t Oranje.

More than that, Statia became the center for contraband of war. All the
other islands took advantage of this. Statia became a huge arsenal.
American privateers and blockade-runners were convoyed by Dutch
men-of-war, which, of course, could not be attacked. Smugglers were
amply provided with Dutch papers. Goods poured in from Europe every day
in the week. Rich owners of neighboring islands, not knowing how the
French-English strife might turn out, sent their valuables to Statia for
safe keeping. The little island became a treasure-house.

At times more than a hundred merchant vessels could be seen swinging to
their anchors in the roadstead. A mushroom town appeared as by magic.
Warehouses rose by scores. The beach was hidden by piles of boxes, bags
and bales for which no storeroom could be found. Merchants came from all
ports, especially the Jews and Levantines, who, since the beginning of
time, have been the trade-rovers of the sea. Neither by day nor by night
did the Babel of commerce cease. Unlike other West Indian towns, where
such a condition led to gaiety and pleasure, Fort Oranje retained its
Dutch character. It was a hysteria, but a hysteria of buying and selling
alone.

Then, one fine day, February 3, 1781, Rodney came down with a British
fleet and captured Fort Oranje and all that it contained. There were
political complications involved, but Rodney bothered little about that.
Fort Oranje was a menace to British power. Rodney took it without
remorse, appropriated the more than $20,000,000 worth of goods lying on
the beach and the warehouses, and the 150 merchantmen, which, on that
day, were lying in the bay. Jews and Levantines were stripped to the
skin and sent packing. The Dutch surrendered and took their medicine
phlegmatically. The French, as open enemies, were allowed to depart with
courtesy.

Then came the great auction. Without reserve, without remorse, over
$20,000,000 worth of goods were put up for what they would fetch. Boxes,
crates, bales and bags melted away like snow before the sun. Warehouses
bursting with goods became but empty shells. Traders' booths were
abandoned, one by one. Just for a few months the commercial debauch
lasted, then Rodney sailed away. Since then, the selling on the beach of
Statia has been confined to a little sugar and a few yams.

For the United States, the little fort above Fort Oranje has a historic
memory. From the old cannon, still in position on that f