9qj jo uorjudpuuiuo o\\% poumqoo.id puq 9q o.xoqAV 'po;s^y«i9p9JLq; iuo.ij pou.in}9J no^oqog a p.i9U9X) *urd }popco xis jnoqy •pg^su'Bi^si.rqQ jo sd.ioQ joSojf oq^ jo uoui oav^. puu .xooujo- jopun 9U0 ;Cq pouu-BTU ftiiAV (iiAio^ jo jno ^sn t" uosud ointiq v.) "[xuC gqjj "joqe odtuS 9sm o^ ^.n?dop ^on pip Xgqi 'jjo p9U.ruAV Suioq .t9^jb 'u9i$ ji 'puu 'uavoj oq^ .19^119 0} soo.iSan jo sdooa^ 9ip). avo^u oj ^on 9J9AV sjrap.10 *xr9TLL '^Wn111 0IT_} jo q}oq '-iqi^I '^Trayj .i9pun tij9^su9 9qj puu 'mqo^nQojvx *^n9Fj .xopmi paotqd suay 9ouuo:!ju9 uj9q^iou 9qj^ "Bijipra 9iuos puu 'a\i;uujui uuipuj ^se^V '^i9jp^Tu q^iA\ uaioj 9qj oj s9ouiM!jti9 oayj 9q^ poummi 'ooii9squ s ju.i9U9iT)-.T0UJ9A0£) oqj). SniJiip puuuiuioo 9q^ p9A[0A9p puq uioqAv uodn 'aqp^ a .toCujyt uuqj ^j.9f 9q puq J9U00S •TU9qj SUOTIIU J9p.I0 .oUT.IO^ -S'9J[ JO ?09JJ9 Oq^ 9AUT[ ^q.olUI 'OJlSoU 9qj O; pUOT.TJ 9TIJJ U U99q SiCuAip puq oqAi 'Xouojpoxg; kijj jo aouosojd 9i[^ ^uq; podoi[ oqAV Auvm jo OOUT^SUT 91[J ^l? fJVAVSTlJJj '9q;<)^[ .I9^im^I9UIUrB}£ Xq p9IUT?dui009'G p9!JS -^TjgpO.I^ JOJ i?UIUJ0Ul 9q; UI ipop^ {)\ %V ^J9J ]UJ9U9£)-.X0U.t9A0£) oq^ ^I11! P-T8 0J{1 no lmW V01Q(\luomQX 9Cl IUAV ^1 *nopisoddo snouos p9.i9j -UU00U9 8i9;ot.i oq; 9J9T[ imp c90U9J9jjip siq^ q;iAV — puxqsx 9qj . JO ^iud UJ9JSU9 9q^ UI 90U{d SlIT5[U; 9.I9AV. J9;0UJ'Dq0 aTU|IUIIS V K$llj$< jo sJ9q^o fp9^si|LT9p9JLg; ux Sui.itdsuu.T^ 0J9AV 's.i9^duqo .8uTp90 Sb?P^8^ -9ad oa\? 9T{j ui .T9i)Uiiujj puu u9;p.'>qog a suiBpioqurcqQ Xq §1^^ paquosap %uorqduj5 os U99q 9Auq qoupvv 's;u9A9 9q^ [iniH^^^ •lyoraoxsiH— 'XIOHO *xs AIXX ^IMcTVTIO 142 LEAFLETS FltOM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. notwithstanding they were ordered off several times, continued to press on, they were fired upon with grape shot, which killed some and wounded many. This warm reception being entirely unexpected, they sought the country in wild flight. It turned out later that they intended to fire and plunder the town. Although the negroes had gained their freedom, the 4th of July saw them yet stealing and destroying everything upon the estates. G-eneral v Scholten, who would not permit Major v Falbe to march out against them, rode out himself into the country, accompanied only by his adjutant. Several troops of robbers whom he met, on being warned by him, promised to go home ; but no sooner had the General turned his back on them than they again commenced their depreda tions. It was evident that some more energetic measures would have to be taken to put a stop to such proceedings. With this in view, those inhabitants and those planters who had fled to the town for protection, appealed to Major v. Falbe, urging him to request the Governor- General to allow him to take the field against the negroes. This at first was denied him, but on renewing his request in presence of Kammer Assessor Arnesen, after some opposition the General gave the necessary permission, coupled with the conditions that Assessor Hothe should go along as civil commissary, and that the Major woidd promise not to fire on the negroes. Agreeing to the first, the Major promised to abide by the second so long as the negroes did not fire at him. On the morning of the 5th, at nine o'clock, Major v Falbe marched out of Ohristiansted with a force consisting of two cannon, sixty cavalry, and about one hundred and forty infantry, composed partly of regulars and militia. Proceeding to the North side, they over hauled the estates Grande Princesse and St. John's. On their appear ance at the latter estate, a troop of negroes which had just finished plundering, fired at the cavalry and then hastily took to flight over the hills. Marching to Montpellier and Morning Star, they went over the back of the heights to Sion Hill, and several estates lying in the middle of the country. The negroes, who in the morning had collected about three thousand strong on estate Mon Bijou, with the object of trying again to surprise Ohristiansted, were no sooner aware of the advance of the troops, than they dispersed in the greatest haste, each one to his home, ready to assure the Major and his troop of soldiers, as they came to each estate, of their good behaviour and determination to keep quiet in future. At nine o'clock p.m. the force returned, and the General expressed himself satisfied with what had been done. Unfortunately the South side had not been visited by this expedi tion, owing to lack of time. The consequence was that the greatest disorder yet continued in that part of the island. As soon as this ST . OKOIX . J 11STOKICAL. became known to the inhabitants and planters on Thursday morning, the 6th July, they surrounded the General as soon as he appeared on the wharf, and upbraiding him for his want of action, declared they would get another leader. Getting rid of them, the General rode home and sent an order to Major v Falbe to join him. On his appearance, His Excellency handed over the command to the Major, whom he directed to take as Assistant, Stadthauptmand Oberst de Nully. The General, who had not had any rest for four days and nights was in a very weak and exhausted condition. It was evident that the enormous responsibility which his action of Emancipating the Slaves, had involved, had seriously told upon his health. Care and anxiety were stamped upon his features and he expressed his desire for some rest. •The island was now declared in a state of siege, and a civil council of several respectable officials was formed to assist the military command, especially with the care of the troops. Major v Geillerup was now ordered to march out with the troops, to use force in the repression of disorder, to send in as prisoners the negroes who had shown themselves the most unruly, and to remain out scouring the country till order was restored. The same orders were sent to Frederiksted, but this had already been done by Captain v Castonier. Prisoners were now rapidly brought in. Three hundred were already in the Fort. The riot was now virtually ended. With the arrival of six hundred Spanish troops and two mountain howitzers, despatched by General Prim from Porto Rico to their assistance, the inhabitants of St. Croix could now look forward to more peaceful times. On the evening of that day, Oberst v Oxholm arrived in Christiansted. The next day Oberst de Nully and Major v Falbe handed over the command of the military to him. In the meantime, Oberst v Oxholm became Acting Governor-General, and General v Scholten left for Denmark. There he was tried before a Commission and condemned for dereliction of duty as Governor-General. Appealing to the Supreme Court against this decision, he was honourably acquitted. Many have been the comments upon Governor v Scholten' s course of procedure, but few have been able to throw any light upon the motives which actuated him. The Revd. Knox, who is very severe in his remarks, says, " that his entire conduct at a most trying juncture of circumstances was unworthy of his high office, and jeopardized the dearest interests and welfare of those he was bound to protect." And yet we have heard him spoken of in terms of admiration by many of those who yet remembered him, and it is the opinion of more than one who was an eye-witness of the events which took place in Frederiksted that had the negroes been fired upon before the Emancipation was proclaimed, it woidd have been followed by the 144 LEAFLETS FllOM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. total destruction of tlio town and many estates.* Besides, for what were tlie negroes asking? Freedom! If he erred in yielding to their demands, then bless the error which, gave to every slave in these islands such an inestimable blessing. His Excellency Peter Hansen arrived shortly afterwards in the capacity of King's Commissioner and ad interim. Governor for the Danish West India Islands. He possessed full authority to regulate the existing difficulties and pass all necessary laws to govern planters and labourers in their relation to each other. Some experience had already been gained in these relations whilst he delayed his coming, and he was not, therefore, without some guidance under his arduous and responsible duty. His measures were wisely taken. In a short time he passed an Act, the provisions of which were commendable for their wisdom and adaptation to meet the state of existing circum stances. This was generally known as "The Labour Act," until the Riots of 1878, when it became, like slavery, its predecessor and prototype, a thing to br numbered with the past. liUDDIIOE, Oil OK.NURAL UOUltDEAUX, LEADHlt OF INSUltltliCTION, 1848. We have but little more to add to this sketch of the Emancipation in the Danish West India Islands. Buddhoe, or General Bourdeaux, after a forcible abduction from West End, was handed over a prisoner * Just as it actually happened in Frederiksted thirty years afterwards during the Labour riots. {Vide the riot of 1878.) ST. CROIX . HISTORICAL. 145 to the authorities in Bassin. Major Gyllich, whose life had been saved by him, did not desert him. It is said that he even shared his imprisonment some days, having pledged his word that no harm should arrive to him. Though the nominal- leader of the rioters, Buddhoe had done the island good service by preventing them from committing more excesses than they did. Placed on board the "Ornen," Governor- General Hansen left it to the captain to land him anywhere he saw fit on any one of the other West India Islands. Dressed as a gentleman, Buddhoe went on board well provided with clothes and other necessaries, only to have them taken off as soon as the vessel was out of port and to be put to work among the crew. On the 8th January, 1849, he was landed at Port of Spain, Trinidad, where Captain Irminger told him that if he ever went back to the Danish West Indies, he would forfeit his life. He is said to have been seen in Curacao afterwards, whence he proceeded to the United States of America. Martin King was fortunate enough to escape arrest until after martial law had ceased to be in force. He suffered imprisonment for two years, and in 1855 filled the humble post of rat-catcher on a North- side estate. L CHAPTEE XXV. ST. CEOIX.— HISTOKTCAT, |§jjj|N the year 1852, the militia corps of the Danish West Indies MS was disbanded. Composed of respectable white and coloured ffiffi) citizens of these islands, it had done good service at the time of *j ^ the insurrection. The story of how it happened is thus told by ^ an " old inhabitant." An order had been issued, forbidding + the customary dances at Christmas time among the coloured population of Bassin. Notwithstanding this, they declared they would dance, at least in their own homes, and as a matter of course, did so in the evening. "Whereupon a squad of military was ordered out, who without any warning whatsoever commenced firing right and left in the streets, killing many innocent persons. Of course, this created great alarm, and put a stop to the dances. In the meanwhile an officer of H.B.M.S. " Scorpion," at the risk of his life made his way up to the soldiers and ordered them back to their barracks, a com mand which they afterwards obeyed. No amount of after investiga tion could elicit who gave the order for the military to go out. Every one shirked the consequences of such a cowardly act, and such was the dread of retaliation from an angry populace that early in the morning, almost before some of them were out of bed. a requisition was made on the militia for their arms. The year 1851 saw the retirement of Councillor P. Hansen as Governor-General. In 1854, that of Chamberlain Feddersen, and in 1859, of Councillor Schlegel who was his successor. In the year 1861, when Councillor Birch held the reins of Govern ment, H.K.H. Prince Alfred, now Duke of Edinburgh, paid a visit to St. Croix. This was the first scion of royalty who had ever set foot on Danish "West Indian soil. His reception was characteristic of the generous hospitality which has always distinguished the inhabitants of these islands. An English speaking peoplo, imbued with English traditions, it is no wonder that the Crucians were effusive in their ST . (JROIX. II I STOIt ICAL . 147 demonstrations, and glad to welcome the son of a sovereign so beloved as Her Majesty Queen Victoria. On the 5th February, 1866, a great fire took place in Bassin, originating in a rum shop in the market ; it spread with frightful rapidity, destroying the English church, schoolhouse, and thirty-six private dwellings, forming altogether a loss of 100,000 dols. The next year, 1867, brought the great earthquake. About ten minutes to three in the afternoon of the 18th November two severe shocks took, place in iapid succession, paralysing the inhabitants with fear and causing the greatest consternation. It was in Frederiksted that this dreadful calamity made itself the most severely felt ; but a short time elapsed after the shock when the sea receded, leaving its bed quite bare. Gathering itself up into one mighty ocean-wall, it came toppling over in immense rollers, carrying all before it. Schooners, brigs, boats and skiffs, and even a large American war- steamer, the 11Monangahela, " were washed ashore; several lives were lost, many houses were swept away, and all the stores fronting the Bay-street were more or less injured. As there was no barrier to stop this terrific earthquake wave, no reef to bar its way, there was scarcely any limit to the amount of destruction it caused. Bassin was also a sufferer ; but not to such a degree, owing to its reef, most probably, though at a place called " Gallows Bay " some twenty houses were demolished. The estate owners sustained heavy losses. There was scarcely a plantation that did not suffer. Where the negro-houses did not receive damage either the dwelling-house, the mill, or the works were injured. The shocks continued at intervals for many days, all public offices were closed, business was suspended, and it was a long time before anyone returned to his former sense of security. Now followed 3li sj.a'iAvsri 091 CHAPTEE XXVI. ST. CROIX—THE LABOURERS' RIOT. '1STTHE year 1878, an impression had gained ground among the rural population of St. Croix, that the Labour Act would cease fto be in force by the 1st October of that year. The Central Factory was now working, and as the labourers ^ which it employed were earning thirty to thirty-five cents a. * day, many of those who worked on the plantations were looking anxiously forward for the Act to expire in anticipation of getting higher wages from the planter or leaving him to work at the Factory. Up to that time, since the Emancipation in 1848, it had been customary among the country labourers changing residence from one estate to another, at the expiration of their yearly contracts, to assemble in the two towns of the island — Christiansted and Frederiksted —on the 1st of October. Some for the purpose of leaving for St. Thomas or other places, some for the purpose of selling their services to the highest bidder among the planters for the following year and others for a spree. In the meantime, in order to effect a reduction in the expenses of the island, the military forces stationed at King's Hill and at Frederiksted were abolished, the latter place and the estates in the centre of the island being left comparatively defenceless. It is said, however, that when these men were removed that one of the members of the Colonial Council, alarmed for the safety of the country and foreseeing danger, brought in a draft for the establishment of a rural constabulary. " Unfortunately, a little of the usual procrastination stepped in and the draft fell to the ground. It is a pity that they did not think of doing away with the Labour Act before reducing the military establishment. For, with only sixty soldiers in Christiansted, there was every inducement for the country labourer to play his hand once again, and, as in 1848, by a rising, put an end to this remnant of 152 LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES BAY STilliET, l-ltEDEKIKSTEJ), THE MOltNIXG JJEFOKE THE 11IOT. slavery. The opportunity was all he required. And in less than a year it declared itself. On the 1st of October, 1878, it was particularly observed on King- street, Frederiksted, in which three rum shops were situated, that though thickly crowded with people from the estates, their behaviour was most orderly and quiet. This was as late as one o'clock p.m. Scarcely a drunken individual showed himself. Not a sign of disorder was visible, and if any design of breaking the peace were intended it was not then perceptible. Thus passed the afternoon, an amount of good humour prevailing among the labourers, unknown to the in habitants of the town for years. Not till the hour of three p.m. rang out, did the first sign of discon tent become manifest. A large crowd, seemingly under the influence of great excitement, were first seen gesticulating and talking in angry tones on the corner of Dronningens and Kongens Tvergade (Queen's and King's Cross streets), near to the apothecary's shop. The Eevd. J. C. Du Bois, British Vice-Consul for Frederiksted, who lived two ST. CROIX. —THE LABOURERS* RIOT. 153 or three doors off and was sitting in his study at the time, hearing this uproar, went out among the mob and asked "what was the matter." Crowding around him, they said they had been ill-treated by the police who had beaten one of their number severely, for which they had chased them into the Fort, now used as a police station. Perceiving their anger, this gentleman sought to appease them and to persuade them to leave the town. To this they eventually consented. At this moment the Policemaster and Pol ice -Assistant drove up, followed by two mounted orderlies, who galloped among the crowd with drawn swords, not striking them, but using every means short of actual force to disperse them. Becoming furious at this, they attacked the two soldiers with stones. Their lives being endangered, they put spurs to their horses and made for the Port at the other end of the town, followed at full speed by the Policemaster and his assistant. The mob chased them as fast as they could, hooting at and stoning them, but they reached the Fort first, and the two officials passed in, leaving the two orderlies drawn up in front of the outer entrance. In the meantime the Bevd. J. 0. Du Bois never lost sight of the crowd, and when he overtook them he found them drawn up between the Custom House and the Fort, preparing to assault the latter. Placing himself in front of them, his tall and stalwart form over topping many in that sea of angry-looking faces, he remonstrated with them and pointed out the serious consequences to themselves of such a course. Utterly regardless of danger, relying sol ely on the goodness of his cause and the influence he had gained over many of them, he entreated them to desist and follow him out of the town, to which they replied " if he would go home they would." Eefusing to do so, unless they all went together, they became impatient and declared their intention of storming the fort. So excited were they, that it was not until the Eevd. Du Bois cried out, "then you never shall enter the Fort unless you pass over my body," that they hesitated, and one of their leaders exclaiming, " A we might as well go wi' he, fo' you know he from old time, if he eay so he will do it," he took advantage of it and said, " then follow me," moved off up the street towards the eastern exit of the town and led the whole body along with him, clashing their sticks together, and making a tremendous noise. On seeing the crowd leave, the Police- master and his assistant drove out of the Fort, got out of the phaeton and followed with the crowd as far as the well, just outside the town. There they halted, and the British Vice-Consul, getting on an elevated bank on the roadside, addressed a few words to them, pointing out if they had any grievances, this was no way to obtain redress, but if they would send a deputation of their own people to him on the following or any future day, he would go with them personally and act as their spokesman in stating their wrongs, if they AV9J X? AJIIO pOAUXO pX?X[ JO^SUUIOOip^ Oqq. 9.10qj] '^O^ QVfi JOJ p9^IX^S pnxj 90tqd 9qq. ^j9j_ A9q^ ^i J9AO qoS noos ppxoAV oq A^amb oxiop qjoj 9J9AV 9X[ Jl put? '^UTUp pX39p ^Tiq 'pX39p ^OXI 813AV U^UI ^13T[q. JOifoxreXXI QT[1 Xq pGIUJOJUt Sllioq UQ *90XIO ^13 WBW. p^9p 9q^ 99S qsnxxi jfoqq. ivxty SnTJiqoop '8^1191^(1 9qq. jo Gilo pnn oScinn qois 9qq. xiAVop poqoonq 'ptyidsoj-j eqq. p9J9^u9 'sde^s oqq. cln pgqsnac xi9X[i Aoqj^ \i94s13xxi ~90Hod 0ID- podx?os9 9q 'xurq jjiq <4 Surae^ojqj; MO^oop oqq. Xq ^9xxi 9I9AV A9qq. 9J9jj qi^idsojq eqij. xiAVop ATsnon^pxxxin^ poqsiu qoiqAV pAvo.io pouoppura jo sdo^s^ooj oq^ avojtoj Avon en ^9rj •jti AjsimioSirep Sutaj st^AV jeq^oiu siq 9J9qA\ 'spjiuvoxuoq peujTKj. 9q 'op oil rarq aoj ^J9{ 9J0ut ou sxmv 9J9q^ sy \C]qx?90X}od oiuoq o£ o^ xuoq^ p9S£?9q 9q ^onpnoo -iioqq. iknpugxuinoQ t<,sp.Txmih[oiqq tjx? ^on oi^^,, '^xiippx? 'pjOAV .ii9q^ qdgq px?q AQVfi 'spuq 9iuoo o^ xxnq posmtojd px?q ^9q^. st? ^nq '^o^q 9qq. oq. xiAVop ouoS px?q Aoqa ^xsqj poiitlga: £qt{% '9.x9AV s.T9q^o oqq. 0J9X[AV xiioij^ Suprsx? siq HQ 'iiiGq'} Supii^i] InsnoD~90TA ^I^SE 9q^ punoj ifoqq. o.xgqAV 'xiA\oq. oqx opisiino poxixn^o: spj'BAiJG^jt? raoq^ jo AV9j y -moq^ p9p909.xd px?q ^ux^sissy siq ptru J^sx^xxraoip^ 9qq. iioijqiqAV 'jx^kIsojj oq^ oq. xiAVop xixu xioqq. qom oqjj -pds ^x?qq. oq. nm^i oq. osiraojd x? sxjav xtioqq. rao.ij xm?qqo pjnoo oq {p3 ])W8 'ojqtuoxoxn 9.X0A\ ^Oqj] 'XjJ'BGp OS XU9q^ ^SOO 8pJT3A\JO^J13 ^x^xxn qoiqAV X{TOJ JO ^ot? XIT3 xuojj xxioq^ 9pi3nssTp o^. ^dxuo^x? oq pip xireA xii ixxi9q^. 9JOjoq pxm^s oq pip nreA xn 'xiioq^ ojo^dun stog; xi(j 'AO'jj 9q^ pip uiva uj *uavo^ o^ u.m^o.x ^snxu ^9q^ ymty p9Jxqo9p ^ox[^ 'poyno.ix? Avon Sxixoq stcoissixI ^sjoav ^loqj, q'B^idsoq ox[^ xii peip ^snC pi3q 9oqod oxr^ ^q ne^9q xi99q pT3i[ oqAV nx^xti oq^ ^x[^ ^tio Sinxxix^ios xxioq^ sp.itiAVo^ wbx hx^xxioav L> IIOX^AV 'OS Suiop ^IXOqO? 9J0AV X0q^ ^nSUOQ-OOI^ 9q^ JOJ S.IGGqO 99.IX[; SitiAiS pxtxj 'siqcj. o^ Sui^xiosnoQ -iiavo^ ox[^ oa^9{ o^ xuoq^ ^qSnosoq iiivSv oq cposodojd ^pt?9.qB pxiq ox[ .xenuuxn oq^ ux p9{^9S oq \\v. ^qihxxi S9^qnoi^ -iioq^ ^x?q^ 'xxigx^i o^ Sui^T39de^[ '^xodssud x? po^xitJAv ,voq^ tv9T[av p-eq Aq\$ Xghoxii ^uqAV ^iqii[X9 o^ xnoq^ Snqpdxxioo sx? qoixe 'soi^uoq^ixx? ooqod oq^ Aq pxi^qsi oq^ Suiax?0]; sjojnoqx?]; jo AtiAV oi[^ m nAVOcix[^ 89iqnoujip ox[^ a'^sx?^ pxrxi 'oAi^Sojojd q.T3i[q. jo osnqx? ^xi9ixt)9Jj jpq^ pux? 'sooxiono nre^xoo .ioj oxiq .xoSxinxixu v o^ avx?-[ oq^. Aq h9al§ .i9AVod 9i[^ 'A^p.nxjjj q^ixW .iioqq. 0^ ajbj^uoo jt?ojC jeq^onx? joj 9^.x?^s9 xio xirciuoj o^ poq9dxiioo ojoav A9X[i ^013^x100 9q^ jo xioi^nixxuo^ X* .10 J OOtyOIl SuiAlS JO 9XX?p 0X[| III opXIXXI 9.19 AV 9qx^sixii ^S9^qSl[S ox[^ ji sx? qomusmii 'XioAxqs 9q o^ pooxixiono.id Aoqi qoiqAV ^otijq. -xtoo piiimx? ox['4 '^puooog -S-ixtoo oAu-X^Jiqq. ^suix^ox? s^U90 no^ 1,yaa £Xjo^ox?wq p.iiTioQ oq^ jo osoqq. oq. iioatS ^uxxoxtixj .xoSjlx?]; 9X[^. o^ nosuud -xuoo in «.TOcinoqt,q o^uqse 9q^ 01 xioaiS soSxjav jo o^xij Auq 9X[a ^^s.ii^ •s^xnx?-[dxuoo j.io\[\ poyo^s pxixi p.xxiAV.xoj poddoqs 'xnoq^ Suoxxiu ^iioSixxo^ut 9J0UI Oq^ JO 09JI]4 .10 OAV^ Iioqq. pill? 'SOApSXITOIft SUOXXIX? SlIIJXXTn.IXXXXI qonin .loqju 'op 0^ pooaSo ifoq^ sixj^ -p9SS9o:p9.x 9q ppoAV Xoq^ xnoqii .10 j uo^xjpinioj Aim o.ioav o.ioq^ j[ 'ix?x[^ ^qxxop oxi px;x[ 9X[ n9qAV lAuv pi^q •yaicmi jjseiav iisiMVd ai-ix nou& sxarMvafi fv\ ST. CROIX. —THE LABOUKERS' RIOT. 155 minutes before, and found that the Police Assistant had promptly distributed what weapons he had. He was just about writing to Ghristiansted for assistance when the mob came shouting up Strand- street and took up their stand in front of the Fort. A few moments after a perfect avalanche of stones was sent upon the little band of defenders within ; but it was only upon its being repeated that the Policemaster gave orders to fire. No one was hit, however, and the mob gaining courage from the fact, returned to the attack, demolished the outer gate, and rushed pell-mell into the outer Fort yard. Ere this the police had hurried into the inner Fort yard, barred the gate under the judge's office, and got the orderlies, who had promptly stalled their horses, in by a back door fronting the stable-yard. The mob then bombarded the Fort with missiles of every description ; brickbats, conch shells, and a lot of cannon-balls being poured with relentless fury against that devoted edifice. Had those who were defending the place not have used their weapons effectively, not a man would have been left alive to tell the tale, for the mob would have torn them in pieces had they effected an entrance. Finding the fire too hot for them and their efforts ineffectual, though the inner door had nearly given way, they retired to wreak their vengeance on the town. Just at this moment, a planter, Mr. Fontaine, rode in, and wishing to enter the Fort in defiance of the mob, he was struck from his horse with a club—some say a conch shell ; as he was far from being popu lar with the labourers, he was severely beaten.* In the meantime, the Policemaster had despatched his coachman on horseback through the stable gate of the Fort by the Northside road, with a letter for assistance. This man, though pursued on the way by bands of rioters, managed to reach Estate " Punch," the manager of which sent the letter on by another messenger to Estate 61Mon Bijou." This man was also frequently stopped while on the * This gentleman was rescued from the hands of the mob by Mr. «T.Moore, who- was himself for many days afterwards mourned as dead. Mr. Moore, at the imminent risk of his own life, had Mr. Fontaine brought up in his house, and sent for Dr. Hansen at once, who skilfully tended him and dressed his wounds. But it most unfortunately happened that on account of the disturbed state of the- town, they were afraid to move him to his estate, which was his greatest wish, as he was in his perfect senses. He remained at Mr. Moore's until between one and two o'clock in the morning, when the house was fired by the mob. As he could not be allowed to burn to death, he was- removed to the open garden and laid at tho foot of a tree, with a pillow under his head. In this position he was found next morning, dead. Poor fellow ! he was the first victim. Alas ! not the last. Mr.. Moore remained as long as possible with him, until his own life was endangered, when he had to run in the sea from the fury of the mob, who had caught a glimpse of him in his office of charity. He hid under one of the wharves till morning up to his breast in salt water, when he sought refuge in the Fort. 156 LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. road by great numbers of estate labourers, but succeeded in reaching " Mon Bijou," from which estate the manager despatched a third, who reached Christiansted on the morning of the 2nd inst., at one p.m., and delivered the letter to the President. As the force within the Fort at Fredcriksted was small and very poorly armed, they were fearful at every moment of another assault and of their ammunition falling short. All they could do was to remain inside and guard against another attack, which the rioters wisely refrained from attempting, as several of them had been wounded in the first assault. Finding that here, at least, they would rind resistance, danger, and probably death, they turned their rage upon the unoffending inhabitants. Here the true character of the riot showed itself. Had it been a preconcerted thing, they would have so arranged their plans as to have destroyed everyone in authority and everything belonging to them before injuring the innocent townspeople. But they peformed their horrid work regardless of position, creed, or colour, many of their own people's houses being among the first that they set fire to. Let us now return to the Revel. J. 0. Du Bois, who, ao was customary with him aftei dark, was sitting on the little porch fronting his residence, wondering how that fearful night would end. He had hoard the firing from the Fort, had been told that the police were hard beset by the mob, and that the woman who had given the report respecting the death of the man at the head of the town, had been the first among the wounded, and that the mob was coming up to batter down the policemen's dwellings, still he never thought the rioters would proceed to such extremities. But by this time they were furious, and had broken open the store of a Mr. Kierullf, under Mr. Ford's dwelling house. There they took out the goods, strewed them in the streets, and set fire to them. On seeing this act of wanton destruction, the Eevd. J. 0. Du Bois went immediately among them again, only to find them in the act of breaking open and sacking the store of Mr. F. Lund in the market. He again remonstrated with them, but in a few' moments they had emptied the store and burnt the goods in the street. Thence they rushed to the fireproof of Mr. Kierullf. There the Eevd. Du Bois placed his back against the door and asked them why they would destroy Mr. Kierullf's place, as he was a man notoriously kind to them. The reply was, " He is a white man." "And so am I," said the Eevd. Du Bois. " Oh," was the answer, "you! —you are different ; you are our friend. You can go wherever you like ; no man will harm you." On his asking them if they intended to bur,n down the town, the churches and school-houses, they replied, "No, sir ; we shall only burn the goods— no houses ; blood has been shed, and we must have revenge. As for you Eevd., you can go home to ST. CItOIX.—THE labourers' riot. 157 and go to sleep, no fire shall cross the street below your house." All this time the women were bringing out the goods, piling them up in the street and setting fire to them. Just at this moment a large number of labourers rushed in from the North side, vociferating furiously, " The town not lighted up yet ? You are too slow. It's very dark ; we must have a light." They then rushed to the store of Mr. B. Woods, which they literally ransacked. Pitching the goods here and there, and tumbling them about the wooden gallery in front, they poured kerosene over them and set them on fire, which spreading itself to the wood flooring, ignited the whole place. Here some tins of gunpowder exploded, which the mob, in their guilty fear supposing to be the reports of the rifles of the military, caused them to pause in their work of destruction. Soon recovering from their temporary panic, they rushed to the store of Mr. John Moore, which they broke open. Arming themselves with a number of cane bills which he kept for sale, they set fire to the house and establishment. The conflagra tion having become general, they proceeded in a most systematic way to light up the town, or " to strike a light," as they termed it. For instance, one of -them would stop before a house from which the ter rified inhabitants had fled, and crying out, "It is too dark here —we must have a light," would well saturate the most combustible part of it with kerosene, while another would apply the torch. And now this carnival of horror may be said to have reached its height. The Revd. Du Bois, finding his efforts unavailing, had left them, and no check being placed upon their passions, they opened, and burnt, and destroyed with a celerity absolutely appalling. The rum stores having been broken into, liquor began to play its part also, maddening a great number with drink. The heat was now intense, and the fierceness of the flames became unbearable ; house after house caught fire, and soon an immense body of flame rose writhing and licking the dank atmosphere in all colours of the rain bow. It was an awful sight. The entire Bay-street was blazing, with three other streets behind it. The heavens were illuminated for miles around. Volumes of smoke, and volumes of seething, roaring, scorching fire, flared up to the sky. Fortunately the night was calm, or not a roof might have been left to shelter the many who had been rendered homeless and penniless that night. In the meanwhile, the puncheons of rum stored up in the ware houses began to burst one after the other with a report like a cannon, their contents giving fresh impetus to the devouring element. The streets ran fire, burning up on the Ba}^-street a number of hogsheads of sugar that laid there ready for shipment, and hundreds of the rioters were dancing like mad around them. The women — and they seemed the worst —danced and sang, or rather howled, the men joined in chorus, clashed their sticks, blew their shells, and set fire. 158 LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. A KEHEL. Shrieking, yelling, and leaping, their lithe forms lighted up by the glare around them, they looked more like a legion of fiends than things human. "Our Side" was their watchword, and it fared ill with the trembling townsfolk who would not repeat it with them. To relate all the insults which many of these wretches put upon some of the ladies who fell into their clutches, to relate all the misery, despair, and anxiety that filled the breast of every civilized man, woman, and child that night would fill volumes. Husbands were separated from their wives, parents from their children, and fear reigning paramount, each one sought safety in flight. Some found shelter in the churches, and a few others on board the barque " Carib," which lay in the roadstead, from whoso brightly illumi nated decks they could see their town and their homes and all they held dear burning hopelessly away. Many shed tears, as they saw some relic that for years had been treasured up topple over into the flames. Nothing was too sacred for this band of monsters. They sat down to the pianos, and knocked their rough hands on them, apeing the airs, as they said, of their mistresses. The tiny shoe, the frock, or the ST. CROIX. — TJ1K LABOURERS* 'RIOT. 159 portrait of some loved one was thrown with a gibe and a jeer into the flames. Not a man dared to save a fraction of what had cost him years to accumulate. They ruthlessly, cruelly destroyed every thing. And so the hours wore draggingly, slowly, and wearily along, everyone supposing each moment might be his last. How many who never prayed before, prayed for morning that night can never be told. Of the many shopkeepers in West End, they only spared two— -Mr. Eeuter and Mr. Malgrav, who, by entreaties and tact, saved nearly everything. In Mr. Renter's case particu larly, they even assisted him in saving his effects, such as his furniture, clothing and jewellery, allowing nothing to be touched where they had once given their word it should escape harmless ; for when they were proceeding to destroy the apothecary's shop, situated at the corner of the cross street below the Rev. Du Bois, on the cry being raised : " We promised the Parson not to let the fire pass the street," they came forward themselves and drew it away. The Revd., perceiving this, and thinking the fire might spread in spite of them, had his family removed to the church, which became immediately filled with refugees. Forbidding any light to be used or any noise to be made indicating their presence to the rioters, the Revd. returned to his house and sat at his porch till the morning. Affairs looking desperate at 3. SO a.m., the Police-master despatched another messenger to Christiansted, who, after encountering much difficulty, reached Christiansted at 5 a.m. ; but when he arrived the military had left three hours before. Between three and four o'clock, the rioters made a second attack upon the Fort, and set fire to the petroleum house, which at that time contained 840 gallons of petro leum and 2,000 squibs. Thanks to a small fire engine the police got into play, they succeeded in limiting the fire to the kerosene house, at the risk of being crushed by the stones thrown by the rioters, who, in some instances, were shot on their approaching too near. This attack lasted until 5 a.m. A little before 6 a.m., when part of the rioters had left town, and most of those remaining had gathered north of the Moravian Church and were, most probably, preparing a third attack on the Fort, Lieut. Ostermann arrived with the Military by the North-side road and was admitted through the stable-gate of the Fort. At once this gallant officer led his little band of men against the rebels, who fled in all directions on their firing a few volleys. It was while they were pur suing them out of the town that the Rev. Du Bois had what one might truly call a most miraculous escape. This gentleman, after having passed the night on the little porch in the front of his house, viewing scenes which can be more readily imagined than described, went over to the church as morning dawned upon him at last. After remaining a few minutes, he came back. 160 LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. RAY STREET, !•REDERIKSTED, THE MORNING AFTER THE RIOT. leading his little son by the left hand and having a lady on his right, at a short distance from him. As they emerged from the churchyard into the street a large number of rioters flew past them, followed at a distance by the soldiers who were firing at them. The whistle of the balls, one of which cut the limb of a tree over the Vice-Consul's head and another passing through the skirt of his coat warned him of his imminent danger. Catching up his boy, he ran with the lady into a neighbouring yard for safety. The soldiers fired three volleys, but killed none of the fugitives, who fled from the town to complete their horrid work of destruction by setting fire to the estates in the country. Lieutenant Ostermann then occupied the Fort and the R,evd. J. C. I)u Bois returned to his home. While all these fearful events were taking place in the town of Frederiksted, the inhabitants of Bassin or Christiansted were slumbering in blissful ignorance of the ruin and havoc being com mitted so near to them. Not till one o'clock in the morning of the second did the Vice-President receive the first letter that had been ST. CROIX. — THE LABOURERS' RIOT. 161 despatched by the Policemastcr of Frederiksted imploring' assistance. It is needless to say that lie acted at once, and despatched Lieutenant II. Ostermann to the scene of action with all he could spare of the garrison. With only twenty men this officer rode through the country, reaching Frederiksted in time to save what remained of it and drive the rioters into the country. At five o'clock a.m., the Vice-President received another letter from Frederiksted, in which the Policemastcr urgently repeated his demand for help. Immediately on the receipt of the first despatch, the President attempted to telegraph to St. Thomas, but as no night service was established between the station in Christiansted and St. Thomas, this proved impracticable, and hence the President's telegram concerning the occurrences in Frederiksted did not reach His Excellency Governor Garde, until the 2nd October, at 7.30 a.m. On receiving this tele gram, His Excellency applied to the General Superintendent of the Poyal Mail Steam Packet Company, Captain S. Dix, for a steamer, and this gentleman immediately placed the S.S. " Arno," which could only, unfortunately, be made ready for departure the same day at 12.30 o'clock, at the disposal of the Government. His Excellency was on the point of leaving St. Thomas for Frederiksted in this steamer, when he received a telegram stating that the Vice-President of St. Croix had intelligence to the effect that the Fort in Frederiksted had been burnt down and that the estates in the vicinity of Frederiksted had been fired. "We are taking all possible measures to defend this (the eastern) part of the country, but our success is doubtful without assistance from else where." The apprehension expressed in the telegram, that Christiansted could not be held, induced His Excellency to proceed thither in the first instance, and in this determination he was confirmed by observ ing during the trip, extensive fires in many different places in the country to the west of King's Hill, a circumstance which left him no hopes of being able to arrive in time to save the western part of the island. At six o'clock p.m., His Excellency arrived at Christiansted, and at once declared the island in a state of siege. As may bo imagined, the town of Christiansted was in a state of confusion difficult to describe. The wildest stories were afloat, and everyone seemed ready to believe them ; the impossibility of obtain ing any really authentic news ; the reports that the rioters had armed themselves with muskets and other firearms, stolen from the stores in West End ; the rumours that it was a deeply laid plot to destroy all the white and coloured inhabitants in the town, and that they were now advancing on Christiansted with that intention, were now magni- M 162 LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. fied by repetition. The town was soon filled with refugees. Managers with their families and overseers came pouring in ; each one with his separate tale of horror. Altogether the position was not to be envied. "With no definite news to guide him, a scared populace and an angry, and in some cases unreasonable set of planters to deal with, who were accusing the Government of being the cause of all their misfortunes. His Excellency's position was most trying, and no one but those who have been placed in situations of great responsibility themselves, were even moderately capable of judging his actions. At nine p.m. a small body of troops was despatched from Chris- tiansted along the north side of the Island, in order to unite with a detachment which had advanced along the so-called Centre Line, as far as King's Hill. The Government report says that "both these detachments were, however, obliged to retreat the same night, see ing that the dark and rainy weather in connection with the already considerable height of the canes prevented them from observing what took place around them, and from securing themselves against being cut off from Christiansted." In the meanwhile estate after estate was wrecked and plundered, beautiful homes were reduced to ashes, and the island seemed doomed to destruction. It was not until the 3rd October that the first band of rioters, numbering at least three to four hundred, were encountered at estate " Anna's Hope," about fifteen minutes' drive from Christiansted, by a force of the military and a volunteer corps of planters and managers organised for the occasion. The rioters had just commenced burning the estate, but were checked by the arrival of the soldiers. Though some of the rioters were shot and others captured, there was no resistance offered —they simply fied in terror, the moment they saw that the Government had yet the power and the will to punish them for their misdeeds. Still, this did not prevent them from firing estates within sight of the military, no sooner had they proceeded towards the relief of Erederiksted. On the public road outside estate " Carlton " were lying the corpses of two soldiers that had belonged to Lieutenant Osterm aim's gallant detachment. These unfortunate men had been left behind in charge of a wagon at this estate, and were brutally murdered by a band of rioters, who had shockingly mutilated them. It is said that the women behaved more like fiends than human beings towards them. But we draw a veil over this part of our narrative. At this place they sur prised another band of rioters, and with minds infuriated by the sight of the mutilated bodies of their dead comrades, it is to be readily con ceived that the soldiers gave no quarter. They hunted them through the estate's negro village. Many of those who had taken refuge in the houses were shot or bayoneted. Some hid under the mattresses to evade pursuit, but the soldiers passing their bayonets through, ST. CROIX. — THE LABOURERS' RIOT. 163 showed no pity for those fugitives from a terrible retribution. It is said that many innocent people suffered with the guilty, and that scenes of great brutality took place. At two o'clock p.m. they arrived in Frederiksted, and were received with cheers by the distressed inhabitants. It is needless to add that the town afforded a melancholy spectacle ; one-third of the houses was reduced to ashes, amongst which were included the Custom House, its finest buildings and stores, with an immense amount of merchandize. A reinforcement of fifteen soldiers being left at Frederiksted, the remainder went on board the "Arno," which had arrived from Chris- tiansted bringing supplies of provisions and ammunition. Owing to the darkness of the night she could only leave at four a.m. On the 4th, the French ship-of-war " La Bourdonnais," Capitaine du Fregate H. Mayet, arrived at Christiansted ; it left on the same day for Frederiksted, but returned to Christiansted on the oth with the information that the British ship-of-war " Tourmaline," Captain Denistoun, had arrived at Frederiksted; both ships, as well as the U.S. ship-of-war " Plymouth," which arrived later, having been summoned by respectively the French, British, and United States Consuls in St. Thomas, Messrs. S. Lucchetti, G. A. Stevens, and Y. V. Smith. Both the French and British commanding officers, as well as the commander of the United States ship-of-war "Plymouth" offered the Government active military assistance towards the restoration of order ; but, considering that the rioters had become intimidated, and that the force of the riot had been broken owing to the vigorous action of the volunteers and the troops, his Excellency did not avail himself of these offers, being averse to any useless sacrifice of life, and being unwill ing to destroy, where, by saving, he might not only preserve the labour of the country, but might also hope to bring a misguided and guilty people to reason. His Excellency, however, requested the command ing officers to remain at the island with their ships in order to inspire confidence, and if necessary, afford assistance in case of any outbreak of fire. Government had been furthermore most generously offered by the Captain-General of Porto Pico, 300 men with two mountain howitzers. The military, especially the detachment stationed at Frederiksted, patrolled the country far and wide, during which it captured many prisoners. The total number of prisoners made was about 300, of which 200 were lodged in Pichmond Jail. Under date of the 5th October, a proclamation was issued and read on all the estates, ordering all the labourers to return to their houses, or they would be dealt with as rebels if found hiding. They were also enjoined to provide themselves with passports from their emplo3rcrs when they left their homes on a lawful errand. On that same date an extraordinary Court-Martial was appointed by his Excellency the m 2 164 LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. Governor, charged with pursuing and adjudging the crimes committed in and during the rebellion by rebels, rioters, and all other parti cipants. This Court delivered, from the 7th to the 13th October, six sentences in Christiansted and six sentences in Frederiksted, which sentences were put into execution by shooting. After pronouncing these verdicts, the action of the Extraordinary Court was limited to certain examinations. On the 14th October, 25 men of the force from St. Thomas returned to that island under the command of First-Lieut. Baron Eggers. The British ship-of-war remained at Frederiksted until the 19th inst., and left that day for the British West Indies, after having con veyed to Christiansted 127 prisoners from the over- filled prison in Frederiksted. On the 21st October, the French ship-of-war, uLa Bourdonnais" which till then had been stationed in the port of Christiansted, took up her station in the roadstead of Frederiksted, and remained there until the 25th October, when she was relieved by the United States frigate " Plymouth," above-mentioned. On the 28th October, the Court Martial was discontinued, and simultaneously His Excellency appointed, by virtue of a power con ferred on him by His Majesty the King's most Gracious Resolution of the 25th inst., a Commission of investigation, charged with the investigation and adjudging of all cases arising from the above-men tioned crimes. The sentences passed by this Commission were subject to immediate appeal to the Supreme Court of Denmark. Did time and space allow us, we might enter into further details of this outbreak. With it ceased the Labour Act. The negro was actually free at last, to come and go ; to dispose of his labour as he best saw fit. With this freedom came responsibilities. Whether he has borne his fair share of them since, is a problem not quite solved. We believe he will, eventually, with proper education and encouragement. It is but fair to state that from the time of the riots he has been orderly enough, if not sufficiently industrious. Though of this anyone may satisfy himself who cares to see the smiling fields and high state of cultivation of St. Croix. Of the other actors in the drama we have but little here to say. His Most Gracious Majesty's High Commissioners, who came out a short time after, when they had hobknobbed and dined and wined with the different cliques, which then existed, and heard every other story except the right one, left for Copenhagen. Commanders and Knights of Dannebrog were sown broadcast. Even the people went so far as to create a few titles, some of which are yet remembered. ' 1Queen Mary," " General Paris," and " Joe La Grange " are some of them. Lieutenant Ostermann, who may be said to have saved Frederik ST. CROIX. —THE LABOURERS' RIOT. 165 QUEEN MARY. sted from uttor destruction through the timely appearance of himself and his gallant band of soldiers, was presented with a handsome sword in a silver scabbard, which bore the following inscription :— " Presented to Lieutenant TI. Ostermann, by certain residents in the town and district of Frederiksted, as a testimonial of their appreciation of his prompt and soldierly services during the Insur rection in St. Croix of October, 1878." An elegant gold watch from some Danish residents in St. Thomas was presented to him shortly afterwards. This also was inscribed :— " Lieutenant H. Ostermann, Til Erindring om Nalten imellem den l8t0 og 2dou October, 1878." The Revd. J. 0. Du Bois, in addition to being highly spoken of by His Excellency the Governor in the Colonial Council, was presented with a fitting testimonial, accompanied by an affectionate letter from those who had been his college classmates in the United States of 166 LEAFLETS EllOM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. America. Close upon this, followed a purse of 800 dols., and an eloquent address from a number of the inhabitants of the island irrespective of creed or party. From the British Foreign Office, he received words of high approbation over the Foreign Minister's own signature, and the sum of £200 sterling. We close this tribute to the worth of two brave men with the name of Francis Armstrong, Esq., H.B.M.'s Yice-Consiil for Bassin, who, leaving his country residence early on the morning of the 2nd October, drove right through the rioters to West End to the assistance of his colleague. How he escaped massacre from the infuriated negroes coming out of Frederiksted can only be attributed to his resolute bearing and personal influences. He, too, was not forgotten by the Foreign Office, which sent him a silver cup, in addition to a letter of thanks for his exertions. CHAPTER XXYIL ST. CEOIX— LOCAL. |T costs exactly thirty-two cents, Danish money, for a passport to the island of St. Croix. In return for this modest amount you receive a half sheet of printed foolscap, upon which the words are expressed which give you permission to leave the island of St. Thomas. Without that piece of paper no captain will take you. Like imprisonment for debt, this antiquated formality is only useful as a means of preventing the departure of a recalcitrant debtor, and if it were not that it added a trifle to the Colonial Treasury, it would have long ago been dispensed with. The intending visitor to St. Croix may take passage either to Christiansted, the capital, or Frederiksted, which is situated at the west end of the island. Should he prefer to go to Christiansted, then it is more than likely that he will select the " Vigilant" in preference to any other schooner. It is a fast sailing vessel, with an intelligent and accommodating captain. There is quite a history attached to the "Vigilant." Built in Baltimore about the year 1800, she has been by turns a pirate, privateer, a slaver, and a man-of-war. Her first appearance in St. Thomas was at the beginning of the present century. She was then known as the " Non-such," and sailed under the American flag. At that time she was emplo}red in the slave trade. It is not long since that an old sketch of her hold full of slaves hung up at the Moravian Mission in St. Thomas. A history of her career for the many years in which she has been known in these waters would fill volumes. One of the most interest ing events in connection with her career for the many years in which she has been known in these waters occurred in 1825, when a Spanish pirate, cruising in the narrow passage between St. Thomas and Porto Rico, made things hot for the merchant vessels trading to these islands. The Danish Government promptly despatched a man-of- war after her ; but the pirate being much smaller and better ac quainted with the navigation among the dangerous shoals and rocks 168 LEAFLETS FllOM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. abounding thereabouts easily eluded the pursuit of the heavy ship of war. Not to be outdone, a brave Danish officer, Captain Irminger, with thirty soldiers, left SL Croix. After a few hours' sail, she came up with the redoubtable pirate, who, mistaking the little schooner for an easy prize, prepared to board. As he was about to do so, the THE ''VIGILANT" OAPTU1UNG A SPANISH PIRATE. soldiers leaped up, poured in their lire, and before the pirates could recover from their confusion were masters of the vessel. The sketch of the combat which we have reproduced, was made by one of the soldiers, a Mr. Hostmark. He used to tell that when the pirate cap tain and officers were killed, the cook ran out of the galley with a fire-brand to fire the long swivel gun on her main deck, which would have created havoc among the soldiers, had not one of them fortu nately shot him down before he had time to apply the match. From that time her avocations have been of a more peaceful nature. "When her rig was altered from a topsail to a fore and aft schooner is not exactly known. She has changed owners many times, but has always been a paying investment, having been employed by Government for many years to carry the mails. In the great hurricane of 1876, she sank to the bottom of the harbour of St. Croix in eleven fathoms of water. But her owner, Captain P. Pentheny, a man of indomitable pluck and rare energy raised her at great cost and had her refitted throughout. Since then she has been running steadily between the two islands, employed as a Government packet, keeping up a reputa tion for safety and speed against all competitors. This schooner leaves the port of St. Thomas twice a week, whence, if you get yourself punctually on board at nine p.m., you may softly ST. CftOIX. — LOCAL. 169 glide out of the harbour half-an-hour afterwards. A fair wind will bring you to St. Croix in about five or six hours, where you land early in the morning. The town of Christiansted is very picturesquely situated, and there is an air of quiet repose about the place that contrasts greatly with the stir and bustle of St. Thomas. It is half surrounded by an amphi theatre of dark and lofty mountains. A sloop or two at anchor on the placid waters of the harbour, a fishing boat near to the wharf, the old red fort, with its guns peeping over the ramparts, the post office em bosomed in trees, the Custom House, the streets branching off in different directions, and a few individuals, sauntering about leisurely, is all there is to greet you of the quietest and pleasantest town you will find in the Danish West Indies. Though not very large, Christiansted or Bassin, as it is more often called, has quite a handsome appearance, is regularly laid out in squares, and possesses some fine buildings, notably 4'Government House, " which is the largest in the Lesser Antilles. It is situated on ELing's-street, and forms a noble addition to this, the principal street of Bassin. At one time St. Croix was the seat of the Government of the Danish West Indies. It was afterwards transferred to St. Thomas. Latterly, since the passage of an ordinance to that effect, his Excel lency divides his time between the two places. In either island His Excellency gives charming receptions, and the courteous and graceful hospitality which is dispensed by himself and wife, are always grate fully remembered by those who have the honour of visiting them. The interior of the ' 1Government House " in Bassin is well arranged, and the principal saloon where levees and receptions are held, is elegantly decorated, large pier-glasses running down each side of the 170 LEAFLETS EllOM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. room, creating a beautiful effect. In one of the saloons arc two excel lent portraits of their Majesties King Christian IX. and Queen Louisa, which are life-like in appearance and possess a great deal of artistic merit. The spacious rooms on the ground floor are used for the different Government offices. The Lutheran Church, which is the State Church, is also situated on King's-street. It is very neatly built, and numbers a goodly congre gation, as most of the Danish families reside in Bassin. The Episcopal Church, which is at the extreme end of King's-street, going out of town, is really a fine specimen of ecclesiastical architec ture, and is nicely fitted up inside, all the pews being of solid mahogany, highly polished. The roof is well- constructed and reflects credit on the liberality of those who subscribed, under very trying circumstances, to replace it after the former one had been entirely destroyed in the dreadful fire of 1866. The Eoman Catholic Church is also a very suitable edifice, and its decorations are pretty and appropriate. It has a large congregation attached to it. The Moravians were the first Christian missionaries who ever trod the soil of the Danish West Indies. It was for the conversion of the slaves in the island of St. Thomas that the United Brethren com menced that work of missions, which has since led them into all parts of the world, as the heralds of salvation to the heathen. There is no question about the good they have done among the coloured people from the year 1732, when they landed in the Danish West Indies. With the plainest of churches, and nothing to attract, they yet appeal with the greatest success to a numerous congregation, and command universal respect from their unobtrusive demeanour, and the simple form in which they preach the gospel. Their church in Bassin quarter is pleasantly situated out of town, and they have many schools and stations scattered over the country. An Agency of the Bank of St. Thomas is estab lished in Bassin. There are also some good private boarding houses. That of Mr. P. Pentheny is one of the finest residences in town. Here the comforts of a refined home may be had, not to speak of the advantages of agreeable society. " Richmond," which is a superb country seat at no great distance from town, is also well patronized by strangers who visit the island. There is but one Apothecary Hall in Christiansted. It is worthy of note, as the first established in the Danish West Indies. It com menced to do business in 1824. It is well supplied a country- with drugs and many other articles, and is always woman. superintended by a competent pharmaceutist, such ST. CROIX.— LOCAL. 171 being required by law. It is now under the management of Mr. Paludan Miiller. There is also a Fire Brigade. This corps, though considerably shorn of its former proportions, is yet able to render good assistance when a fire breaks out. On such occa sions the energy of the women of the humbler classes in carrying water and otherwise assisting to put out the dread element, is worthy of all praise. In the great fire that took place in Bassin on February 5fch, 1866, they contributed in no small degree to the staying of the flames ; and we take pleasure in rendering this tribute to their exertions, more especially as when these women were toiling with might and main to save the town, hundreds of the sterner sex looked on and did nothing. There is no water supply in Bassin. Nor is it lighted with gas. As in St. Thomas, its inhabitants are dependent upon the rain water they catch in cisterns for the former, and upon a stray lamp here and there lighted with kerosene for their street illumination. Their houses are cheerful enough, though, once you are inside, and the warmth of your welcome will amply compensate for anything lacking in the way of modern improvements. Indeed, the hospitable recep tion which everyone gives to the stranger, whether in town or on the sugar plantations, is remarkable, and no one should neglect paying some of the latter a visit before leaving the island. Not to speak of much that is interesting to be seen in the manufacture of sugar, whether by means of the old-fashioned wind mill or modern steam mill, there is much to be learned of country life in the tropics. Before the riots of 1878 almost every estate on the island had its " Great House," where the owner and his family generally resided, some of these dwellings were built in a most substantial manner, not a few laying claim to architectural beauty. Most of them are now in ruins. What the negroes in 1848 had spared, the rioters of 1878 burnt level with the ground. A few escaped, however, and " Bulows- minde," with the charming villa Hafensight, yet remain to show the style in which our forefathers* loved to live. The scenery, as viewed from the heights upon which these residences have been built* is perfectly enchanting, and no language can convey an idea of the extent, variety and grandeur of the panorama spread out below. * 600 feet above the level of the sea. 172 .LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. They are on the road to Frederiksted, and are well worth a passing visit. Of Frederiksted itself there is not much to be said, except in praise of the energy and commercial enterprise of its inhabitants, who in face of unparalleled misfortunes, have rebuilt their little town, and are now doing quite a thriving business. The Bay-street is once more the scene of great activity, especially during crop time. A special feature of Frederiksted is the fact of its being in direct steam communication with the United States of America. This has had a decided influence upon its commerce, and has, no doubt, been bene ficial to its merchants. The Custom House, which was almost destroyed during the riots, has been restored, and many new buildings have been put up to fill the places of those which formerly were upon the Bay-street. Frederiksted has a population of about 3,000 inhab itants. It has its Lutheran, Episcopalian, Moravian and Roman Catholic Churches, a Hospital, an Apothecary Hall, and one or two good Boarding Houses. In this town, Alexander Hamilton served as Clerk before he emigrated to America to become a noted statesman and the an tagonist of Burr. A peep at the old Fort and a stroll into the market, should you be there on a Saturday, may serve to while away an hour or two. Besides, there are drives in the vicinity which will haunt your memory for years. CHAPTEE XXVIII. ST. CROIX—THE CENTRAL FACTORY. SHOET distance from the town of Christiansted, not far from jj^K the jail, is the Central Sugar Factory, more generally known 9pjft$ as the Central Factory. ^v/^ This building is one of the costliest monuments of Danish enterprise it has been our good fortune to look upon. J^ Whence originated the idea we are not prepared to say. Governor Garde, to whom St. Thomas and St. Croix owe many improvements, was one of its earliest and most ardent supporters, and it cannot be denied that the idea was a good one. There is no doubt but what it was acceptable to the planters at the beginning, if we may judge from a Memorial to the Eoyal Government on the 27th October, 1873, expressing their desires for its establishment. They could not help seeing that it was impossible to go on making sugar after the old stjde, so hailed with delight what promised to revolutionize sugar making entirely, at least, so far as St. Croix was concerned. Apart from the fact that such an establishment was well calculated to benefit the island and encourage the sugar industry, it seemed likely to afford a profitable investment for Danish capital. But with the usual complacency which afflicts most nations when they have a public enterprise in hand, it was resolved, as the projectors were Danish and the money all Danish, none of the work should go into foreign hands if they knew it. So the machinery was planned in Denmark, and the whole scheme placed under the control of a Danish syndicate. This was very unfortunate, for at that time Denmark had next to no experience in sugar making, at least, as compared to wrhat she has to-day. The consequence was that many experiments and failures were made at the Factory long before things could be got to work smoothly and the product could be marketed. It might have been 174 LEAFLETS FROM THE DANISH WEST INDIES. far better had the capital been furnished in Denmark, and foreigners who had gained the requisite experience, at the large usines of Marti nique for example, been consulted. Had the enterprise been even managed and built by foreigners, it would not have mattered much. It would only have been a question of time for the whole thing to have fallen into Danish hands or management, and for a second factory to have been established in a more suitable spot near Frederiksted. But this was out of the ques tion. At that time it did not seem possible that a foreigner could know more than the projectors upon such a subject. Such exclusive- ness was destined to nip the enterprise in the bud. There was plenty of knowledge, but little actual experience. And yet we have been told that a man was " imported," at the beginning, who had taken an active part in the establishment of the beetroot sugar manufactory in Denmark, to give his opinion on the manufacture of an article he had probably never seen made in the tropics before, and who knew nothing whatever, however, how things stood with the cane juice, nor how the cane juice was to be treated. We are quite of the opinion that large factories with improved machinery for turning out the best grades of sugar must be more advantageous than methods which recall to mind the old wind and cattle mill, but it is not to be supposed with such a series of blunders and failures which marked the advent of the Central Factory, that planters will go in very heartily for the establishment of another, when the former only gives the value of six pounds of ordinary sugar for every hundred pounds of cane, and know ing from the meagre reports published that an average of nearly nine pounds of sugar per hundred pounds had been made. It cannot be expected they should feel encouraged to support an undertaking that has never given them any interest upon their shares, though guaran teed by the Colonial Treasury of St. Croix. Many of them have pre ferred to supplement their open battery systems by open steam pans, and some few of the larger landowners by vacuum pans, these last now also making beautiful crystals in the place of the old-fashioned muscovado. A notable example and one of the first was estate " Beth lehem " in 1883. Then estates " Lower Love" and " Carlton," and it is now contemplated for " Barrenspot." It is not our purpose to enter into any details of the working of the Central Factory under its present management, nor of the shifts to which a well-meaning and honourable Government has been put in order to forestall tbe claims of unfortunate shareholders, who, having been offered by the Ministry of Finances in Copenhagen 30 per cent, for their shares (that is about one-half of the amount that they should have received for interest), decided at their general meeting, held in Copenhagen on 29th November, 1887, to accept the offer of the Ministry, and then resolved to dissolve the Company. ST. CROIX. THE CENTRAL FACTORY. 175 These are as much matters of history as the fact of one of the shareholders levying upon Government House in Bassin took these communities by surprise. Neither do we care to criticise the processes employed at the Factory in its manufacture of sugar. These may "be, and are no doubt, beyond criticism. This much, however, may be said, that even among its employes it has been regretted that the pipe system was adopted as a means of conveying the liquor from the several stations in the country to the Factory. Practical planters were well aware of the changes it would undergo in such a lengthy transit, and the difficulty of manufacturing it profitably into sugar, and they said so from the first. The large amount of lime necessary to preserve the liquor until it reached the Factory, and the expensive process that had to be employed to extract it when it did get there, were quite enough to demand serious consideration from the most sanguine sup porters of such a method. At any rate, to this the Factory's failure as a paying investment, more than once has been attributed. How to make it pay is the problem left to be solved by the new owrners. CHAPTEE XXIX. AS HEALTH RESORTS. HE islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix have been long known as health resorts. Physicians in the United States have Wf® recommended them ; travellers have spoken in glowing terms M f* of their picturesque beauty ; and many invalids, consumptives and others, have derived benefit from a more or less pro- ^ tracted stay in them. Not that climatic treatment is always successful, nor that its virtues ought to be over-estimated. In the words of an eminent authority on Diseases of the Throat and Lungs : — " It is often a potent factor in the early treatment of phthisis, but when recommended in the last stages is of no use whatsoever. To send patients who look to us trustingly for advice, and whose hopes of recovery we may feel tolerably sure are fallacious, to any place away from family, friends, and home comforts, or even to allow them to go, if we can help it, is not only exceedingly unwise, but should be condemned in the strongest language possible. The feeble chance offered by a climate which may be superior is greatly overbalanced by the almost necessary depression resulting from the forced separa tion from dear ones, and the absence of many accustomed luxuries, by the fatigue and dangers of travelling, and by the far from pleasant prospect of dying in a strange land." It is, therefore, only in the first stage, as a rule, that we can dare to hope for much benefit from a decided change of climate, although sometimes a patient with a chronic single cavity in one lung and no trouble in the other, with no special fever, haemorrhage or complication, will do well in a climate like that of St. Croix, the atmosphere of which is dry, warm and pure ; the mercury ranging in winter from 76° to 82° —the summer heat being a little higher. Those patients who have feverish symp toms with high evening temperature, attended with secondary com plications, would do better not to travel. More especially as the advantages to be derived are more from the circumstances incidental to the change —such as outdoor life, freedom from care, anxiety and AS HEALTH KESOItTS. 177 annoyance of business at home, and, it may be added, the moral effect of the hope or expectation of being benefitted by climatic influence. To those who travel in these islands, either on business or for pleasure, we would say " shun the brandy bottle as you would the plague" — it is not a specific for fever ; and if our hilarity were not sometimes excited by seeing a worthy son of Albion stalking down the main street of St. Thomas with the oddest and thinnest of white costumes flapping about his person like the sails of a vessel in a calm, we should advise a visitor to dress as decently and respectably in the tropics as he does in his own country. There is not the slightest reason for anyone, not even a foreigner, to make himself so conspicuous. We know that it is very much the custom of such persons to excuse their vagaries in this direction on the score of u such hot weather, dontcherknow." But we must certainly say, we have never felt it so hot here as it is some times in Europe or the United States in the summer. People in the Danish West Indies dress sensibly enough, and we might say taste fully and well. Men wear tweed suits, and black cloth, cut in the latest fashion, the only difference being that the stuff is much thinner and more suited to the climate in consequence. Light woollen or silk underwear is used by most people, and is certainly the best and most calculated to protect one from a chill if exposed to a draught when perspiring. Thin merino underwear, or none at all, fine white linen shirts, white coats, and white pants, though very cool, are simply abominations as far as a newcomer is concerned, and very often such a suit, when worn without a vest, is but a preparatory shroud. The man coming out here who has a weak spot in his constitution should take due note of this. Another great mistake is that of laying in a stock of medicines before leaving home. It has always amused us to see the bottles of quinine and other little bottles of sundry drugs which young travellers sometimes display as evidence of some good and loving parents' forethought. Not that we have ought to say against such kindness. We simply protest against the medicine. Nor do we object to this when necessary, and when given in small doses by skilled hands. The West Indies is not the interior of Africa. Medicines appropriate to the diseases incident to the climate can be got there as easily as in Europe. Hence, it is as useless for the traveller to encumber himself with them as it is for him to lay in a large supply of clothes before leaving home. Let your effects be sufficient to fill one small trunk which can be easily handled, or, better still, two valises. These you can lift yourself and will serve to make you independent of porters who may choose to be exorbitant in their charges. Another point worth noting. Always make an agreement with such gentry beforehand. It is better to understand each other from the begin ning, for then both parties will be satisfied. Before you step into a N 178 LEAFLETS ¥1\0U THE DANISH WEST INDIES. boat or hand your luggage to a porter ask him how much he will charge. It is not a had thing to do at St. Thomas where such service is exceptionally good. But in Barbadoes it would seem from all accounts to be an actual necessity. Beware of "touters," or "pilots," as they are called here. When you get on shore go to the best hotel or boarding house. Thence you may proceed elsewhere, and in small towns such as one meets with in the West Indies, one soon finds out everything he wishes to know. Don't go out at night. If you do, put up your umbrella. Never mind being laughed at, though that will be rarely the case. The dew falls very heavily, and even those who live out in the tropics are careful not to expose themselves too much to it. Don't eat too much meat, nor drink too much wine or beer. Live abstemiously at first. Eat when and as the inhabi tants do. It may be inconvenient at first, but you will soon get used to it. If you need a stimulant, drink a glass of hot milk in prefer ence to raw spirits. A cup of tea without milk is a refreshing drink sometimes. Besides, excellent lemonade can be made from the limes which grow so plentifully in these islands. Neither should you neglect your "morning tub." This you can get anywhere in the West Indies. It is a favourite with almost everyone. Your true West Indian loves his bath. By attention to these rules, with moderation in smoking and other vices incident to the genus homo, it is surprising what good health anyone can enjoy, even when lots of others are laid up with the diseases said tp be peculiar to these countries, but which are more often the result of eccentricity in dress, food or living. Should you, however, feel ill at any time don't persist in walking and working with the idea of getting rid of your sickness. Just go to bed at once. Rest. Keep quiet. If feverish, send for a doctor. Ask him to get you a Creole nurse, an addition to his own skill that is valuable. Follow their advice strictly. And if it should be fever, keep quiet even after you get over it, which you certainly will, if you have a good constitution and have lived temperately during your residence. We have seen many yellow fever patients lost through their not being kept persistently quiet in bed for a few days longer than apparently necessary. Speaking of rest. Go to bed early. Rise early in the West Indies. You may not become particularly healthy, wealthy, nor wise through it. But it will benefit you nevertheless. And, now, with regard to the best time of the year to visit these islands. We are of the opinion that the summer months are the healthiest. A person seeking recreation or change should not come in October, November, nor December. Not that there are not fine days in these months ; but the best weather for a stranger seeking refuge from the chilly blasts of a cold northern winter is decidedly in the early part of the year. Not that there is any need to be scientific over the matter, or to concern one's self too much about it. Never AS HEALTH RESORTS. 179 mind the average height of the thermometer or its variations. Do not trouble yourself about the mean rain fall, but find out from some body's journal how many days are fine enough in any of these islands to go out in the forenoon and afternoon. That is the test you require, and by that you may be confidently guided. By following this advice you will never be far wrong. And should your selection fall upon either St. Thomas or St. Croix, you will find out that there are as many fine days to be found in either of these islands as in any other part of the globe. The great trouble with some of the best climates as health resorts is that to-day they have very little else to recommend them, because they are so uncivilized, so to speak. Now we think we have already shown that, in the Danish West Indies, all the refinements of civilized life are to be met. Agreeable society, if somewhat monotonous; charming hospitality, and a kind-hearted people. In neither of the islands does malaria exist. In both are comfortable homes, and in St. Croix, particularly, the loveliest scenery is to be beheld, and the plcasantest drives to be had. It is also im portant to remember that change of climate is a relative term, and that to receive benefit from it, there is by no means always the necessity for travelling to the ends of the earth or to a great dis tance. Here again are St. Thomas and St. Croix most advantage ously situated. They are both in direct steam communication with New York, and one can reach either of them from that place in the short space of five days. There is also telegraphic communication with all parts of the world, thus placing everyone within easy con- converse with all he may love dearest and best. ;nq £ouo poo$ e 93[i3iir o; so.imBoj ;i ifripjpm oq; put? A ;t30J$ oq; o; sjBeq 'pequosep OAoqt3 'dno.Lo siioojuopo ;x39jS oq; ipnjAY ;i3q; o; rajTinis A.ioa ;y o; uoi;i3pj: 13 xt?eq 'spa? srq; jo sopie o;isoddo uo ^pt^ouy pui3 ztliq ^ubq ojiqAi f oorjj °^I0cI VU13 'F^H SQSJOAUJ^ ipiqAi 81X1? omo;tqd ;t39x8 oq; jo Ti()r;imui;uoo v si spuupi 089q; jo ureqo ti3.i;u90 91JJQ 'sdno.xS 989q; jo aoq;p o; 3uopq ;ou op sput3pj ntSat^ 9q; 'Suispsods App30i3opor) *BJ0;i3Al 9S9q; jo 8;in3;i;qi3qut .toui.ioj oq; — sjpqe pire sp3JO0 jo 8Uii3Ut0.i oq; jo ';ot3j tit 'dn qmq 'ui.8t.io otu^jo jo sso^ jo ojout qxv 'iu9q; u90A\;oq jo;t?av jo qjdop JOA\oiqi3q8 i? q;iA\. 'qoiqAY 'xqjmihiy put? s(ut;ji3;p\[ ";g< '8;.it?g[ ^'pnq.reg; 'tmSpuy 't3pt?os0(j '800pt3qjt3£[ jo sputqsi oq; 0Jt3 9S9q; SlILCj'lH() *;013J 9q; SuT;t3i;iIt3;8qiXS 8901I130pA 0Ai;013 90jq; JO OOUOSOjd Oqj, 'UlSlJO OTU'BOpA JO A]p0^qUOptIIl 0J13 SpiIt3pT OSOqjQ •^pi3U0J-IT) o; i3qi?g ukxtj 3iupuo;xo sputqsi jo uruqo 13 Aq ;i uiojj po;t3Jt3dos si qoiqAY 'utjooo oi;nxq;y oq; jo nut? ni3 st? uog ux'oqqLTBQ oq; Aioqs \\im. sorpuj ^so^V J° V3 ^ouv\S y -3uisu ojto sput?pi osoq; ;i3q; soi;p:oq;nt3 ;uo;0duioo qons Xq pojnssx? ;ou ojoav 9AV put? 'e;ouioj Xj9a 08 ;ou ;r 0J0A\ — ;oodsojd t? qons ;i? ouoSoq pui3 dn 5pt?d o; pouipin p9j ouo 89^[i3Ui ;t 'dmu oq; jjo iuojj xGoddxssrp 'sduqjad '.i9A0 opldo^ (ui390o oq^ o^ux }pi?q >^ni8 \[G Avm oav A/op 9inos ^qq. puuti stotio ux S9STJ13 ^qSnoq4 oq^ noqAV pui3 i 890Tn3^sxunoj;p ipns aepun s9JnSu qons 9^i3xdui9^noo o; ojquro.T^ ouo soprani ^souqu -raoq^ S9^i3JBd9S qoiqAi snioq^j 000 (Z JO AO JO UlSinp JO 111X30 jp XTOJQ O^ pQ13pI y3l{% IUOJJ J9A0 SSO.IO oqAi a\oj puy -smoq^uj 99^'^ 813 juj 813 iiAvop ^noAi ^1 qSnoq^ *