voyage of the paper canoe-第21章
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Across the entrance of Delaware Bay； from Cape Henlopen Light to Cape May Light on the southern end of New Jersey； is a distance of twelve statute miles。 Saturday night and Sunday were passed in Lewes； which is situated inside of Cape Henlopen； and behind the celebrated stone breakwater which was constructed by the government。 This port of refuge is much frequented by coasters； as many as two or three hundred sails collecting here during a severe gale。 The government is building a remarkable pier of solid iron spiles； three abreast； which； when completed； will run out seventeen hundred feet into the bay； and reach a depth of twenty…three feet of water。 Captain Brown； of the Engineers； was in charge of the work。 By the application of a jet of water； forced by an hydraulic pump through a tube down the outside of the spile while it is being screwed into the sand； a puddling of the same is kept up； which relieves the strain upon the screw…flanges； and saves fourteen…fifteenths of the time and labor usually expended by the old method of inserting the screw spile。 This invention was a happy thought of Captain Brown。
The government has purchased a piece of land at Lewes for the site of a fort。 Some time in the future there will be a railroad terminating on the pier； and coal will be brought directly from the mines to supply the fleets which will gather within the walls of the Breakwater。 Here； free from all danger of an ice blockade； this port will become a safe and convenient harbor and coaling station during the winter time for government and other vessels。
At dusk on Sunday evening the collector of the port； Captain Lyons； and his friends； took me in their carriage back to Love Creek； where Mr。 Webb insisted upon making me the recipient of his hospitality for the night。 A little crowd of women from the vicinity of the swamp were awaiting my arrival to see the canoe。 One ancient dame； catching sight of the alcohol…stove which I took from my vest…pocket； clapped her thin hands and enthusiastically exclaimed； 〃What a nice thing for a sick…room…the best nuss…lamp I ever seed！〃 Having satisfied the curiosity of these people； and been much amused by their quaint remarks； I was quietly smuggled into Mr。 Webb's 〃best room；〃 where； if my spirit did not make feathery flights； it was not the fault of the downy bed in whose unfathomable depths I now lost myself。
Before leaving Delaware I feel it an imperative duty to the public to refer to one of her time…honored institutions。
Persons unacquainted with the fact will find it difficult to believe that one state of the great American Republic still holds to the practice of lashing men and women； white and black。 Delaware one of the smallest states of the Union； the citizens of which are proverbially generous and hospitable； a state which has produced a Bayard is； to her shame we regret to say； the culprit which sins against the spirit of civilization in this nineteenth century； one hundred years after the fathers of the Republic declared equal rights for all men。 In treating of so delicate a subject； I desire to do no one injustice； therefore I will let a native of Delaware speak for his community。
〃DOVER； DELAWARE； August 2； 1873。
〃EDITOR CAMDEN SPY： According to promise； I now write you a little about Delaware。 Persons in your vicinity look upon the 'Little Diamond State' as a mere bog； or marsh； and mud and water they suppose are its chief productions； but； in my opinion； it is one of the finest little states in the Union。 Although small； in proportion to the size it produces more grain and fruit than any other state in the country； and they are unexcelled as regards quality and flavor。 Crime is kept in awe by that best of institutions； the whipping post and pillory！ These are the bugbear of all the northern newspapers； and they can say nothing too harsh or severe against them。 The whipping…post in Kent County is situated in the yard of the jail； and is about six feet in height and three feet in circumference； the prisoner is fastened to it by means of bracelets； or arms； on the wrist； and the sheriff executes the sentence of the law by baring the convict to the waist； and on the bare back lashing him twenty； forty； or sixty times； according to the sentence。 But the blood does not run in streams from the prisoner's back； nor is he thrown into a barrel of brine； and salt sprinkled over the lashes。 On the contrary； I have seen them laugh； and coolly remark that 'it's good exercise； and gives us an appetite。' But there are others who raise the devil's own row with their yells and horrible cries of pain。 The whipping is public； and is witnessed each time by large numbers of people who come from miles around to see the culprit disgraced。
〃A public whipping occurred not very long ago； and the day was very stormy； yet there were fully three hundred spectators on the ground to witness this wholesome punishment！ A person who has been lashed at the whipping…post cannot vote again in this state； thus； most of the criminals who are whipped leave the state in order to regain their citizenship。 The newspapers can blow until they are tired about this 'horrible； barbaric； and unchristian punishment；' but if their own states would adopt this form of punishment； they would find crime continually on the decrease。 What is imprisonment for a few months or years？ It is soon over with； and then they are again let out upon the community； to beg； borrow； and steal。 But to be publicly whipped is an everlasting disgrace； and deters men from committing wrong。 Women are whipped in the same manner； and they take it very hard； but； to my recollection； there has not been a female prisoner for some time。 I did not intend to comment so long upon the whipping…posts in the state of Delaware。
〃The pillory next claims our attention。 This is a long piece of board that runs through the whipping…post at the top； and has holes ＇as per engraving＇ for the neck and arms to rest in a very constrained position。 The prisoner is compelled to stand on his toes for an hour with his neck and arms in the holes； and if he sinks from exhaustion； as it sometimes happens； the neck is instantly broken。 Josiah Ward； the villain who escaped punishment for the murder of the man Wady in your county； came into Delaware； broke into a shoe…store； succeeded in stealing one pair of shoes； was arrested； got sixty lashes at the post； was made to stand in the pillory one hour； is now serving out a term of two years' imprisonment； and he never got the shoes！ The pillory is certainly a terrible and cruel punishment； and； while I heartily favor the whipping…post； I think this savage punishment should be abolished。
〃Since writing the above； I have heard that a colored woman was convicted of murder in the second degree last May； and on Saturday the 17th of that month received sixty lashes on her bare back； and stood in the pillory one hour。
〃What do you think of Delaware law； after what I have written？ I have written enough for the present； so I will close； ever remaining； Yours very truly； P。 P。〃
For twenty years past； Delaware and Maryland farmers have given much attention to peach culture； which has gradually declined in New Jersey and states further north。 There are said to be over sixty thousand acres of land on the peninsula planted with peach…trees； which are estimated to be worth fifty dollars per acre； or three million dollars。 To harvest this crop requires at least twenty…five thousand men； women； and children。 The planting of an acre of peach…trees； and its cultivation to maturity； costs from thirty to forty dollars。 The canners take a large portion of the best peaches； which are shipped to foreign as well as to domestic markets。
The low lands and river…shores of the peninsula exhale malaria which attacks the inhabitants in a mild form of ague。 During the spring； summer； and early fall months； a prudent man will not expose himself to the air until after the sun has risen and dispelled the mists of morning。 The same caution should be observed all through the low regions of the south； both as to morning and evening exercise。 Chills and fever are the bane of the southern
