Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-09-24
PLYMOUTH ROCKS CRACK.
Its Origin Involves n Unique and
Ridiculous hit of History,

Its Origin Involves Unique and
Ridiculous hit Of History.
Plymouth has been called the cradle
of New England. It is on the coast
thirty eight miles south of Boston and
Is thriving and prosperous New Eng
land town. with good schools and
churches and town hall and shops OF
oil kinds and comfortable homes.
On the fat strip OF land that runs for
miles up and down the shore Of the
bay the dinIinutive white houses OF
the fishermen are crowded close to-
gether. In the center Of the sumo fiat
land strip, hanked OIL both sides by the
fisherlneu's homes, Is large, open
@lnare forty yards from the water
front. Here stands Plymouth rock, the
first sight of which gives one Il lvrntul
shc:k, for, no doubt, fancy has pictured
an Immense boulder rising giandly out
OF the sea, but Instead the visitor sees
only an oblong, irregulnrly shaped gray
sandstone rock twelve feet in length
and five feet in width ut the widest
point and two at the narrowest. Across
one part rms large crack which has
hcch filed with cement and which gives
to Plymouth rock highly artificial
appearance The origin OF this crack
Is bit OF unique history and bears
evidence TO the early differences TINT
at times divided the inhabitants into
two factions.
For long time there wugcd spirited
and bitter wrangling between the op-
~
down upon the much cherished Ply.
mouth rock. which one party declared
ought to he removed to more worthy
position In the town square and the
| other wranglers protested it should not
be moved un inch from Its position,
even though they had TO guard It with
their pixies and guns.
Finally the stronger faction drew up
their forces around Plymouth rock
and In attempting TO move 1t up the
hill split II nsunder, which seemed IL
bad omen for those who had attempted
such thing until an ardent Whig
leader flourislcd his sword and by an
eloquent appeal TO the other jealous
Wings convinced them that they should
not swerve from their plan cf carry
squire
"The portion TINT first fell to the
ground belongs TO u.s." he cried. "and
that we will transport with all care
and diligence TO lis proper home"
Twenty yoke Of oxen drew the Whig
section, OF plymouth rock up the Hill
amid the shouts OF the tllrong TINT
pushed forward around the liberty pole
which WAS to mark the new site The
new position wis very impressive and
the people stood with barred heads ana
In reverent tones chAnted their high
pitched psalms In token OF thanksglv-
ing.
In the town square this purt Of Plyn-
outh rock remained for more than
half century, when committee of
the council resolved to move 1t back to
its original position and join 1t rs best
they could to the other half. Accord
ingly. in 1894, OF The morning Of the
Fourth of July. The plymouth rock had
been reunited in nll seriousness to it's
long cstruuged portion and the union
made complete by n mixture OF cement
| and mortar.
| Today four granite columns support
Il canopy of granltc that offers Plym-
outh rock mn Indifferent protection
against the rain and the sun and serves
TO keep back in some measure the
thousands Of slghtsecrs that 30 to
Plymouth with only one object In view
namely, to press up around the iron
bars and to gaze through them ut the
revercd rock. on which they see the
single Inscription, cut in the middle of
] Its face In long. plnin figures, 1920"
The rock Is surrounded by high
iron railing composed OF alternate boat
hooks and hnrpoons and inscribed with
the fllustrious names of the forty men
who drew mp the pilgrlms' compact
on board the Mnyiiowcr that Novcm-
Der day rs they sighted the coast that
henceforth was to be their home
Cornelia Hickman in st. Nicholas.