Part 2: The Appeal's May 22nd, 1897 paper on the Bay Islands

The Appeal's 1897 paper on the Bay Islands of Honduras has quite a few stories. The following is another story I had yet to share from thatvery same paper. I've taken the time to write it out as it is read in the paper you can gaze upon, that which I have shared with you a few days ago. Old English is quite naturally a beautiful version of the language and it would sound much less enjoyable if I were to modify it.

It reads as follows:

For many years they formed part of Spain’s Viceroyalty of Guatemala. The early Spanish historians boasted, not wisely but too well, of the beauty and value of these emerald gems in the ring of the wave, and in 1642 they were seized by a horde of English buccaneers who maintained their hold upon them for half a century. The Spaniards regained possession about the year 1720 only to find the once lovely spot a barren waste, for when compelled to retire, the ruthless freebooters destroyed everything that would burn.

In 1742, England again seized the islands in attempting to gain possession of the whole eastern coast of Central America. By that time, Castilian blood was up and Spain had more ability to command respect than now. For twenty years, war raged mostly on the high seas, until finally a treaty of peace was concluded, by the provisions of which England was bound to destroy all her fortifications in those regions and withdraw her men. But under the pretext of a secret reservation, England afterward denied that Ruatan was included in the treaty, and kept that island garrisoned.

War again ensued, during the course of which Guatemala seized Ruatan. A new treaty was made in 1783 by which England surrendered her claims to any part of the American continent and all its dependent islands. But now, notwithstanding this solemn agreement, she still held fast by some quibble to little Roatan and maintained her point for several years with perseverance worthy of a better cause.

At length, another treaty was hatched up which excluded England entirely from this side of the world. But in 1796, while at war with Spain for other reasons, she again grabbed Ruatan. Then another treaty was entered into precisely like that of 28 years before, except that England now relinquished them to Honduras instead of to Spain. The chief business of the powers in those days seemed to have been the making of treaties and the breaking of them.

In 1843, Commodore Macdonald of Her Majesty’s Navy arrived at the islands one fine morning, hauled down the Honduran flag, and ran up his own. But hardly had he turned his back upon Ruatan when one of our passing vessels pulled down the British flag and substituted the stars and stripes. England, grown wise concerning the strength of her rebel daughter. The United States repudiated Macdonald’s conduct as unauthorized and degraded him in this service. Thereupon was great rejoicing throughout Central America, the citizens naturally inferring that England had at last concluded to abandon all pretensions to the long-contested territory.