The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-11

vertisement was inserted in the War
Cry at Chicago more than 500 men,
with families, applied for membership
in the colony. 1t was proposed to
limit the number 90 thirty families.
so that each may have a tract of
twenty acres and to select the best
men who applied with the view to Ver-
satility and daptability-suCh as
seemed likely TO be the most enduring
and the most energetic. All applicants
were required to fill blank forms with
information as TO their antecedents
and experience and bring certificates
of physical and moral soundness.
On April Is, 1898, the colony started
from Chicago. in charge Of Thomas
Holland, an Englishman, holding the
rank of colonel i'm the Salvation army.
MIR. Holland came to this country in
1899 from London to work In the slums
of New York, as for seventeen years
he had been working in the slums of
London under the personal direction of
General Booth. Accompanying him
were the following colonists with their
families:
George Cole. carpenter. Waltham,
Mass; Frank McAbee, dry goods clerk.
Alliance, o.; James Burrows, restaur-
ant keeper. Denver: George Rupp, mo-
torman; Henry Newman, carpenter
Walter Baldwin, bricklayer; Robert
Frewing, plasterer; David Coker,
painter; Robert Newman, carpenter;
Arthur Paterson, newsdealer; Elmer
Cox, cxpressman; James Childs, rail-
road clerk; Eric Erickson, street rail-
road conductor; Gustaye Craig, farmer
and William Deddick, laborer.
Unless otherwise indicated these are
ali from Chicago. These people were
nfterward Joined by James Dean, mo-
torman, Denver; Albert Stlmson, far
mer, Kearney Kas.; John Arketh
Pueblo, Salvation army officer; James
Bennett, blacksmith, Holly; Elmer
Harris, laborer Holly; Charles Cash
laborer, Holly, and two or three Others
whose names could not obtain, max
ing total of twenty-siX families and
about 100 people all told.
Several freight cars loaded with
household effects, lumber and tools had
been sent on in advance, also supply
of food extra clothing, hardware anc
other essentials, SO that they were
ready to begin work at once.
THE FIRST ARRIVALS.
"On the 18th day of April" said w
NJ. Wiley, manager of the water com
pany at Holly, eighteen families ar
rived at what has since been named
Fort Amity.' The weather was hor
rible. One of the peculiar spells o
weather to which the arid region i
subject overlook them immediately
upon their arrival and it rained con
stantly for two weeks. The roads wer,
muddy and no houses were built. Thei
home was in tents on the bald prairi,
and every obstacle presented itself t
these 'tenderfeet.'
ITO the amazement of the old set
tiers, not moment of a day was lost
but through the rain and mud tn
material for their houses was con
stantly hauled out TO the site anl tn
bad wea6or was laughed at. To sucl
an extent was this done that it was
common remark Of the old and sue
| cessful farmers in the country that few
| of them would have worked with tn
vigor and energy that these peopl
showed through such weather. TIL
| confidence aroused by this energy ha
| been cemented with time, until toda
the old settlers Of the country look o.
the Salvation Army colony with tn
| highest regard, and it's officers an
members have been elected by the sur
| rounding farmers to offices of trus
| and prominence in their farmers soci
| eties and Institutes.
SOCIAL DEMOCRATS.
| ln "a rAe.E ,r,
| peculiar class of people," continued NJ,
! Wiley. The cowboy and the old set
tier are strongly allied in their char
acterstics They are no respecters q
persons. \ man with several million
of dollars who lacks confidence in him
self is as much a fool on the plains a
the farmer in metropolis. No highe
praise could be given the Salvatio
| Army colony than that they have Sc
cured for themselves the confidence an
respect of this class of people anon
whom they are to live.
The location being in the river bot
tom, they found the sod tough an
hard to plow the first time, and all G
| the inconvenience and discourag gt
ments chat are incident to the settle
ment Of new country. 1t is almos
incredible that q careful eXaminatiO
has not discovered any serious con
plaint or objection from any of III
people. on the contrary, all of thel
have written east and advised the
friends to make application to Deconl
members of the colony
This colony, which in the length an
breadth of the western country wa
considered joke to start with. is no,
looked upon by the officials Of the stat
OF Colorado, by the officials of the cour
ties in the Arkansas valley and by a
the people who come in contact wit
them as a most successful and promis
ing undertaking. The land is in @,
cellent shape for crop the comm
year, and great results are eXpecte
from il.
WORK OF EDUCATION.
'Thesc people, being educated, hay
taken the lead in forming farmers in
stitutes and having social meetings
which outside farmers are invited an
they may today be considered the lead
ers in the community in all matter
which tend to scientific farming and
trying 10 do away with the lonclines
incident to the farmers life by pr,
Viding meetings and social functions {
all kind.
THE officers Of the Great Plair
Water company, who are I'm immediat
touch with these people, are very earn
est in their testimony that the colon
is Well managed. In fact, they expires
amazement that a party Of green pee
pie should have been handled for yea
with so little friction and with sue
thoroughly good discipline as has oil
tanned at Fort Amity.
The marked characteristic Of thes
colOnists,' concluded Mr. Wiley, a"