Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1871-01-18
"Clark's Island"

Mr.. Editor IL am most happy 10 as
sure your reeders, that at the 250th an-
niversary Of the landing of the Pilgrims
Dec. 81, 1870, at Old Plymouth, Mass,
the Hou. r. G. Winthrop of Boston, de-
livered a most profound and eloquent ora.
ton; in which he sustained in the fullest
and most forcible manner, the statements
which appeared in your excellent paper a
few days since, under the title, "Pigr ms
and Puritans."
But | will attempt no further report Of
the oration, than to give few interesting
facts about "Clark' S Island" 1t is well
known that this beautiful islet of the sea
has become famous in the Pilgrims. Clark S
Island is both beautiful to look upon and
beautiful for situation; being inside of
Plymouth Bay, which is an inner bay Tor
sort of Holy of Holies) to the Cape Cod
Bay.
Plymouth Bay, is in shape, something
like half-moon; the curve or shore side
peing on the south, and the "horns of the
MOON pointing north. This inner bay is
then formed by an EARN of sand, start.
ing from the east "horn" about two miles
north from Plymouth village, and running
west in straight line; being only few
rods in width the whole distance. Its pe-
culiar formation is an enigma to biologists.
About four miles north from Plymouth
another "arm" of sand starts from the
west "horn"; lat this junction of the 'horn
and arm" is the landing place of the
French Atlantic Cable J this arm runs
east two miles, and then like an elbow,
bent, it runs south two miles, towards
Plymouth and comes so near touching the
fingers" of the other 'arm," that only a
narrow ships channel is left. The fret
ship that ever passed through this narrow
strait was the Mayfower.
AT the point of this elbow the Gourmet
Lighthouse" On the part corresponding
to the "head," hand called "saquish," is
a United States Fort, for the defense of
Plymouth halbor. Inside this bent arm,
towards the elbow, lies the beautiful
"Clark's Island"
The story of the island, in connection
with the Pilgrims, is this About two
weeks before the landing, company of
eighteen men in shalop was sent out to
look for place to inhabit. Starting from
Provincetown at Cape Cod, where the
Mayhower lay at anchor, they coasted
along the south shore of the Bay, until
they passed ''saquish," into Plymouth
Bay, where on the 18th Of December they
encountered a severe gale. After great
dficulty and considerable danger to their
little craft, they were driven ashore; and
finding the spot surrounded by water, gave
it the name Of "Clarks Island, " in honor
of the chief mate of the Mayhower.
The next day they were occupied in re-
pairing damages, caused by the storm. A
very important entry is still to be found
in their diary, as follows: "Dcc. Goth
being Sabbath, we rested" This was the
6 rst known observance of the Christian
Sabbath in New England.
On the foil owing day, Monday, Dec.
2l, 1920, they started for the main land,
and went ashore, stepping upon that sin
gle and only ganite boulder on all that
long beach, forever to be known as 'Plym-
outh Rock" This embarkation of the
eighteen explorers from the shallop is the
great event celebrated In history as "the
landing Of the Pilgrims" Deeming this
a " comodious harbor to winter in," and
a desiarble place to settle, they returned
to the Mayfower, still lying at Province
town.
But while they carried good news to the
rest, they were made sad by the intelli-
gence that the wife of William, (aftewards
Gov. Bradford, who was one of those in
the shallop,) fell overheard and was
drowned the next day after they departed.
A thrilling story appeared in Harper's
Monthly, some time since, tracing the
.'mysterious thread Of events" devlop-
ing the secret Of this sad tale as connected
with early disappointment in love. 1t ap-
peared that Mr. Bradford had in his youth
been fond of another, but 'between the
cup and lip" occurred the "slip," we read
of, and he was married to another.
On their passage in the Mayaower, dur
ing the hours swhen deep sleep falleth on