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The Montz Family of Louisiana 1721 - Present |
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by Monty Montz |
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Page 10 |
THE EXODUS
THOUSANDS OF EUROPEANS GATHERED THEIR BELONGINGS, AND
left a land which was wrought with aftermaths of war. These Europeans left from many ports. Those
from the interior sailed down the Rhine River to England. Some ventured overland to Brest, France,
a big seaport town. Others went to L"Orient or La Rochelle, France. They ventured from places as the
Saar Basin, Alsace-Lorraine, Baden, Wurtemburg, Mayence, and Treves. Some German historians have it
that as many as ten-thousand Germans emigrated to Louisiana. (13)
ONE MUST REFLECT AT THIS POINT AND VISUALIZE THE MASS problems encountered in transporting thousands of
people to a new land, having no settlements to speak of, no organizations as communities, water systems, method,
of obtaining food in a rather quick basis for the multitudes of people embarking from ships.
TO VISUALIZE MANY HUNDREDS OF GERMANS VENTURING FOR HUNDREDS of miles to Western French ports, clad only with the
minimum of belongings and a few family members to accompany them is very difficult, and extremely
courageous. The provisions along the way soon ran out. Upon reaching the seaport towns, facilities, room and
board, and health care surely was a tremendous problem, and possibly non-existent. In many cases, ships were delayed
for months, and these emigrants died in seaport. Epidemics surely raged. Of those who gave up, they
stayed in the region of the seaport, found work, and eventually disbanded the hopes of sailing to the West.
SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE MAY HAVE ACCOMPANIED INDIVIDUAL SHIPS which left from Europe. Food had to be of the type
which could be dried for many months storage. Water rationing and storage must have been a tremendous
problem. Sanitary facilities must have been very crude that many people for so long a time. Disease, bored'
filth, and frustration must have been rampant aboard ships still weeks away from land. Lack of medicines
unavailability of a doctor on board must have caused untold deaths (as will be pointed out later).
13 Deiler, p. 14