The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-18

& .sU.d But Half-Forgotten Story Of Plys
mouth Rock.
Nv Clinton MontagueN


BY Clinton Montague)
ON the 10th OF September, 1922 %. 50,
% small vessel OF one hundred and eighty
tons burden sailed slowly from the mar
Dor of plyH cuth, England, and set out
ON ID VOYAGE across the Atlantic. ON
beard were one hundred and one per-
SONS who were seeking home OF free
dom in the wilds of the New World.
Vast results were waiting upon the tOr-
tunes of that voyage. No snip that ever
sailed not even the caraVels of Columbus,
carried "a burden more pregnant Win
frfmiso and accomplishment than was
borne in the MayiiOWer, the vessel OF the
ierim Fathers.
small as She was. clumsily and tub-like
ae she was modelled. the MayiiOWer
breasted well the pillows OF the Atlantic,
and struggling CALAMITY onward with her
preci lus freight. finally brought the Ittle
band in safety 10 the destination that
Providence had marked for them. They
had shaped their course for the hudson
river. Of which region the Dutch navi-
gators had given most favorable reports.
But after a voyage of siXty-scven days. on
November 18th. the weary and hdlt-slck
uass+nCers saw dawning before them. not
Manhattan Island. with IT'S windmllls ana
its Dutch houses bat the low, sterile
shores of Cape Cod Bay. Bleak and In
equitable as was that coast. however,
those brave men and women reJoiced al
the sight and took courage. TWO Gay
afterwards they unshipped their shu-
lop. which was found to need repairs. and
the carpenter informed them that IL
would take sixteen or seventeen days 10
get IL ready. Meanwhile. impatient or
delay. sixteen men. with every man lis
musket. sword, and corselet.' went
ashore. headed by stout Miles Standish
the military leader OF the Pilgrims.
The date Of this first exploration was
November 18th. but the party returned
without finding suitable place 10 settle.
The next time they went i'm the shaliop,
which mad been repaired. IL was cOlu,
time a. time were set ashore, grew IN
cd with marching mp and down the steep
hills and deep valleys, Which lay NAN
foot thick with snow
ScVerai Of those who participated In
this second enterprise died from the Ell
fects of the exposure they underwent.
Meanwhile the winter was deepening
and the captain Of the MayilOwer was I'M
patient 10 start upon his return voyage
lie even went so far as 10 say thdl ne
would set his passengers ashore at nap
hazard amid the wilds and the DeceIhDtI
winds. If they did not make speedy SCI
Urged 10 new exertions by these consid-
erati0ns. the most hardy Of the Pilgrims
left the cosy quarters Of the Mayiower
and embarking in their shallop' again
made the coast 10 find. IL possible. prop
cr site for a settlement.
The party experienced. as usual, plenty
Of hardship and adventure. Not few
liked 10 have persisted from the cold. a
storm came on, they lost their mast and
ruddcr and several times came very near
being swamped. In the stormy darkness
Of the night they were driven upon the
land and in their desperate condition
sighting an danger from Indians, they
disembarked and built fire.
In the morning they discovered That
their PatmOs was an island al the en-
trance Of a harbor. The next day was
ont in
rest and preparation. Sunday came and
the Pilgrims remained on the island OBJ
serving the day by sacred worship
on Monday. the 18th Of December, or,
bv the new style of reckoning, Deem
Der q. which IS now kept as "Forefather
Dav." the shallop left the island, and
proceeding up the harbor, the exploring
party. some time before noon, landed
ON that immortal boulder known as Ply
mouth Rock one after the other stan
dish. Carver Bradford Winslow. and the
eight br0nzod scamen climbed upon the
ledge where never before white man
foot had been planted
The scene as it Law outsprcad that day
must have been n drcary one-the GROUND
covered with snow. the dark cvergreens
moaning in the wintry blast. and the
whito-cappcd surf beating mp against the
frozen sand and the granite rocks. But
n broad country. with hills and valleys
and woll-watered. stretched back from
the shore. the Larbor was commooi2us.
and the wanderers believed that thev
could not find a better site for their rev
home.
They returned with the agreeable in
teliipence. and the ship was brought into
the harbor on the 18th. The 18th and 18Th
were spent in exploring the country. ana
on the 2o.h. after imploring the Divine
"a Iar4 Of
immigrants. composing men. women and
children. some OF whom were so sick and
feeble that they were near death's-door.
landed on the iuhospitable coast and
commenced the settlement. the first per-
manent one in New England.
Many OF that company one-half
died before the grass was green on the
hills OF Plymouth. for so they had named
their new home In remembrance OF the
hospitalities that they had received at
the port IN England from which they had
sailed. Nine days after their landing. IN
the midst OF a terrible storm that pre-
vented communication between the ship
and those on the shore died Richard
Brltterage His was the first funeral al
Plymouth, some OF the mOurners hastily
nllng In the grave. while others stood
by with their arms in fear OF an attack
by Indians.
Three DAYS afterwards died Solomon
Brewer. and a few days later. Diggory
Priest was dead. Christopher Martin fell
sick. and died after a very short Illness.
and next Rose Standish the young wife
OF the sturdy captain was struck down
by the T,ostilence and buried in the grave
way, which now gave promise OF being
more populous than the street.
Then the pestllence ragged with full
sway. Two or three died In a day. Those
who retained their strength were hardly
sufncient TO minister to the urgent wants