The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-06-22


midst of the War, by s Families Of
the Brethren, and about as many of
the Refugees whOdeSIred to join them.
Till July 1859 Bethabara had been
very healthy, but now a Part of the
adjoining Swamp having been cleared,
and the MillpOnd swelled into the
NeighborhOod of the Place. being by
the alternate rising and falling of the
Water-caused by the Mills-exposed
to the EXhalatiOnS by the Sun; the
Air was thereby so infected, that a
violent fever suddenly broke out,
which in the Space of One Month
carried off out of 90 inhabitants,
and from that time every \ ear. from
Midsummer to the Depth of Winter
an epidemic, Fever prevailed, whereby
almost everybody was laid up, Which
caused great DiScOuragement.u until ~
1894 it was resolved to clear the whole
bottom of about 20 Acres, whereby
! the Circulation of the Air being in
creased, the mills also now made with
! double Gears, requiring less Water,
and Shadows being gradually over
grown with Cane, Bethabara recover
ed its original HealthineSs as much as
ever.
In 1850 an extraordinary Occurrence
happened about the Centre of the
tract, which has the Appearance of
an ImprObab1lity, yet actually hap
pened, to the great Amusement of the
BehOlders, viz, an incredible Number
of wild PidgeOnS assembled there
every Night for a Month together. in
small District, percbing manifold
upon one another, so as by their
Weight to break down the largest
Limbs of Oaks, bending tie Tops of
others to the Ground, which was COW
cred more than one foot high with
Dung. The ruins of the Wood as
well as the remains of the Dung could
be seen several Years after. The
Noise was so terrible that Man
not be heard without bawling loud
and Waagonloads of them killed with
Sticks were carried off.
Till then the Plantation work had
been the chief Employment, Trades
had rather served for their own use.
During the War Colonel Henry
Laurens from Charleston coming to
Bethabara upon an Expedition against t
the Indians, took particular Notice Of
the Institution, and ever since repeat
eddy declared a regard for the Breth-
rem. BY his advice in 1751 the first
Wagons with Deerskins went to
Charleston, bringing Goods in return,
and now a Store was begon, and
Trades became useful for Commerce
In 1862 the first Organ was brought
from Pennsylvania, and in 1863 several
Wells were sunk provided with pumps,
which had never been done before in
these Parts.
The War being now at an End, in
1865 the original Idea of settling CEN
trail Place was resumed, and fixed uE-
on to be where Salem now stands, the
Execution however was delayed till
after the Arrival of the first Company
that came Immediately from Europe
to North Carolina in January 1866.
The Building of Salem was properly
carried on from Bethabara, which is 8
miles off. Salem according to its Sit
uation could only subSiSt by Trades,
the different Branches whereOf-then
established at Bethabara-COuldn not
be decided, without hurting their
Commerce, until they were able to
move all at the same Time. This
moving could not be effected till the
Spring of 1712-and till then Salem
could not be said to be properly in
habited-since which Time the joint
ECONOMY, wherein they had hitherto
lived was entirely dropped.
This joint Economy had no refer
ence to the private fortune of the In
dividuals, which had always remain
ed their property, and continued to be
so; nor to the Land they levied on, as
none of them had contributed to-
wards the purchase thereof, but only
to their present united Work, and
whatever they earned, was laid out
for the general support of themselves
and their Families, nor was any one
constrained to continue therein longer
than it was his Choice, for that whole
regulation made in the Beginning was
only intended to serve ad interim, and
as Shift for the present Necessity al
their first setting out. Since that
Time every Body wOrketh earneth and
payeth for himself, in the same Man
ner as everywhere, nor is one lndiYid-
ual or one Village bound for the other
except they choose it of their own Ac
cord.
However some of the Businesses at
Salem, for which express Buildings
had been erected, and Capitals had
been borrowed for the Stock thereof
are put into the Hands Of trusty Per
sons who have a fixed Share in the
Profits, and at any rate, even lin Case
of LOseS-which sometimes happen
their certain Salary. The clear Profits
if there be any remaining-aftert the
Interests of the Capitals and repairs
of the Building, the Wages of the PEG
pie employed, and Other7EXpences a:
well as frequent Loses by bad Debts
and Casualties, together with the
Share allotted to the Masters of the
Businesses have been deducted, are
from Time to Time under the Care OF
a Diacony employed as far as they
will reach or Necessity urgeth, to gen
eral Purposes, such as the Mainten
ancc of the Ministers, Schools, Mis-
sions among Heather Nations, the
Superannuated or the Widows anC
nPnhanS of fhnCa fI,nt h n cnrNn6 I n.
COmmunity-if they be otherwise un
provided for-public Buildings anC
Journits, together with Mum Der o
| other Exigeucies which stand in NeeC
! of Support. These Trades excepted
| which have been so stocked, the In
habltants in general live in their owl
| Houses, and carry on their Trades 70
! themselves.
| When convenient Place for tn
| Situation of Salem was looked out for
| Care had been taken that it might b
on a sufficient Eminence for the SAX
| of Health, however, so that it nigh
| be supplied by pipes with Water from
| higher Springs half a mile off. Thi'
| was however not effected, until il
! 1717 the Inhabitants borrowed a Cap
/ ital and joined in a voluntary yearl
Contribution, whereby the Capital a
| well as the constant repairs are to b
paid in Time. To regulate thei
| Meetings, they had Bell cast a
| Bethlehem in Pennsylvania Of 81
pounds weight; and an Organ wa
built here of two Stops.
/ In 1890 and 1871 a Turret was bull
| and Town Clock was brought fron
Europe, which striketh the hours upol
the said Bell, the Expense whereo
was raised partly by a legacy, an
partly by Subscription of the In
| habitantS.
The first Settlers had left their Chi
dren at the Schools in Pennsylvania