The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-08-30

An lnuestFuctlble casket III the upper part ol
the canopy contains the remains of five person,
taken from the hill close at hand
\ warning Shrek from the steamer lying
few rods away breaks in upon the traveller,
meditations. Only fear of missing the boat
can compel him to abandon this historic spot
A fruitful theme for consideration in departing
is the
IDENTITY OF PLYMOUTH ROCk.
With many visitors it is matter of specua
ton whether present generations are not some.
what imposed upon regarding the precise spot
OF the Pilgrims Decentralization. Doubling
spectators would have excellent ground for
dissenting views if no positive evidence could
be advanced reaching back considerably be-
yond a ceutury's duration. For about one hun
drcd Years wharf has extended some eighty
| yards in an castery direction from Plymouth
| Rock. For the benefit Of those never visiting
tie locality it may be said that the bay lies tc
| the east Of the rock, and that the tide does not
flow in close proximity to it.. In building the
| wharf it was necessary to grade the earth some
twelve or fifteen feet above the boulder's level
! The coal business was prosecuted at this dock,
!
the rock must be raised or buried from sight.
| Happily the former alternative was chosen.
The unanticpated effect Of inland position is
| produced by the extension of this wharf and
those upon either side far into the shallow
! water.
Undoubtedly when the Pilgrims landed, two
hundred and Weight years ago, there was
greater depth of water in Plymouth Bay than
now exists. Where the May flower is pictured
as Serenely floating, vessels of the same tom
mage would to-day he left bare at low tide.
Two rivers empty into the land-lccked bay
above Plymouth. The deposits from these
sources and the action of strong tides have
onc-half centuries. In Revolutionary times
coEsldorabic water must have flowed around
the Whlrves of Plymouth, for many vessels
carried on prosperous traffic with this port
Early in the war of IS the sturdy settlers en-
tertalned fear that British cruisers might
enter the harbor and deSpoil the memorable
rock of their fathers To preserve some part
OF it from vandalism about one-tbird of the
bulk now visible was split away from its rest
Ing place and carried to the upper street. where
il was buried deep in earth with the end of the
liberty pole resting upon it. When the canopy
Wa- erected, about twcnty-one years ago. the
missing portion was restored and cemented as
nearly rs possible in its original position, and
the figures ''l620" cut into the >opng and I'M
broken surface. It was then found that the
opinions of those who disputed that the rock
had been moved slIorcWard were correct. In
preparing 4 substantial foundation it was dis
covered that the huge timber> supporting the
boulder We're still sound. They had been shield
cd from the air for nearly century and were
nndisputably placed above the cavity from
which the heavy mass had been originally lifted.
Plymouth Rock is clearly a contribution of
the glacial period Scientists have traced its
path to a considerable distance from its place
Of !od%mcnt. Evidently the ice supporting it
forced its bulk along until Coles Hill was
reached. where the shock of firm earth was
too much for the strength of its melting sup
port: breaking away it probably fell >omew hat
backward 10 the position assumed at the historic
landing. Professor Aga>SiZ is said to have re-
marked after carefully studying its compost
tion, that the rock came from Nova Zembla,
for no quarrieS of the same classification are
to he found at Il nearer point Men of more
practical disposition claim that, as the buildings
of the Colony increased in number. stone be-
canc largely in demand. When this material
was urgently needed for wharves and forming
bank walls. why, they urge. should this par
ticular rock be, spared and all others seized
upon. and the coloni>tS travel long distances to
obtain that whi''ii existed most easy of access:
lie who rejects the dictum of scientific re-
search and the arguments of theorists has not
far to look for positive evidence. ltlentitica-
tion is established by the span Of three rather
remarkable lives. In the house next TO the
Residence Of DR.. Drew, present secretary of
the Pilgrim Historical Society, lives an old
lady. almost centennarian. who well remen,-
hcrs the day that Elder Fatlnce the last min
is:er Of Plymouth Colony. Went to the shore to
bid adicu to Pilgrims rock under the impress
sion that i'll grading the wharf it was about to
be buried. This lady was then little girl, but
her memory was confirmed at early woman
hood by concurrent testimony of an aunt and
grandmother who had accompanied her She
reports that Elder Faunce, VINO was some 95
years old distinctly said thai IN his youth he
was told by very OLD members of the Colony
that this very rock was the one upon which the
forcfather> landed. Supposng Lis informants
to be nearly ninety years of age, they might
have personally witnessed the disc mbarkment.
When John Pierpolt recorded in his poem
that the rocks of the Pilgrims still keep their
watch by the deep and restrain its waves of
PRIDE probably the poet ;nduyed the license
accorded his branch of literature. That was
siNty-four years ago. and the sentinel rocks
must have then been seen principally in imag-
ination; nothing less can now herald them
forth. The rece,ing tide bares the upper har-
visitor viewing the bay from the Monument
or Burial Hill might query as to how the May
flowers >halop came to land its passengers
where it did. But since 1881 it would seem
Improbable that any other point should be
reached, for repeated dredging Of the channel
has made species of canal one hundred feet
wide directly across the bay to the steamboat
wharf next to the rock itself. Thus at low
tide the highway for vessels leads cleaning
ptln ilihe lett utcp, 10 within Il IeW yards OF
the granite canopy.
The Historical Society now own the wharf
estate beyond the prize they treasure. This
year the coal buildings have been carted away
and the surface leveled with fresh loan.
When the funds sufficiently accumulate it is
proposed to place Il suitable railing about the
property and otherwise prepare it as a fitting
spot for promcnadc>.
The Pilgrims are presumed to have remained
near the place of landing because some acres
had been prepared for corn ground by the In
dians. they having burned away the forest.
Such land they had sought, for it best
promised subsistence TO the hardy voyagers ;
besides, close at hand is the spring of "goody
water at which many tourists now daily re-
fresh themselves. In the cold embrace of
| Coles Hill. Immediately in the rear of Ply
| mouth Rock were laid during that dstressful
first year the worn-out bodies of nearly one
| half the Mayflowers human burden. Their
| skeletons are frequently encountered in laying
| water pipes or digging holes for electric light
| ing purposes. But the remains. when discov-
| cred, are left sacred in their long homes.
| GAY, call it holy ground,
The soil where first they trod;
They have left unstained what there they found
Freedom to worship God"
oBsERV ATIoNS BY THE WAY.
| Ilynnutl must lie a healfhx ts