Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-11-29


Corrssp Idenue OF ihs n. Y. kveaing kost.
WILMINGTON, DEL Nov. 12.--Aooidant
led uE in cur annual flight southwark TO
tarry for few days IL this charming and
picturesque town; We have been grateful
for the accident, go pleasantly have the days.
passed. Really there ia nothing quite like
Wilmington in the States. Ills composite;
six civilizations-DGtch Swede, Quaker,
French, West Indian, English--aFe
merged into one. 1t is borderland too,
between North and south, and the line ia
60 sharply drawn that you can stand with
ono foot In the strong, active, aggressive
North and the other in the soft, tranquil
lotus-land OF the South, It 10 delightfully."-
situated between the finger aud thumb
of two rivers,n as Dickens said, and he
might have added lying on the broad
palm OF the Delaware. The two ''rivers"
are the Brandywine, of omincus fame-so
callei, the local ANTICIPATES say, because
ship loaded with brandy was wrecked OF
its mouth-snd the Christina, named
by the loyal Swedes after their beloved
queen. One rarely finds near together
streams of more opposite character the
Bsandywine being turbulent, vexed and
rapid torrent, the Christina placid as
mountain lake.
Many masters this fair bit OF country
haa seen since the Indian held undisputed
sway. AS one fingers in the old burial.
place of the Swedes, they pass before one
like the shifting scenes Of tine panorama.
First came the Dutch, claiming posses.
sion by virtue of the discovery By
Hendrick Hudson in 1909, and erecting
rude log forts to hold their own. They
found eager rivals, however, In the
Swedes, who as early az 1925, under the
great Gustavus Adolphus, had cast
ooyetous eyes upon this particular slice
of Dutch territory. At length, in 1888, q
Swedish frigate and tender, commanded
by ex. Director Minuit, formerly Of Now
Amsterdam, sailed up the river. Dssp;s.
ing the protests OF the Dutch, her people
landed and built a fort on the point of
rocks overlooking the creek little to the
left, and in front of the present church.
yard. They named it Christina, in honor
of their royal mistress, "Qaesn of the
Swedes, the Goths and the Yends." Keift
the Testy, at New Amsterdam, sent threat.
eniDg letters ordering them away; but
they were not molested, and continued
their settlements until 1856, when the
warlike 6tuyEesant, Governor OF New
Amsterdam, received orders to Dive
them from the country. S,uyPesant uu-
dertook his commission with slacrity.
His trumpeters were sent out to beat up
town and country for recruits seven
armsd vessels we're ,proyided-one fol
each hundred Of volunteers. Ga Sunday,
September 9th, 1866, Domino Megapolen.
sis preached q sermon to them. Then, az
Mr.. Todd tells us in his {" Story of New
York." the burgher guard, 700 yalieni
men, mustered at the fort. At roll OF
drum they gathered before their colors,
fully armed, with both hand and side
arms, their bandoleers we'll filled with
powder and ball, their musksts properly
loaded and provided with rests. Thor
they deployed upon the parade for in
Hpection, while the whole town gazed
At last, preceded by drummers amt
trumpeters, the army marched up thu
"Heere 6traatn as far as the tavern Of
Wolfert Webber, who refreshed then
with cakes and ale, after which the,
marched back and went on board this
feet, which quickly bore them from
sight.
Two Swedish forts, Trinity and Chris
tina, awaited the attack OF this puisssn
host. The latter was few miles below
near Lswt Hnd on Friday reneiysd III
ene@y's q .a1z ana quickly eapitulAtac
The victorious arg s4ou pushed on ovei
land and closely invested Fort Ohriatins
where Gov. Risingh, with about 40 msn
was intrenohed. The trumpeter sounde
demand for surrender, but Gov Rising
showed disposition to psrley and srgu
the matter. He recounted the whole his
tory OF the Swedish colony and prove
oonciusiyely that the swedes had quite O
fair title to the territory as these hig
mightinesses themselves. This parle
occupied several days-ao long that Go,
Stuyvesant became angry and threatene
to fall violently upon the Swedes" an
"to give no quarter unless an instsy
surrender of the fort and country WI
made. Gov. Rlsingh then asked Il
terms. There is preserved quaint oil
paper giving the conditions of surrendI
at length agreed upon. II Ia entitle
Articles bstween the brave and mob
director John Risingh, Governor of Ne
Sweden, and the brave and noble direct
Peter Stuyvesant, Governor-gsneral
New Netherland.h ALI the cannon al
munitions Of war wore 10 remain Il
property Of thu Swedish crown en-
"Gov. RisinRh, his superior and inferit
VmS1AD3 LIE h1u bOlultEh NELB
march out OF the fort with drums al
trumpets playing, flags filing, match
burning, with hand and side arms ar
balls in their Inugkets, /" and were to /
transported to SANDY Huok, situated ii;
Holland mllea the other side OF New Yof
under safe conduct" The governor Gu
his factor were also alio we'd sever
servants each.
Mnuf Of kha =. ~.
country, living cententedly under the
new masters. Things went on aq usa
until 1864, When the Dutch possession
fell into the hands of the English and
the Duke of York, although ne event "
scarcely noticed on the banks Of the De
aware.
In 1879 George Fox, the Arst Qaaks
wrnng out his historical leather breecls
on the banks Of the Christina aud CO
tinusd on his missionary Journey. "y
came to the Christina River he poteg
his 5iary, land there we swem over G,
horses.n Wilmington was not resi-
settled until the arrived Of the Swedl
Lutherans about 1897, who found
parishes all along the Delaware from 5
George, Ia miles below Wilmington,
Trenton, all under the PATRONAGE VI XII
William OF Eogland. Wilmington. tii
named Willingstown, stter the chief m
among them, soon became the prineic
settlement. Later the name " IS chung
to Wilmington in honor OF that E,tl
Wilmington to whom Thomson dedieat
bis winter" THIS town early becam,
seaport and seat Of lsgga milling
dustry, the first settlers floating tn
corn and wheat down the Christina
Delaware and utilizing the water pow
of the Brandywine in grinding it. 60
they began exporting The q luE. as ea
Gs l762 large mills stool az the p9
where the Braudywins ialls Into iii
water. Long lines Of Cnneatnqa Rauc