Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-07-30
TuE PILGRIMS LANDING.
The Maine Press Picnic Reported by Our
George.
Plymouth, Mass.

plymouth, Mass.
The pilgrims were pretty well occupied the
first winter after their arrival, and their time
was mostly spent in poultcing their heads
where they had been scalped, and attending
the funerals of about half of their number.
There are various accounts of the first
landing. One is, that it was woman who
first landed But that is all moonshine, be-
cause she would have had to stop so long on
the Mavhower to fix her hair and pack her
bundles. that the boat would have gone of
before she got ready. Another account is
given by a picture, which represents an In
dian on one knee. assisting the white man to
land | didn't take much stock in this &C
count either. The Indians at times used
to assist the white man to land, but it was on
the shore of the next world when he landed
him, and his ticket was generally tomahawk
in his skull. This picture amused me. 1t
looked Just as | have felt sometimes, when
some one grssped me to shake my hand 1t
would be with such squeeze that | would
drop on one knee, and my fingers would be
TANNED together SO that would have to pry
them apart with chisel, and that Indian
looked Just that way. If there was any
historic truth in the picture, I'll gamble that
the white man did not get his grip on that
Indian again.
Ii is claimed that the rock is the identical
one on which the pilgrims landed, and that it
now stands directly over the spot where it
originally was, though raised in the air some
feet. could not get up great amount of
yeueration or sentiment in looking at it.
Those old chaps liked to go 10 meeting
altogether too well to suit ME. Somebody
4 Erat nd nj L I'm
Us. and perhaps it is just as well that it was
the pilgrims as any one else. I'm satisfied if
they are There is now very beautiful
canopy of granite over the rock, supported
hv four columns, and between the columns Is
an iron fence which prevents visitors from
slipping the stone into their pocket, and lug
ginr it of There are lots of good, pious
people in this land of freedom who would
consider il no crime to steal the Last
Supper" if they could lug il of as relic. ."
The rock has been broken and cemented
together again, and it will without a doubt
stay put" now for all time.
Pilgrim Hall is one of the places of interest
here. and contains all the relics of the pilgrims
that the society have been able to get to-
gether As YOU enter the ante-room picture
of the Landing meets your eye, and you gaze
Al il aud wonder where the Indians obtained
those red mackinaw blankets with oisck
borders at that particular date of our coun-
trv's history. I'm not particular man IN
these matters, but it did strike me rather
queer | must confess. In corner OF the
room stands clock-now running-which
belonged to John Hancock, the man who
wrote his name so that King George could
read it without putting on his spectacles. On
the wall hangs the Commission from Oliver
Cromwell to Gov. Edward Winslow. 1t has
a picture of Cromwell in the margin, which
looks like one of these newspaper wood cuts
Before taking Stomach Bitters.
1t is a terrible looking face. If Cromwell
looked like that he must have suffered terri
bly, with the dyspepsia. Some friend has
torn of his signature, though there isn't a
bank in the country where q man could raise
a dollar on it Entering the main hall you
are in the midst of the Mayfiower relics. If
all the people who claim to have come over