The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1912-08-03
As To The Gathering On The Harriott
Farm

The report in last weeks WHIG on
the gathering of Austrian prospective
| colonists two Sundays ago, was unin-
tentionally unfair to those people and
to the managers of the affair.
The reports of the doings were circu-
lated principally by disreputable drunk
ards and spread through the community
like wild fire. The undersigned made a
thorough canvass amongst people who
were on the ground, investigating every
thing reported, and met the Philadelphia
business men who are officers of the
Chesapeake City Development Co., and
who, too, were on the scene all day
The writer wishes to preface his report
| by saying that he shall sacredy avoid
being personal; he shall not dip his pen
| in vitriol but guard his words with
charity. The report of last week was
not correct in all its parts, but proves
now that public opinion, instead of CEN
surfing the Austrians, it finds the dis
grace at our own doors. The Austrians
gathered ON the farm not for any spec
ial celebration, but simply TO have a
look at their future environments.
Being the Sabbath, religious services
were first conducted at which the writer
was present and remained on the grounds
| for about two hours. The report OF last
week says that beer is said to have
been dispensed in unlimited quantities
the charge lying that it was sold on the
| premises openly" Dancing for prizes
| auctioning of chances for building lots,
| Improper codnuct of men and women
| these are among the reported doings.
| We all know the Chesapeake City De-
yelopment Co. did not announce in any
paper the visit of Austrians on that par
| ticular Sunday. Furthermore, there wa:
no general invitation given to the public
TO visit the grounds, neither expressed
nor understood. The president Of th'
Company says that there were between
two and three hundred natives on the
grounds before the special train reached
Elkton.
What right did any un1nvited person
have on the grounds?
AS to the beer, the investigation re
vealed that some friends in Philadelphia
had sent four kegs of beer intended fol
the Austrians to take with their luncl
on the farm. Some reports on the stree
mentioned hundred kegs and one barre
of whiskey had been sent to the farm
The four kegs were sent to Chesapeake
City per boat and the writer invites an!
one and everybody to make the inquir!
at the Chesapeake City wharf sheds II
the course of the afternoon the presi
dent of the Chesapeake City Develop
ment Co. discovered that the kegs were
stolen by the natives and crowds
them were drinking beer in the barn ou
of every conceivable receptacle The.
had tapped the kegs and fought amongs
themselves like savages. He ordere
them out, but was driven back at tn
point of knife. This particular native
had been engaged by ex-Sheriff McAllistel
as a driver; so McAllister was tele
phoned for and when he appeared he too
was met with great resistance but I'M
crowd was finally driven from the BARI
by McAllister. The Austrians looked OF
with utter disgust. Amongst these "er'
two secretaries of the Austrian l7gatloh
polished and highly educated men,
What impression of our natives viii
they take home some day to Vienna?
The 400 Austrians. Judge, were a re
markably self possessed crowd of mel
and women. One thing is sure, the,
cared less for beer than our natives
Besides the beer stolen, the stables wer'
stripped of harness. whips, blankets
brushes, etc AS for liquor, the Aus
trians and Germans drink no whiskey
The whiskey drunk by the natives wa
carried there in their pockets, as bot
ties were visible from the pockets o
drivers at the Elkton depot before th
| CONTINUED on page A.