The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-14
ROW ABOUT MAYTLowER.s LOG.
Boston Societies QunrreIinE as 10
which Shall lie Its Custodian.
From the Chicago Chornicle


From the Chicago Chornicle.
Boston. Mass.-The prospects for a
row over the receipt of the log of the May
flower which recently was presented to
Boston by It's English custodians. seem
good. II Is "A misnomer to call il a log
however. for it simply Is a history Of the
Plymouth plantation. As matter of fact
no log of the Mayfiower Is In existence.
and the word Mayhower does not appear
I'm the manuscripts
1t Is expected that this manuscript will
arrive in this country about MAY 49, II
will doubtless be taken to President Nc
Kinley. who will probably turn 1t over to
Senator Hoar for transmission to Massa-
chusetts. The senior senator viii bring il
to Boston, and hand II over to Gov. VOL
colt. il will probably be received with
some ceremony, suitable to the dignity Of
the occasion.
To whom will the governor give It for
safe keeping2 There's the rub. There are
several claimants, the Pilgrim society of
Plymouth the Boston Public library and
the state of Massachusetts, being the fore
most. It has also been suggested that
the Bradford heirs have a claim, as II Is
not known that Gov. Bradford gave or
wiled the manuscript to any person or
society. However. the Bradfords, whose
name now Is legion, will make no claim,
so far as they themselves are concerned,
but will. If called upon, signify their de-
sire TO have It placed In the state library
The Pilgrim society will claim that
Plymouth Is the place where the manu-
script should be kept. for was 1t not writ
ten there and Is II not a history of the
Plymouth plantation2 Those opposed to
such "A disposition assert that there is no
proper place IN Plymouth to keep a docu-
of ttnH M ms a rs baf
Is not a hreproof building, and the only
other proper place in Plymouth Is the
register Of deeds office, a place, they say.
wholly unfit for the housing Of such a
manuscript.
The Boston public library claimants con-
tend that It should go there. and set up
the statement that the manuscript prob
ably belonged to the Prince library now
in the public library. The Prince library
was left in the custody of the deacons of
the Old South church by Rev. Thomas
Prince, formerly pastor Of the church.
Some thirty years ago the Prince library
was given TO the trustees OF the public
library in trust. All OF Pastor Princes
books bear his boOkplate mark. The Brad
ford manuscript has this mark on the fly
leaf Hence the claim that IL really be-
longs 10 the Prince library and should be
placed with It ia the public library.
Again, there are those who claim II
SnOuiu ne given 10 tne commonwealth ana
placed In the state library. Although
written at Plymouth, the Identity of Ply
mouth has been merged into the state, as
has largely its interests. These claim
ants place no faith In the Prince theory.
asserting that the fact of the manuscript
bearing the Prince mark does not show
concluslveiy that II belonged to Pastor
Prince. There Is nothing TO show that
the manuscript was not loaned to Mr..
Prince. and not given.
What Is 20 be the outcome OF the con-
troversy time alone can determine.