The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-27
THE AnERIaAx TERMINUs OF THE FRENCH
CABLE.

AuL AMEHiahN AE1MANUS We HE TMENOh
CABLE.
An Historical Sketch Of the Town Of Dux-
bury, NIass.-Tbe Ancient and Historical
landn,n rks-Po luts Of Beauty and Interest,"
Few Observations About the People
What the Town Has Been, What il LIS, and
What IL Ought TO Be.
DUxBURY, Mass, July 20, 1869.
After weeks patient waiting on the part OF the
HERALD correspondent his anxiety has been relieved.
The little feet 30 long expected has arrived and
left In Its TRAIL the bed Of the ocean, continuous
and uninterrupted cable through which the electric
current nows from the shores Of Massachusetts to
the coast Of France. No onicious government off,
Gals have appeared, no warning to keep away has
been received, but everything has gone forward
rapidly and successfully aud Of the greatest
terprises Of the age has been completed The great
Franco American telegraph cable is laid, the insult
lation IL perfect and IN a few days 1t VIII be in
active competition with the rival Atlantic company.
The presence here Of the American terminus Of
the new cable IS Of course regarded great event
In the history Of this obscure and hitherto almost
unknown town Of Duxbury. The citizens very pro-
perry think that it Is an event which will cause them
TO be known and spoken about all over the world,
and with this vanity, consequent upon sudden re-
nown, they are OF course IN high gee. as a town
Duxbury 10 not very bad place; but there are many
modern acquisitions 10 civilized life which, II ap-
piled here. would greatly improve IL. Nature has
been very liberal In Its endOwments everywhere
around here, but the traces OF art thrift enterprise
and the general results OF that go-aheadativeness
Characteristic OF the Yankee nation only con-
spjcuous on account OF their absence. To use
popular and expressive term, the town has in late
years, absolutely "gone to seed" Those who are
IN liar Wi New
that there is some reason for this other
than apathy on the part OF the citizens;
for 1t IL rare that u neghborhood is
found In this extreme eastern section Of
the country where the inhabitants are not possessed
OF an ambition for wealth. In this town there
seem to be two distinct cliques. One Is composed
OF venerable and wealthy citizens, who have an
abundance for their remaining days and are indif-
terent to fame or the welfare OF their successive
generation; the other class II composed oil the
genuine representatives OF young America; but they
are In the minority In numbers and comparatively
insignificant In point OF wealth. and hence the ex-
PLANTATION of the absence Of railroad and other
modern agencies OF civilization and the lamentable
decay OF the town generally. But the day OF jubilee
has come There are good times in store for old
Duxbury yet. The presence Of the American termi.
nus OF the great Franco American telegraph cable
will impart new life TO her, and che Will some day
be Justly celebrated as one OF the chief points OF the
whole American coast. she VIII probably never
aspire to metropolis but after the few Old fogies
Of the pest generation have died out their
rising offspring Will take bound forward
In the now uncutivated field OF enterprise,
and this town Will be one OF foremost
importance in this country and one Of renown all
over the world A weeks visit mere by person
even prejudiced and these same happy reflections
"A nvint nf her I'm a.
follow. During the past few days OF "heavy wait
ing' for the cable ~ arrive occurred to your cor
respondent that, in view OF the prospective impor-
lance which s to be hereafter attached 10 this place
II would be timely and interesting TO dig up some Of
interesting facts OF it, early history and supple
ment the same with a little narrative OF important
events In later years, In doing this have conversed
freely and at length with that honored individual
known as 1.-THE oldest inhabtant" and found him
quite willing 10 communicate. His enthusiasm over
the arrival of the cable was so intense however, that
] was obliged to make no less than half dozen DIS
tnct visits to obtain the material which ne possessed
and desired. For one question l would ask him
about the town he would break IN Win hall dozen
about the cable humored the oid man ~ ms Gu,
then he proceeded IN the most careful anu detailed
manner possible to give me something concerning
TIL early history OF DuXbury.
III you are going TO put this IN the papers, " he
remarked 1--WE must be very particular and have
veryhng riehtn
'Oh, certainly replied, 'because Il will be read
not only in this country but ali over the world"
lie then broke in with all Interruption about his
astonshment that tie HERALD should send man
all The way down here just to find ont about The
town OF Duxbury. i explained TO him the inpor-
lance OF the matter well as ! could without AZ
fording an opportunity for any cable question: aud
followed up The explanation with the inquiry Of
hoping for "a direct answer
'Well,n he answered, iii we are going 10 com
mence suppose might well get out my records"
lie then tottered up to an old combination bureau
and library case, and brought forth an ancient
Bible. the back part OF which contained huge pile
OF manuscript which, from appearances, must have
been written very many years ago. Then, after n
lapse Of three or four minutes. ami In reply TO "A
repetition OF my remark concerning The settlement
~ can't tell exactly, but 1t was somewhere near
the year 1882 and then they used to come over here
from Plymouth and stay through the summer and
"Why didn't they remain in one place or the
other permanently ~ inquired.
"Ob, bless your soul, the Indians used 10 bother
thcm.h
0Who were the first settlcrsYr then asked.
"1hcy were all Pilgrims, u he answered, ''aDd the
leaders were John Alden Captain Standisb, JODa-
than Brewster and Thomas Prince
In order TO omit tho rehearsal OF great many I'M
important matters concerning the town as 1t existed
In the old colony OF Massachusetts, solicited some
Information concerning the source from which the
gentleman showed me one OF the manuscripts pages
IN the back part VI tho Aforesaid Bible, and from
which copied the following
This town received the Of Du1bnry ont of
Captain Sandish from Duxbury Hail. the seat Of the
9h amly 10 England As early as 1905 there was living NJ
a." 70 Hugh stsndh CHE son Of kEn
and IN ig7! sir Richard standh the grsa, urb
sby Frank s'anss' Of Dn1Ss1y PARK Ms''' 's''
The foregoing Is undoubtedly cosrect concerning
the origin OF the namo OF the town Of Duxbury
some years ago the village portion OF 1t was known
~ 'r"""p''" ana 10 connection with ihIs scrap Of