The wanderings and fortunes of some German emigrantsGerstäcker, Friedrich
General
The wanderings and fortunes of some German emigrants
Gerstäcker, Friedrich
Germany -- Emigration and immigration -- Fiction; Immigrants -- Fiction
The cargo had now to be transhipped for the fourth time, and in
Cleveland yet again, to a canal-boat, as far as Portsmouth; and in
Portsmouth, for the last time, to another steamer. The treasurer now
clearly saw that the cash in hand would only be sufficient for the
payment of the freight, and perhaps would scarcely suffice for that; he
therefore proposed, either to sell a portion of their goods, or else to
leave them behind, as there were daily opportunities of forwarding them
to the Ohio and the Mississippi. However much a large section of the
settlers might still be opposed to this measure, yet the majority saw at
last that it was necessary that something should be done, which ought
indeed to have been done long since, and, after lengthy debates, the
Committee was authorized to sell a portion of the utensils. But however
the Society might debate about the matter, it was impossible to carry it
out, for if the Committee had had as many days as it had hours for the
purpose of carrying into effect such a sale, it would even then have
striven in vain; for, in the first place, the settlers could not agree
concerning the particular articles which were to be parted with, and, in
the next place, there was no buyer to be found, even at the most
reasonable prices; there was only one blacksmith who came forward, and
he would only pay them for certain articles valued as old iron. This was
rather too much of a good thing, and the suggestion of the landlord of
the tavern, where they had put up for the short time, was gratefully
accepted--viz., to leave the things in an old out-building, which in
winter served for a wood-shed, until they should be inquired for.
According to the advice of several Germans there, they took with them,
besides two carts and a wagon, which, if sold, must have been replaced
hereafter at a high price, (although no more than their freight came
to,) only some saws, chains, and axes, and scarcely left themselves time
to get the rest on board the "Ontario" steamer which soon after rang her
bell and commenced her passage to Cleveland, whereby they were compelled
to leave their remaining things exposed on the water-side. The landlord,
however, promised to take care of everything for them, that they need
not make themselves anxious about it, and swung his cap after them
besides, as long as he could see them.
They reached Cleveland in the night; had to unload there, for the fifth
time, and get themselves and their things into a canal-boat, which bore
them through Ohio State to the Ohio River, at the little town of
Portsmouth; and it was here that they got on board the steamer which was
to take them to the mouth of the Big Halchee, and consequently to within
about fifteen miles of their destination, the projected town of
"Hoffnung."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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