Evening journal., 1903-05-08

Live Practicin9 Golden
Rule and Living a Life
of Ease
The most exclusive and probably the
most peculiar neighborhoOd in VIII
mington is the Orchard" located just
north Of Eleventh street bridge. Shut
of from the city by a high fence cover
ed by gaudy circus posters, the quiet
little settlement snuggles by the Hill
side as quiet a spot as one could expect
TO find many miles from a busy city.
The inhabitants of the place are fisher
men. They live in cabins built upon
scows, so that the high tides will not
interfere with their domestic happi-
ness. Here honor in its simplest but
strictest, form is practiced by these
hardy fishermen, who. upon going for a
days fishing, never lock their cabins
or store away their nets or oars. Moth
ing is molested, and, although they do
not live in brown stone fronts, who
shall say they are less happy than the
lHuADlldul5 VI lntcE lAAOlE HAGlNAAAAOAa
dwellings.
There is an air Of restfulness and
quiet about the place that takes one
away from the strife of the busy city to
the shaded country river bank, where
only peace and good fellowship exist.
The simple residents of this place
make their living solely on the river
Some of them by fishing alone, and
others by stearing napfha launches or
sailing pleasure craft Their cabins
are all neatly whitewashed or painted
and, although a woman's voice is an
unknown sound in the settlement. one
would imagine by looking at the clean
ly brushed paths and shining tinware
that ideal housewives occupied each Of
these little houses.
Benjamin Mahan, Governor.
The largest and best of the cabins is
owned by Governor" Benjamin Ma
han, who is the executive ruler of the
settlement. He has acquired this title
by the settling OF all disputes that have
arisen in he Orchard" His house is
at the extreme eastern end. and has
been rebuilt and painted within the
past year. Around it is a fence, fairly
glistening in the sunlight from its re-
cent coat of whitewash. This fence
was erected TO protect his garden,
which. although but 5xS feet, contains
onions, radishes, tomatoes and beans.
All Are Captains.
All the residents have won the title
Of captain, and it is a breach Of eti-
quette to address them otherwise, ac-
cording to the ethics of the settlement
Some of them have gotten their title
by plotting gasoline launches. and TO
others it has come fairly. they having
seen real service and have come to this
quiet spot to be in the atmosphere OF
things nautical, which they have learn
ed to love.
Besides the Governor, the other inn
portant members of the colony include
Captain James McCafferty, Captain
Thomas Ridings, Captain ''Bill" An
derson and Captain George McGlothen.
The latter was at one time a we'll
known man in sailing circles, and won
several prizes for the owners of yachts
when that sport was so popular on the
Delaware river.
About fifteen years ago the place was
founded by Governor Ndahan erecting
cabin from discarded pieces of tin
which he picked from the vacant lots
or wherever he could find it. Since
then. from time to time, cabins have
been added, until now the colony
boasts of about fifteen or twenty build
ings. The tin shanty Of the governor
still remains, although he has a very
nice cabin besides. The early associ
ot;onc that cling ahout the shallby lit
lie place have prevented its owner de
strOying 1t.
The name of the place is deIiveJ
from the quantity of apple trees there
which are the pride of the whole popu
lace. and which are now covered witt
blooms. and will later be filled witt
luscious apples. The fruit will b
guarded from the bad boy with a zeal
Gus care.
Almost the sole topic of conversation
Is fish. and fishing and the ambition o
each is to catch more than his neigh
bor, so that he may boast about it dur
in gthe winter while toasting his shin
before a fire made from the driftwoo'
gathered before the cold weather came
Land Owned in Baltimore.
The property on which this settle
ment stands belongs to Baltimore peo
pie and the whole place wias throws
into a state of excitement some tim
aeio by q runner becoming current tina
it was to be sold. and that simpl
cabins would be succeeded by a bi
manufacturing enterprise. The unset
tied state lasted for several weeks, an