Milford chronicle., 1909-10-01

ND to the formation OF the state OF
. Delaware. He said the Dutch
landed here while hunting for a
new route TO India. He said they
had hoped to get around by way Of
the North Pole, but when the boats
reached Norway, because of the
cold weather, the crews declined 10
proceed further and in hunting for
"a lower route put in the Delaware
Bay, later going to the Hudson
River. He said he had no doubt
that they landed at the identical
spot where the monument stands,
"as they evidently wanted drink,
he explained, land came ashore to
get it. mean a drink of water. "
The baron told Of the hardships
of the early Dutch settlers, but said
they were not dismayed and others
came and took the places OF those
killed by the Indians.
The baron said he was glad to
represent Holland at the celebration
adding that he had been most cor
daily received ever since he came
into the State. There was mil
itary display for me in Whining
ton, he said, "but got lost on
the way down and I missed it. "
He said while in Wilmington Tues
day morning he was shown the
landing place of the Swedes and
other points associated with the
early history of the country, adding
that he was accompanied to Lewes
by some of the most distinguished
men in the State. He said when
he reached Lewes, particularly the
place where the monument stood,
he noticed the similarity between
that locality and Holland, "even to
the dunes, the meadows aud the
mist" he added. He paid high
tribute to the ladies and spoke par
ticularly of those on the floats in
the parade representing queens OF
Europe.
"When I write to my queen and
my government, he said, II will
tell them of this unveiling and
what a pleasant and notable Occa-
sion it was. He spoke of the
many names he had heard which
reminded him of the names in Hol-
land, mentioning the Maulls and
Wiltbanks. He had been provided
with a souvenir badge by the Will
miugton city committee, which
contained a Blue Hens Chicken,
which he said he would keep in
fond remembrance of the happy and !
notable occasion.
The baron was heartily applaud
ed, as were also Governor Penne-
will, the presiding officer, who was
chairman of the celebration COM
mittee; Judge Gray, DR.. Marshall
and Rev. c. H. B. Turner, who |
made a brief address introducing
Baron Loudon and outlining the
history which the celebration com
memOrated.
An interesting musical program
me of patriotic airs was given be-
tween the speeches by the First In
fantry Band, which headed the par
ade.
Much interest centred in the
monument, which was covered by
an American flag until it was un
veiled by Insurance Commissioner
Charles H. Maull. Immediately
after the flag had been withdrawn
the assemblage gathered around the
monument and critically examined
it. The shaft, which is of gray
granite, stands about eight feet high
resting on a three-foot concrete
base, with about four feet of floor
space all around the stone, steps in
front leading to the road on which
it faces. The stone is four feet
wide and two feet thick. The side
next the road, which is opposite
the harbor, is highly polished and
on the polished surface is the follow
ing inscription;
"Erected by the State of Della
ware to commemorate the settle
ment, on this spot, of the first
Dutch colony, under DeVries, A.
D. 1881"
"Here was the grading Of a
State. That Delaware exists as
a separate commonwealth is due to
this colony Bancroft.
The monument occupies a posi-
tion on the bank-at one time the
ocean shore-alongside the road
way forming the eastern boundary
Of the main portion of the town of
Lewes and about a mile north of
The heart of the town. It is about
half mile from the present shore,
which and the monument
are a series of meadows and creeks. t.
The shaft occupies an elevated and
position and can be
,eeu not only from the bay, but al )