Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-11-02

ment on the Nantlcoke river, i'll Dor
chester county, Md. There was not
great demonstration, for the settlers are
not demonstrative people, but many
eyes were wet and many hands tremb-
led as mothers embraced sons and
daughters, and wives Joined their hus.
bands in strange land. The reunion
took place upon the arrival of the
second contingent of German farmers
from Kansas, who left Baltimore Tues
day evening for their future home on
the Eastern Shore.
The travellers from the West reached
their destination at o'clock in the
morning, when the full moon still suf-
fused its soft light over the land and
water. 1t took but short time to land
the settlers and all their possessions,
and in few moments the new arrivals
were marching in silent procession to
their promised land under the lead of
Rev. Nicholas Burkart of Baltimore, the
founder of the colony. Their coming
was not expected by the colonists
already on the ground, who supposed
the newcomers would not arrive until
later.
AS the steamer Choptank approached
Lewis wharf, at which she is not accus-
toned to land, she gave several long
Z blasts of her whistle. This was the
notification to the first settlers of the
coming of their brethren, and prepara-
tons were at once made to receive the
newcomers. The passengers from the
steamer had gone about half way to the
big barn on the Henry estate, which is
at present tine domicile for the colony,
when the rumble CT wheels was heard
A big farm wagon drawn by pair Of
horses came into view moment later
and was received with shout of well
come from the new arrival.
"Willkommen" shouted the driver in
response as he gave the horses a slap
with his lines, skilfully bringing the
wagon around. Then he jumped to the
ground and began shaking hands.
The women and children were packed
into the wagon and went to the barn at
the speed of brisk trot, while the men
followed on behind. When the party
arrived at the barn numberless ques-
tions were asked and answered, and
then those who had been on the ground
month set about preparing breakfast
for those who had just arrived.
The newcomers reached their future
home under much more favorable aus
pices than did their predecessors. When
the first party arrived they landed
among people they had never seen
before, and on a raw, chilly day. Moth
ing had been prepared for them. We'd
nesday was warm and sunshiny, and
soon after the second party set foot on
shore they were among relatives and
friends of a lifetime.
The barn has been transformed into
big dwelling house, aud although the
entire colony live in it now, after the
most primitive fashion, it is only a
temporary arrangement. The younger
people live on the second floor, while
their seniors are on the main floor.
Bags of flour, onions, dried apples and
herbs hang from the rafters, and wood
stoves have been put up on which the
cooking is done. The beds are ranged
two and three deep around the sides of
the building. On pleasant days the
settlers eat their meals in the open air
and at other times they eat in the barn.
When breakfast was over all the set
Sers gathered in tine barn for short de-
Totional exercises, which were con-
Quoted BY Mr.. Burkart and Mr.. Mentzel
OF Canton, When these were over Mr..
Burkart, with number of the new ar
rivals, went about the place to find
We
are two or three tenant houses on the
land, but they are in bad condition.
They will be fitted up and occupied.
The entire colony seemed DESTROYS of
keeping together, and the carriage house
adjoining the barn will be prepared al
once. This and the barn, crowded as il
is, will be made to do for the present.
The men have not been idle during
the month they have been on the East.
ern Shore, but have worked early and
late in order to get their permanent
houses into shape. These are built OF
logs, and have been source of wonder
10 the visitors who have come from all
the country around to see them. Moth.
ing like them has ever been built in
Dorchester county before, although los
honses are by no means uncommon
there. The houses of the settlers are
built after the fashion they learned il
Russia, and seem able to Withstand ever
a Kansas cyclone. Instead of beine
constructed with wide chinks between
+ the logs, which are usually filled will
clay, the logs are all stripped of theil
bark and rest one on top of the other. Ii
addition to this each log is matched to til,
one below it. A ridge is made alon!
the top of the bottom log, and groove
into which the ridge fits, is cut into tn
under side OF the log above. Thus tn
logs fit one TO another in the same man
ner that matched flooring fits. Whel
the houses are put up, which will b
done within a week, they will be plas
tered both outside and inside and vii
be firm as houses can be made, warm il
winter and cool in summer Eacl
house is story and half high Fiv
of them are 81 by 16 feet, and one
which three families will use for tn
present, is % by IS feet. Even tn
rafters are hewn from the logs, and til
planks needed in flooring and roofinl
will be cut on the place.
The houses would have been erecte
last Monday or Tuesday, but eac
family wanted to put its house on il
own tract, and the survey of the prop
erty has not been made as yet. Nj
Burkart induced the settlers, howeyel
10 erect the houses on the cleared Ian
he has reserved for himself instead {
putting them into the woods. Whe
their land is cleared the settlers ca
move the houses to their proper place
without much trouble, and in the near
lime can avoid the malaria and fever
which are developed by tilling newl
cleared ground. Twelve or IA NOR
new houses will be built during tn
winter, and good deal of land will b
cleared besides.
The clearing will be done thorough
md Systematically. Instead of cuttn
HE trees down and leaving stumps to b
AIKEN out afterward, as is frequent
done, the earth around the roots Of eac
Tree will be dug up and the tree pulle