The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-05
Visit TO Historic Places in the
Country of NiantlcS.
Dinner at NinIgret Lodge--Speeches
by Gov. Dyer and Others.

remark that the only good place for
Indians is under ground Ills record was
OF the best shown by the annals of the
state and yesterday the memory of this
exceptional red man was honored by the
Rhode Island Historal Society.
Two hundred and fifty years ago yester-
day on June 4, lGi7, Canonicus died and
the members of the society observed the
anniversary by making field day OF "a
I'm the historical town of Charlestown
where every landmark has TO do with
Indian history and tradition.
1t was "a delightful day and the fifty or
more who took the trip got the benefit OF
what the historians call original research.
Ihey visited the old batuleiields and forts
and followed the trails Of tho Narragan-
setts and Nantes and learned more his
tory in a day than they would get In
weeks out of books Incidentally they
got n better appetite.
The party arrived at Shamrock early in
the forenoon and that was the end OF the
car ride. The rest was an interesting
Wilderness with sparse population OF
farmers, nine out of ten of whom can
claim Indian ancestry.
From Shamrock depot the party ascended
by the hill once redeemed by the blood OF
Pequots and Narragansetts, 60 the resi-
dence of Hon. George Carmichael. de-
lightful host who knows how TO tell the
stories OF the locality.
In the rear of Mr.. Carmiohael's S residence
is the house built in l7li by the original
Thomas Green. One of his descendants,
Miilen ;. Greene, who has added the iinal
'e' to the name of his forefathers was in
the company yesterday and read an his
torical poem.
Battle Tablet.
Mr.. Carmichael called attention TO a
tablet In his summer house which reads
as follows:
Indian tradition and history say that
on this hill and its slopes took place one
of the flercest battles of our earlier Indian
wars between the Pequot and Narragan-
sett tribes for the control of the fishing
falls just below. The Narragansetts were
| victorious" "
Yesterday the new state flag was raised
above this house in honor of Gov. Dyer,
who was with the party accompanied by
Col. II. Anthony Dyer and Col. Regi-
| nald Norman of his staff
After the reception the historians took
| carriages ana went south, with many
| variations. The first stop was at the
| foot of Burial hill, the highest elevation
| in South county. Tho horses couldn't
climb It, but every one in the Historical
| Society could, not excepting the secre-
| tary, MIR. Amos Perry nor MIR. Asa
Messer Gammell. nor Mr. Samuel Foster.
At the top of the hill is the royal Gem
etery-tho last resting place of the kings
| and queens of the Indian tribes.
In the center Of the enclosure is a mar
| BILE tablet with the following inscription
'Ihis tablet is erected and this spot
Of ground enclosed by the state OF Rhode
Island 10 mark the place which Indian
tradition Identifies az the royal burylng
ground of the Narragansett tribe, and in
recognition of the kindness and hospit-
ality OF the once nowerful nation TO the
founders OF this state
"Dono by order of the General Assem-
bly, at the January session. 1875, urder
the direction OF George Carmichael, Jr.,
Samuel IA. Cross j. AlonZO Babcock -
The next point in the itinerary OF the
day was Fort Ninigret This was origi-
nally Dutch port built 10 defend
trading post and the formation of the
enclosure and the bastions Is still ap-
parent. 1t was afterward used by the
Indians and named for them.
From the fort the drive was continued
to the Coronation Rock on the Kenyon
farm. This is where Queen Esther was
crowned when she succeeded King Tom
Ninigret. The records say that she was
elevated on n large rock so that the people
might see her, the council surrounding
her There were present about 20 In
dian soldiers with guns. They marched
her TO the rock The Indians nearest the
royal blood, in the presence of her
councillors put the crown on her head
It was made of cloth covered with blue
and white flags. When the crown was
put on the soldiers fired a royal salute
and huZZaed in the Indian tongue
There were 500 Indians present at the
coronation.
Tom Ninigrets House.
Within a few rods of the royal rock Is
the house built by Tom Ninigret himself
$50 years ago. When Tom was n boy his
tribe sent him to England To be educated
and on his return he brought plans for
a house which nc had built az Newport,
carried across the bay in sections and put
up on his own land. King Tom was "a
merry monarch and wasted his sub
stance i'm riotous living so that when no
diet II was necessary TO sell his real estate
To pay his debts. This house was decided
TO Nathan Kenyon and today IL il the
property OF his descendant, Mr.. James :.
kenyon. The Inter was one of the com.
Initteo in charge OF yesterdays field day.
By this time the least imaginative mem
her Of tho Historical society could, with.
out any difficulty, people the woods with
red skins and fancy an ambuscade behind
every rock 10y the road, and in the road
90 Ninigret Lodge
Ninigrct lodge was once an Indian
school house built by the whites for tho
purpose OF spreading education and the
Gospel among the natives. Now IL is the
outing headquarters of a score Of gentle
mon Of Providence and Newport who
have certainly found an ideal place
Dinner at the Lodge.
The lodge is in a large cleared area en-
closed on three sides 10y heavy growth
Of woodland and on the fourth side slop-
Ing 90 tho shores OF school House lake.
Mr. william Il. sheffield, Jr, Of New
pert, and Mr.. Henry w. Cooke and MIR
Isaac N. Southwick Of Providence, all
members 81 the lodge, were the hosts
during this part of the trip aud an excel.
lent dinner was served. AZ was prepared
by skilful Indian woman, who years
before was pupil In the school
After dinner President William II.
wooden of the Historical Society called an
Internal mooting on tho porch overlook.
ing the lake ana delivered an interesting
address on the historical features OF tho
noighlorhood.
Gov. Elisha Dyer said that the ahan-
l n II q I. Il