The Moravians in Georgia, 1735-1740Fries, Adelaide L. (Adelaide Lisetta)
History
The Moravians in Georgia, 1735-1740
Fries, Adelaide L. (Adelaide Lisetta)
Moravians -- Georgia
John Eckstein, a resident of Germantown, a middle-aged man who was
in entire sympathy with Spangenberg’s plans for religious work in
Pennsylvania, resolved to accompany him on his trip to Georgia. They
sailed from Philadelphia on the 22nd of May, 1737, and had a long and
very trying voyage. The Captain and crew were evil men, given to cursing
and swearing, and more than once they threatened to murder the two
passengers, whom they called sorcerers, and accused of bringing the
continuous head winds and frequent storms upon them. Seventy-seven long
days the voyage lasted; twice they sailed southward past Cape Hatteras,
and twice were they driven back to north and east, taking weeks to
recover the distance lost; and the Captain finally discovered that not
only were the elements against him, but his helmsman was slyly hindering
their progress all he could, for some malicious purpose of his own.
To the mental strain of the long journey was added physical discomfort,
for firewood gave out, so that no cooking could be done, and for a month
the crew lived on hard tack, dried cherries soaked in water, and raw
fish,--dolphins caught as need required. Spangenberg and his companion
had brought provisions to supplement the ship’s fare, but long before
the voyage was ended their store of butter and sugar was exhausted.
Dried ham and tongue had a tendency to increase their thirst, but by
soaking tea in cold water they made a beverage which bore at least a
fancied resemblance to that brewed on shore. Then the supply of water
ran low, each man’s allowance was reduced to a pint a day, and even this
small amount would have failed had they not been able occasionally to
catch rainwater to replenish their casks. The Captain at last opened
a keg of beer found in his cargo, and sold his passengers enough to
relieve their thirst, for which they were very grateful.
But unkind words, delay, uncooked food, thirst, were not all that
Spangenberg and his companion had to bear, for actual danger was added
to their experience from time to time. High waves broke over the
ship, winds tore away the sails, and a water-spout threatened total
destruction. So late was the ship in reaching port that she was given
up for lost, and word was sent to Pennsylvania which caused much
grief,--needless grief, for Spangenberg’s days of service were not to be
ended thus. It sounds almost trivial to say that in the midst of trials
of body, mind and soul Spangenberg occupied himself with making buttons,
but no doubt the homely, useful labor did its part toward rendering
endurable the seemingly endless days.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account