The U.S. Virgin Islands consist of four islands, St. Thomas,
St. Croix, St. John and Water Island [Water Island was purchased by the
U.S. on June 19, 1944 for $10,000 to protect the
submarine base on Saint Thomas during World War II]. The three islands (St.
Thomas, St. Croix and St. John) are about 135 square miles and have a
population of less than a quarter of a million people. The islands were
purchased from Denmark on January 17, 1917 for $25 million in gold because the
United States government feared Germany would attack the islands, establishing
a submarine base there during WWI.
If there was a steady breeze, cane was brought to the
windmill. Revolving sails turned a central shaft, rotating the rollers and
crushing the stalks. Juice ran down the rollers into the gutter, flowing
downhill to the factory. The windmill was built around 1797.
Magens Bay
