Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 17.djvu/487

SAINT GOTTHARD. 445 SAINT-HILAIRE. SAINT GOTTHARD, Fr. pion. sHn gi'lur'. A mountain ymn)! in the Lepontine Alps, situ- ated in south central Switzerland, on the boun- dary between the eantona of Valais, Uri, and Ti cino (Map: Switzerland, C 2). It is a ruf^jjed mass of granite and gneiss, reaching in Pizzo Rotondo an altitude of 10,489 feet. Saint tiotthard is famous for the pass over the Alps, which at its highest point rises to the height of t)93ti feet. By means of this pass, the higliroad from Fliielen, on Lake Lucerne, i.s car- ried without interruption to Lake Maggiore, in the north of Italy. The road over the pass, con- structed between 1820 and 1832, is one of the best and most convenient of the Alpine carriage- ways, and is free from snow for four or five months of the year. It is remarkable for the grandeur of its scenery, but has, however, been little used since the <ipening of the railroad. In 1869 and 1871 Germany, Italy, and Switzerland signed an agreement for the construction of a railway with a tunnel through the Saint Got- tliard. The tunnel was begun in 1872 and com- ]deted in 1881 at a cost of about $13,000,000. It is 914 miles long, 26 feet wide, 21 feet high, and reaches an elevation in the centre of 3786 feet. The approaches to the tvinnel exhibit the highest order of engineering skill. Consult Spitteler, Dcr (lotlhard (Frauenfeld, 1897). SAINT HELE'NA. An insular possession of Great Britain, situated in the Atlantic Ocean, in latitude 15° 55' S. and longitude 5° 42' V., about 1200 miles west of Africa and about 800 miles southeast of the island of Ascension, the nearest land (Map: Africa, D 6). Area, 47 square miles. The island is of volcanic origin and its surface is rugged and mountainous, reaching an altitude of about 2800 feet in the High Hills in the southwest. The coasts are lined with high cliffs, varying in altitude from 600 to 2000 feet. The climate is moderate and healthful and the mean annual temperature is somewhat over 70°. The forests have almost disappeared, and the remarkable indigenous flora, which included a large portion of species peculiar to the island, has been almost wholly supplanted by exotic species introduced from nearly all parts of the world. The present economic importance of the island is insignificant, its commercial importance having greatly decreased since the construction of the Suez Canal. The island is a Crown colony and is administered by a governor and a council. Population, in 1901, 9850. including nearly 4700 Boer prisoners. Saint Helena is connected by cable with Europe and South Africa, and is an admiralty coaling station. The capital and only j)ort is Jamestown in the northwest, a fortified place with an observatory and a pojiulation of about 2500, Saint Helena was discovered about 1502 by a Portuguese navigator, Joao da Nova, and was settled by the Dutch in 1645. In 1657 it passed to the British East India Company, but was retaken by the Dutch on several occasions. The island owes its fame to the fact that it was from 1815 to 1821 the place of exile of Napoleon, who died there on May 5. 1821, in the farm-house of Longffood, about 3 miles from .Tamestown. During the South African War (1899-1902) many Boer prisoners, including General Cronje (q.v.), were sent to Saint Helena. Consult: Melliss, Saint Helena: a Physical, Historical, and Topographical Dcscriplion of the Island (London, 18751; Brooke. Uislury of Huinl Helena (ib., 1808-24). SAINT HEL'EN'S. A manufacturing town in Lancashire, England, on an allUient of the Mersey, 193 miles northwest of London (.Map: England, D 3). The town is of modern origin and was incorporated in 1868, It owns its markets, abattoirs, water, gas, electric lighting, tramways, dust destructors, and .sew- age farm. There are several parks, notably the Victoria, which uoutains a nuiseum, ami the town has a fine town hall, |)ublic libraries, and a technical school. Saint Helen's carries on an ex- tensive trade in coal, and has plate-glass, copper, bottle, piitent medicine, and other works. There are collieries and deposits of stoneware, clay, and fire-clay. Population, in 1861, 18.39li; in 1901, 84,410.' SAINT HELIER, Fr. pron. saN'tiV'lvft', or SAINT HELIER'S. The capital of Jersey, Channel Klands (ciq.v.), a seaport and favorite watering ])lace on the soutli shore f>f tlie island, and on the east side of Saint Auliin's Bay (.Map: France, D 2). It has an active English and foreign shipping trade, fisheries, iron foundries, perfume manufactories, etc. The town is well built and granite paved, and has fine markets, esplanades, marine walks, bathing ])laces, aquari- um, and parks, Victoria College, the Mais<m Saint Louis or Jesuit College, willi its meteorological observatory and wind tower, the fourteentbcen- tury parish church, the modern Catholic cathe- dral, hospital, town hall. State bou.se, and piiblie library are the chief buildings. The town is de- fended by Elizabeth Castle, on a rocky island off the shore, and by Fort Regent on the southeast, Iniilt about 1806 on a scarped granite rock. Population, 29,000, SAINT HENRI, saN taN'rf'. A city of Hoclii-laga ( ouuty. t,luebec, Canada, It is a southwestern suburb of itontreal, and a busy in- dustrial section with foundries, tanneries, cot- ton mills, manufactures of sewing machines, rock- drill implements, etc. Population, in 1890, 13.41:!: in 1901. 21,192, SAINT HEN'RY, Order of. A Saxon mili- tary ordi'r fmuuled in 1736 by Augu.stus 111., King of Poland and Elector of Saxony. It had originally one class, which was increased to three in 1807,' The decoration, a gold and white cross of eight points, surmomited by a crown, bears a central medallion with the efligy of Emperor Henry II. on a ellow' ground, encircled by a blue band' with the" words "Frid. Aug. D. G. Rex Sax. Instauravit." The reverse shows the Saxon arms with the legend Mrliili in Hello. SAINT HER'MENGILD, Oboer of. A Span- ish order of merit with three classes, founded in 1814 by Ferdinand VII. The order is conferred for land and sea service: the first class on gen- erals and naval conunanders: the second on of- ficers below the rank of brigadier; the third on 'officers of at least 10 years' standing after service of 25 years. The decoration is an eight-pointed cross of white enamel with a circular medallion bearing the effigy of Saint Ilermengild on a blue ground, with the inscription I'rnnio a la conslan- cia ni Hilar. SAINT-HILAIRE, s:-iN't.'l;lr', AtcisTiN Fr.X( OIS CKS.VK (PROfVEXCAI, DE) (1779-1853).