Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-09-17
SWEDISH arOnErunEns, pAY.D


THE Swedish.Amerlcan citizens Of
this Republic were celebrating during
the past week the anniversary u au
event that deserves more than passing
notice. This they call "Foreiathers'
Day.D The occasion IL In memory Of
the first colony Of Swcdes who landed
on the banks Of the Delaware, 255
year, ago, Ia the month Of September.
This memorable event can not DO
well touched on without glanclng nj
the history Of Sweden. Uutll 1921
that country was for about 900
Year, Joined by mutual union with
Denmark. In that year Gu,,avus
Nasa delivered II from the Danish
compact. Two years later he was
crowned king. IL was no who Intro.
duccd Luthrranism into Sweden In
1877. Ills country took leading part
Ia the religious reformation during the
succeeding century. About 1850 we
Ind the famous Gustavus Adolphus nj
the head Of the rrtormers Of Europe.
We hud him triumphant at MadFo-
burg aud Munich, but Mt the fearful
battle Of lutzen, Nov. o, 1882, that
gallant soldier was slain. But
with his memory We must
associate the anniversary that
Ia being celebrated AZ the
present time In tho United States. On
June II, 1899 charter was granted
by that monarch 10 establish the South
Sea company. THIS meant Ia . coloniz.
ing Of American soil with swedish
emlgrants, and the Institution Of n
govcrnnen, that would promote and
maintain perfect religious liberty.
~ this time sweden was engaged In
war with halfof Europe. Her tcsour.
ccs were exhausted. Gustayus himself
pawned his Jowelry aud plate TO carry
on his battle In behalf OF reform.
There was no money for the new
scheme, and II wa. postponed for a
time. Tho fatal day at Lntzen finally
prevented the great Chioftain from
prosecuting his favored American pro-
Ject.
However, OXenstlcrna, the great
statesman, did not allow his beloved
klng'a grand Idea TO be abandoned.
by his agency, two ships, the
"Nyckle" and the "Grp" left Gotten.
burg for America 10 August
1857. These vessels contained the
INT cmigrants from Sweden destined
10 land GU American soil. In the
North sea they encountered n hurri'
cane, aud were obliged to put Ia, foI
shelter and repairs, 10 Holland. Afiei
settling saii once more, they were tossed
for several months on the bosom of the
Atlantic. Finally Delaware Bay wa'
reached, and anohom east Mt paradis,
Point. by purchase, a tract Of LAND
equal ia extent to the present State o
Delaware aud half Of Pcnnsylyanii
was obtained from the Indians.
This was called New Sweden, aud /
fortress built called Fort Christina. II
honor Of the queen. hut seventeen
yoars later, In 1865, the Dutch obtalne,
dominion over the colony, aud IA,
Swedish nag was torn down. Late
England obtained control. and th,
Dutch flag gave way 70 tho English
subsequently the English nag depart
ed aud the stars and stripes ilutiered II
triumph to the breeze.
The descendants Of these hardy oil,
colonla,s fought heartily and onthusi
astlcally at tho side OF Washington II
; the revolution.
At the present time though tho dc
scendants Of those old settlers show m
: distinctive characteristics as Swedish
= colonl-ts, they oan be found In botl
Delaware and Pennsylvania, AM
even la New Jersey. They ara note
for their energy, industry, activity AM
perseverance,, marked qualities OF thei
foreiatheIs.