Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-08-17
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CLEARFIELD COUNTY,:
OR, "REMINISCENCES OF THE PAST.

CLEAkFlELD COUNTY,:
OR. "REMINISCENCES OF THE PAST.
And who was e.. Philip Guelich, and why
should his name be kept in remembrance by
our people, Had the record named him
"Father Guelich," such a question would
hardly have been asked. Are you not familiar
with the face of that grey haired veteran who
regularly every Monday night of Court sits as
President of the total abstinence society, and
has done so for so long a series of years that,
had his right been disputed, he could, even
years ago, have pleaded the statute of limita-
tions You have seen him oft, during a Pc
riod exceeding the average duration of life,
vending his way, whenever the Sabbath dawn
ed on US, to assume his duties as Superinten-
dant Of the Sabbath school, and impart TO
children, less innocent and artless than him.
self, the genial and humanizing lessons of the
Bible. Some style him Lutheran-his walk
and conversation stamp him Christian.
George Philip Guelich was born in the city
OF Hamburg in 1888. His parents were in
good circumstances, which enabled them to
confer on him fair education. He engaged
in the business of refining sugar in his native
city. Hamburg contained over three hundred
sugar refineries, but during the time of the
Napoleonic wars this, as well as many other
branches of business, was rendered precarious
almost totally destroyed. So much was
Mr.. Guelich's business interfered with, that,
in 1903, he resolved to go to London and fol-
low his trade there. The whole Of the Ger
man coast was under blockade by the French
and much of the territory overrun by soldiers
of that nation. To reach England under
such circumstances was difficult and perilous.
There was no regular communication between
Great Britain and the Germanic States, but
contraband trade was kept up, facilities being
enjoyed from the fact that England was pos
sessed of Heligoland, small island in the
North Sea, about As miles from the coast,
which she had acquired from Denmark. The
island contains but small quantity of tillable
land on plateau near its centre, which is
reached by fight of one hundred and ninety
steps. Its position alone gave it Importance.
II once contained several parishes and large
population, but was at this time inhabited by
few fishers and pilots. Having provided
himself with some money and a letter to one
of the pilots at Cuxhayen, on the coast, Cue
Itch packed his trunk and started for that
place. Finding that il would be difficult to
embark here, and not wishing to leave the
country with only such clothes as he had on
his back, as advised by the pilot, he listened
to the suggestions of Jew, and accompanied
him to Bremerlay, small village on the We
res, near the coast. Here he remained Eve
days awaiting chance to depart for Heligo-
land, during which time several vessels from
that port were captured by the French. Hay-
ing sent back his trunk and retaining only
such clothing as he could conveniently carry,
favored by the darkness of the night, he waded
out to shallop which awaited the favorable
moment for setting sail. When out of the
Weser, a shot from British frigate made the
shallop lay by until it was boarded and sig-
nal afterwards given by the frigate for it to
proceed. At Heligoland he took passage in s
packet which was detained in port, by contra
~ winds, for eighteen days. The excess of
population on the island had raised boarding
to almost fabulous prices, fully twenty times
the cost in Germany, and the delay exhausted
most of his means. A difficulty about his
fecSPSAS
wich.. This overcome, he left for London; and
reached it oppressed with the thought that in
that vast concourse of human beings he knew
not one. He obtained work and remained in
sugar house months. Accidentally meeting
with brother, who had been in America but
was then seeking employment in neighboring
refinery, his spirits were raised, and step re-
solved On which changed the current of his
iife. They determined to depart for the Uni
ted States. His brother went FIRST to visit his
friends, and experienced much difficulty in
entering and leaving the fatheriand. In jan
nary 1911, he and his brother set sail for New
York. The weather was boiate rous, the winds
contrary, and the vessel in which they had en-
oarked proved unseaworthy. After being out
tour weeks, when off the banks of Newfound-
land, the captain gave up all hopes of the safe
~ OF the vessel and crew. II was feared that
ihe vessel could not be turned. However IL
vas detsrninea to pm. back 70 Ireland, if DOS