Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-09-24
THE SWEDISH PIONEERS.
A Leaf From the Early History Of
Delaware.

DttAWatSs
N. Y. Mail and Express.
To Sweden's hero-King Gustavus
Adolphus ii. belongs the credit Of
originating the idea of planting q
Swedish colony in America After the
victories gained by these hardy people
in the wars they waged against Russia,
Poland and Denmark, Wilhelm Usse-
link, an influential Hollander, suggested
that Sweden should acquire territory in
foreign lands, and take position among
nations and compete with them in trade
and commerce, and by so doing she
could offer Christianity to the heather,
extend the domain Of the kingdom, en-
rich her treasury and give to her people
all the advantages of an extended COM
merce. This proposition was well
thought of by the king and he granted
rights and privileges to Usselinx TO form
the so-called South Sea Company whose
charter was dated June 14th, 1926.
Sweden, however, after the long
wars, was impoverished, her trea-
sury nearly empty, her crops
had been uncared for, and her
once rich men were then poor, and the
king himself had even pawned his
household plate to carry on the con-
tinued warfare, so that but little more
than the granting of the charter was
done. The heart of Adolphus was in
the scheme, for il was his intention that
this proposed colony should be an asy-
lum for the oppressed of all nations, a
free state where all should have equal
rights and enjoy to the fullest extent
the fruits OF their own labor, and that
slavery in no form should be permitted
to exist within its borders; thus 265
years ago did this wise and good king
plan for freedom on these shores. Had
this original enterprise been carried out
and the hopes of Adolphus fulfilled,
slavery would not have existed here and
probably we should never have had q
civil war in our land.
In 1889 Gustavus Adolphus fell at
Lutzen fighting for religious freedom
and the advancement of civilization,
and with him passed away for time
his grand idea of a colony founded on
broad and advanced principles which
later, under the inspiration of the king
OF kings, was established here and has
become our grand republic.
II remained for the greatest of Swed-
ISL statesmen, Chancellor Axel Oxenst-
jern, to see his beloved kings idea in
some measure fulfilled. He succeeded
in interesting three wealthy Hollanders
in the scheme, who advanced one-half
OF the amount necessary to fit out the
expedition, the other half being raised
by Oxenstjern.
In 1887 the Royal Admiralty fitted
out the two South Sea Company's YES
sells named respectively Kalmar Nickel
and Fogel Grip, and these set sail from
Goteborg for America in August, 1887.
On these small, but stanch vessels, the
first Swedish emigrants, with throbbinr
hearts, but undaunted courage, left
their northern homes and cheerful fire.
sides for an unknown fate in new and
undeveloped land. In the North Sea a
hurricane nearly engulfed them and
forced them to seek u shelter for repairs.
which they found in port in Holland.
With new sails and restocked lockers.
they again put to sea, and for yero
SIX months they were tossed about Oh
the Atlantic, and II is now 253 years
since the Key and tho Gritfen sailed into
Delaware Bay and let 60 anchors at
place they named Paradise Point.
by purchase these peaceful colonists
acquired from the Indians immense
tracts of land, embracing nearly the
whole OF the present State Of Delaware
as well as large portion of Pcnnsyl-
yanla, which they named New Sweden,
and built fortress which they called
Fort Christina, in honor of their queen.
For only II years this colony existed
under the Swedish flag, when the Dutch
wrested it from them, but their holding
was brief, for the English soon de.
spoiled them Of their possessions, but
the old Swedish stock In Delaware, al.
though losing their distinctive character
istics as Swedish colonists, never has
died out, and their descendants are to
be found to- day in that State as well as
in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
As the old Swedish settlers Of Della
ware hewed down the forests. and cut
out from the wilderness settlements.
which in short time, despite hardships
and dangers, took ON all the signs of
civilization and progress, as the old
Swede OF two and a half centuries ago
was a pioneer indeed, so we find this
same spirit in his children Of today
who come to our shores, possessing the
same characteristics. In the wilds of
the west, in the boundless tracts of
almost waste land in the southwest.
there we will find the Swedish emigrant
OF to-day, seeking and making home
Tor himself and his family, and soon be-
coming a loyal citizen Of his adopted
country.