Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-05-10

A FRlGHTFUL DEATH.-We have seldom beer
called upon to record more heroic but terrible
death than that of Capt. Oliver McMullen, Com
mander of the i'll fated steamer st. Nicholas
whose disastrous explosion on the Mississippi
river on Sunday night, 14th, we have previously
noticed:
Captain McMullen was in the pilot house with
the pilot at the time of the disaster. The Cap
tain's leg was caught by the wreck between the
broken timbers of the wheel house and the stan.
chions of the pilot house. The striker who was
on duty, second mate and two others, went imme-
diately TO work, as soon as his painful position
was discovered, and endeavored to extricate him.
Water was thrown around him to keep the fire at
distance, and after great exertions ore leg was
released but the fearful and rapid progress OF the
flames compelled the noble hearted men to de-
sist after their clothes were burned off their
bodies and their faces almost crisp. Capt.
McMullen encouraged the men by his voice, and
seeing the near approach of the flames and ex-
periencing the intense heat. he begged them to
cut off his leg. This they were unable to do
had they so willed, as no instrument was at
hand that would have answered the purpose
Every exertion was made to relieve him but
without avail, and the noble Captain and true
man was consumed by the flames, meeting death
manfully at his post.
Capt. McMuen Is represented as having been
good officer, and the horrible death which he
met is the more deeply regretted on that account.
IKE PART1NGToN's CoMPosITIoN.-"Plymout
Rock.-This rock was brought to this country in
the Mayfower, in the year 1892, by the pilgrims
under directions of Elder Osman Brewster, who
afterwards removed to Boston, and became an
alderman of that city. Plymouth Rock was put
on wharf, where part of it remains to this day,
as people may see, if they will take the trouble
to scratch the dirt away. No reason is given
for putting the rock up so far from the water,
except it was to keep it out of the wet. DR.. N.
B. Shurteff was the first to land on Plymouth
Rock, which he did without any trouble, be-
cause it wasn't very big one. 1t was on this
rock that Governor Carver first shook hands
with Samoset, whosaid: Welcome Englishmen!'
1t is recorded that when Samoset came up, Gov
ernor Carver asked him if he was real Ingne,
or only member of IDgine company. The
rock has long been regared as a famous place,
and great many things have been written about
it. Strangers coming on the coast always climb
to the mast heads with spy-glasses to see Ply
mouth Rock.
The American eagle, for great many years,
used TO come and Whet his 0eak on this rock,
but in 1868, Miles Standish, in order to keep it
from getting stoien took all there was of it, and
carried it up and put it in front of Pilgrim Hall,
where it remains at the present time, invested
with great interest and an iron fence. The fence
bears the names of all the Pilgrims in cast-iron
letters that can't be rubbed out. On the other
part of the rock the defendants of the Pilgrims
have landed, because they have covered it over
with land, probably to save it from being worn
ont by the illusions touching it that are thrown
off by the Fourth of July orators, and other pa,
triots.
Plymouth Rock is the cornerstone in the eel.
lar-wall of our republican structure, paragorcal-
ly speaking and the spirit of Liberty sits upon
it with drawn sword in one hand, and the
torch of freedom in the other. The monument
to the Pilgrim Fathers, commenced by Mr.. Bill
ling, in 1858, upon Plymouth Rock, will be three
thousand feet above the level of the sea, and can
be easily seen from New Haven, the place Pill
grims came from, with the naked eye. Pere-
grine White, the first child born in Massachusetts,,
was born on Plymouth Rock, and Miles Stand
ish, when John Alden swindled him out ofPris.
ella, in 1903, sharpened his sword on Plymouth
Rock. 1t is one OF the palladiums of our liberty,
and if foes invade the shores of Plymouth at low
tide, the people will throw this rock in their
teeth 1t is precious legacy from the Past to
the Present, and from it may be reckoned the
Pilgrims Progress"
noNor. N-r E,tpy ov,rp>rr TIa mon yyho ia