The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-09-13

S35, 900. Iron gates permit entering Oe-
meath the canopy from either north or
south. On the east and west sides the
metal barriers are ever closed, The
gates are locked about sunset when the
rock can be seen from either part of the
compass, but cannot be nearly approach
ed. An indestructible cssket in the
upper part of the canopy contains the
remains of five persons taken from the
hill close at hand.
A warning shrek from the steamer
lying a few rods away breaks in upon
the travellers medtations. Only fear Of
missing the boat can compel him to
abandon this hiatoric spot, A fruitful
theme for consideration in departing is
the
IDENTITY OF PLYMOUTH ROCK,
With many visitors it is matter of
speculation whether present generations
are not somewhat imposed upon regard
ing the precise spot of the Pilgrims dis
embarkation. Doubling spectators
would have excellent ground for dis
senting views If no positive evidence
could be advanced reaching hack con-
sderably beyond a Century's duration
For about one hundred years wharf
has extended some eighty yards in an
easterly direction from Plymouth Rock,
For the benefit of those never visiting
the locality it may be said that the bay
| lies to the east of the rock, and that the
tide does not flow in close proximity to
| it. In building the wharf it was neces-
sary to grade the earth some twelve or
fifteen feet above the boulders leVel,
The coal business was prosecuted at this
dock, and to make the place convenient
of approach the rock must be raised or
buried from sight Happily the former
alternative WAS chosen. The unant'cl'
pated effect of inland position 10 pro,
duced by the extension OF this wharf
and those upon either side 80 Tar into
shallow water.
Undoubtedly when the Pilgrims land.
ed. two hundred and sixty-eight years
ago. there was a greater depth OF water
in Plymouth Bay than now exists
Where the MayHower is pictured as Sc.
renely floating. vessels Of the same ton.
mage wouId to-day be left bare at low
tide. Two rivers empty into the lind
locked bay above Plymouth. The de.
pogit3 from these sources and the action
of strong tides have created many mud
flats in the past two and one half cen.
turtles. In Revolutionary times consid.
cradle water must have flowed around
the wheryes OF Plymouth, for many yes
sells carried on prosperous traffic with
this port Early in the war OF ~ the
sturdy settlers entertained fears thai
British cruisers might enter the harbol
and despoil the memorable rock OF theiI
fathers IN mart 0t
from vandalism. about one-thlrd OF lht
bulk now visible was split away from III
resting place ana carried to the upper
street, where 1t was buried deep IN eartf
with the end OF the liberty pole resting
upon 1t, When the canopy was erected
about twenty-one years ago, the miss
ing portion was restored and cemented
as nearly as possible IN It's original posi-
ton, and the figures "l62O' cut into the
sloplng anc unbroken surface 1t wal
then found that the opinions OF those
who disputed that the rock had beer
moved Bhoreward were correct. In pre-
pairing a substantial foundation it wal
discovered that the huge timbers sup
porting the boulder were still sound
They had been shielded from the air fol-
nearly century and were undisputably
placed above the cavity from which the
heavy mass had been originally lifted.
Plymouth rock il clearly a contrlbu
ton of the glacial period. Scientist.
have traced its path to considerable
distance from it's place of Judgment
Evidently the ice supporting il forced
its bulk along until Coles Hill wa,
reached, where the shock of firm eartf
wae too much for the strength of il,
melting support; breaking away il
Iprobably fell somewhat backward 10 the
nosition assumed at the historic landing
Professor Apassiz ia said to have remark
ed after carefully studying its composi
tion. that the rock came from Nova Iem
Ibla for no nuarries of the same cIassifi
cation are to he found at n nearer noint
Men of more nractical disnosition claiu
that. as the buildings of the Colony in
creased in number. stone became largely
lin demand. When this material wa,
urgently needed for wharyes and form
inc hank walls. why. they urge. shoulC
this particuIaI rock be spared and al
Others seized upon. and the colonistl
travel long distances to obtain thai
which existed most easy of access?
He who rejects the dictum of scieu
tific research and the arguments of the
oriats has not far to look for positly,
evidence. Identification ia established
by the span Of three rather remarkahl,
lives. In the house next to the residence
of DR.. Drew, present secretary of tn,
Pilgrim Historical Society. lives an ole
lady, almost a ccntenaIian, who well re
members the day that Elder Faunce, th,
last minister of Plymouth Colony. wen
TO the shore to bid adieu to Pilgrim
rock under the impression that in grad
ing the wharf it was about 10 be hurried
This lady was then Il little girl, but he
memory wac confirmed at early woman
, hood By concurrent testimony Of al
aunt and grandmother who had accom-
J panied her, reports that Elder Faunce
who was some 05 years old, distinct,
; said that lin his youth he was told b,
. very old members of the Colony tina
, this very rock was the one upon whicl
the forefathers landed. Surprising hi
informants to be nearly ninety years 0
age, they might have personally wit
, messed the disembarkment.
( When John Pierpont recorded in hi
poan that the rocks of the Pilgrima ali
( kcen thor watch bv the deem and re-
/ strain ia waves of pr,de. proboblv II,
poet INDUCED the license accorded hi
branch of literature, That was sixty
four years ngo, and the sentinel rock
must have then been seen principally il
imagination; nothing less can heral
, them forth now. The receding tide bare
the upper harbor revealing no rocks