The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-06-08

broad, unbridgeable tidal inlets, his
toric Maryland gratefully faced the
shore that was its great highway to
the world beyond the sea and chung
close to it.
Forty miles In 40 hours-from
Washington to Baltimore between
Saturday afternoon and Monday morn
ing! No, the steamer Is not so I'M
reasonably slow as 1t would seem; for
its course must thread dozen tidal
rivers and lakelike bays to visit the
creaking landings that have survived
the centuries and still offer their COM
merce to the outside world. During
those 40 hours one lives again the life
Of another age.
The Potomac in that classic day was
paradise Of game and teemed with
many kinds of fishes. Capt. John
Smith found fish so abundant that he
fished with frying pan, but could not
keep them from jumping out, and
changed to spearing them with his
sword!
The trip begins as you set sail, leav-
ing the Capital City astern. Presently
the frowning bastions Of Fort Wash
ington appear, at the mouth of Piscat-
away creek. Upon the site of the pa
rade ground Of that fort Gov. Leonard
Calvert held powwow with the king
of the Piscataways, as his first act in
establishing friendly relations with the
Indians.
Port Tobacco river comes down
through the hills to meet you, with
its memories Of John Hanson of Null
berry Grove, president of the United
States In congress assembled, ISL
1882; of Thomas Stone of Habre de
Venture, signer Of the Declaration Of
Independence, and Of DR.. James Craik,
who saved Washington's life in Brad
docks defeat and attended him until
his death.
Many of the fine old manor houses
survive, but the years have closed
the stream to modern navigation, al
though It once was deep enough for
the four-masted barques from England
and did thriving trade in tobacco.
1t got its name, not, 1t Is said, from
the sovereign weed, but from the tribe
of Indians who once lived there-the
Portobacks.
Home of the "King Entertainer"
Just before reaching Morgantown,
Mount Republican appears beyond a
headline, and what memories the walls
of this old house could relate If they
could speak! For here lived and ruled,
history notes, Franklin Weems, known
as King Entertainer Of Southern
Maryland. 1t is said that he had q
hundred foxhounds in his pack; that
he maintained card game which last
ed forty years; that he kept a cellar
stocked with fifty barrels of the best
brandies and the choicest wines for the
landed gentry or casual traveller COM
ing his way, and he so loved youth
and happiness about him that he gave
a party for the young people three
times q week.
Late in the night Blackstone island
(known as st. Clements island in CO.
lonial days. is picked up by an oblig-
Ing searchlight, and one can fancy he
sees coming out of the darkness of the
past the Ark and the Dove, bearing
the founders Of Maryland, commanded
by Gov. Leonard Calvert, brother of
Sir Cecil Calvert, second Lord Balti-
more.
On seeing the Ark, the larger ship,
the Indian scouts reported that the
white men had come "in a canoe as
big as an island, with so many men as
there are trees in a wood" Where
upon every tribe Of Indians lit its coun-
Gil fires in CONSERVATION.
Never did they cease wondering
where in the world tree had grown
large enough to be carved into a ship
of such huge size; for they supposed
it had been cut out from single trunk
of tree, like an Indian canoe"
Landing Of Governor Calvert.
A landing was made March 25, 1884;
a huge cross, hewn out Of tree, was
erected, with prayers and thanksgiv-
ing, and solemn and formal possession
Of the land, both in the name Of the
spiritual Christ and the temporal king,
was taken.
The waters around the island were
shallow and had to be approached In
shallops. A boatload of womenfolk
going ashore to stage Marylands first
wash day was overturned. Some of
the women narrowly escaped drown
ing. and Governor Calvert reported
much linen lost. including some of his
own, (which was no small matter In
these distant parts"
st. Marys, though shrine to which
Christendom owes pilgrimage, is only
a memory that has no place in steam
er's timetable.
st. Marys was the site chosen by
Leonard Calvert for the first settle
ment. Here he bought 80 miles from
the Indian king. with a quantity Of
axes, hoes and broadcloth, and the
Colonists-20 gentlemen" and 300 ar
tisans. half Catholic and half Protest
ant-disembarked.
The situation OF their new home had
been wisely chosen. 1t lay in the midst
of fertile fields, already cultivated by
the Indians and ready for the pillow.
So provident was Calvert's manage
ment that the very first autumn the
new coloDists had grain enough to
send a shspload to New England to
be exchanged for salt Goldfish.