Santa Cruz 105 
atrovirens which is appropriately named ‘‘scratch- 
throat”? on account of its irritating microscopic needle- 
like raphides. 
On one of my excursions I visited the estate of a Mr. 
Roberts, situated a short distance to the northward of 
Fredericksted, where I was most cordially received and 
was entertained with some interesting stories, the most 
thrilling of which was an account of the stranding of the 
United States Ship Monongahela by a great tidal wave. 
The catastrophe occurred on the afternoon of Nov. 18, 
1867. The ship was lying off the town very near where 
our ship had anchored, when suddenly a severe earthquake 
shock was felt and the vessel was lifted up by a great wave 
and carried completely over the tops of the warehouses _ 
near the shore into one of the streets but came back with — 
the returning sea and was deposited on an even keel at 
the water’s edge. Fortunately only five of her crew were 
lost, and she sustained so little injury that it was possible _ 
to relaunch her about six months later. In the mean- 
time one of the officers who remained attached to — 
- Lieutenant Commander (afterwards Rear Admiral) H 
. rington succeeded in winning the hand of one of the an ah = 
: — young. ladies of the island; and it fale ee 
also that ee te 
