The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-30
II. 9. eON i SPEECH
At The Banquet Given by City Council on
Saturday Evening Historical Remlni.,
SCIENCES Of Wilmington.

As representative OF the present City
Government want to remind you that
two hundred and sixty yours havo gone By
since old Peter Minuit brought his little
Swedish Colony and planted 1t on the
banks Of the Christiann. This marked,
the first settlement of white men on these
shores. Withi0 stones throw Of whore
your handsome gunboat Is moored 10.
hight, the first settlement was made and
there fort was built and h little town
called Christianaham was founded. From
this grew what was first WillingstoWfi
named for Thomas Willing, who bulls
the first house in the town in 1872 at the
northeast corner of Front and Market
streets, and which afterwards under the
first borough charter In 1889, be ,ame VIII.
mington, the namo being In honor Of the
Earl OF Wilmington, distinguished En-.
glishman of that day who had charge at
that time of the appointments Of the
various Governors and other agents OF
the mother country in the colonies.
This was the beginning; q hundred
years later the Borough became City and
we rose to the dignity of Mayor and
Council. We have not doomed, as they
dom the West. but there has been regu- |
lar, substantial, and satisfactory growth |
until we mum her to-day seventy thousand !
of the best and bravest people on tho
earth /
In 1888 when the first white man set foot ,
on the shores Of the Delaware, from the
inland to the Brandywine, was broadly
sheet of waste water save only a little
island which In the midst of water aogrd-l
cd an habitation for two or three sturdYj
Dutch families who set up the First manu~9
featuring establishment in these partss3
Here they built boats, casks and cubs audSI
this was, in truth. the first ship building
tho nolo j
1t was early called Cooper's Island, but
later, was deserted aud after the banks
began to go up and this wide region was
reclaimed, 1t became known as the Cherry'i
Island Marsh, taking its name from the
wild plum Or mountain cherry trees,
which grew on It, Oh this marsh land,
Mr.. William Lawton, the treasurer OF
the Citizens Committee, whom you have
all met, has started farm, from which
he expects to make fortune by raising
dollar wheat. 4
In our two hundred and sixty years Of
existence we have won fame in more ways
than one We have given to the world
our fair quota of men. Tho kind OF men
who make State. land a go0dly nu mber
of brave soldiers and gallant sailors.
just al the mouth Of the Oa1tss!ana, the
first naval encounter of the Revolutionary
War occurred. Early in May 1910, the
British ,frigatcs Roebuck and Liverpool.
were put to flight after three days engage
mcnt by Captain Houston with his long
boats and row ealleys. Primitive men.of.
war were these, but the little hand full Of
Wilmingtonlans who stood on the hills
and looked at tho encounter were as loud
In tLoir praises Of the simple "Flat Bot
toms" of that day As we are Of this genera.
ton, who have paid such distinguished
homage to the stately and magnificent
gunboat which bears the name OF our fair
City.
AIN reminded of another naval engages
ment on tho borders of Delaware, IN tho
war Of 1879. Commodore Beresford, com.
handing tho British squadron ma1o u
determined attack on Lewestown. For
three days he bombarued it, but 1t is said
that the bombs fell short and tho rockets
passed over, so that at the end of tbs en-.
counter, 1t was reported that there had
been one chicken killed and one pig
wounded, leg broken. BY dint of tho
bravery Of old Col. Davis in command Of
tho land forces, seconded by tho supply
of gunpowder which the DuPOnts furnish-
ed, the British were unable to obtain q
fuotholu at the mouth OF the bay, and soon
put out to sea. 1t Is related that the
balls that came from the British ships,
being imbeddod In the sand, were dug ont
by the I!owestown boys and u:el again in
tho cannon OF Col. Davis company in
the return fire.
In tho war of the rebellion the shipyards
Of tho Christians furnished three from.
clad monitors for the United Statos Navy
and two subsequently,: and we arc now SO
close IN touch with tho throne, thata con-
tract has been signed for the construction
here Of the largest of the new class Of
torpedo boats which are to be part Of the
grenter American Navy.
Wo have lived through tho Cleveland
panic and have received with oEen arms
its twin brother, the Mckinley prosperity
our faces are set toward the rising sun.
Tho progress of the future is bound to
exceed that Of the past. We are glad that
your good ship has been named after ua
We wish you God speed under whatever
skies you sail, or in whatever waters you
dip. ----l'
Thou too, sail on, 0 Ship of State, /.
Sail on, O Union strong and great;
Humanity with all her fears
With all her hopes Of future years,
Is hanging breathless on thy fate.
We know what master laid thy keel,
What workman wrought thy rib Of Steel,
Who made each mast and sail and rope,
What anyils lang what hammers beat,
In what Il forge and what heat,
Were shaped the anchors CT thy aope!
Fear hot each sudden sound aud shock
IT'S OF the wave and net the rock, -
Ills but the Tapping of the sail
And not q rent lLaue by tho gale!
In spite Of rock ana tempest roar,
In spite Of false lights ON the Shore
Sail on nor fear to breast the sea,
Oar hearts, OFF hopes are with thee,
Our hearts. cur hopes, cur prayers and
tears
Our faith triumphant DER our fears,
Are all with thee are all with tLeo. 1