Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-07-07

Thomaston, Me. July 6.-The land
ing here Of Capt. George Weymouth,
300 years ago and his exploration of the
81. Georges river was commemorate.
Thursday, with an elaborate program
which included the annual field day of
the Maine Historical Society.
capt Weymouth and his crew
crossed the seas and on June %, 1908.
it is claimed. planted the first cross Of
British occupancy in America. Mem
bers of the Historical Society. residents
Of Kaox county and guests boarded the
revenue cutter Woodbury., several
small steamers and other craft about
$50 o'clock, and amid salutes started
down the river.
rpun arrival at Aliens island. one of
the st. Georges group, the fleet was
met by the monitor Arkansas. Com
manier l.. II. Gait. DR.. w. j. Jameson
Of ThnmaSton. coStumed to represent
capt Weymouth. in company with
his crew in costume, started towards
Aliens island. AT the same time num-
Der III persons on shore arrayed as In
diaus. made uverturts by signs and in
duc-i them to land ana smoke the pipe
Of peace as did Capt. Weymouth and
his men.
Follow ing this n granite cross bear
ing the Inscription. Weymouth
l4n5." WAS unveiled by the removal
from its face of American and British
flags. The Arkansas fired Il national Sa
lule A burrre 90 feet long. showing the
words "Pcntecost harbor," was raised
:, few feet away and saluted by the
monitnr.
lat. in the afternoon the fleet re-
turned 10 ThomaSton, the monitor pro-
'--dlnr only as far as the old fort
about thrr" miles below the town. The
parade from the wharf tn Main street
Included cant. Weymouth and crew
ldlUs. members of the Maine His
turica! SnrietY. speakers and guests
and 200 school children. At the Mall. q
hr"nA" tablet placed in huge boWldei
was unveiled by Miss Ruth Flint Lin
nell. The tablet is inscribed as follows;
TO commemorate the voyage OF
capt. George Weymouth to the coast
Of Maine in 1908. his discovery and eX-
pl"rltiou Of the 81. Georges river and
planting i cross ON the northerly side
"f this harbor where the river trended
Westward. The earliest known claim
# right OF possession by Englishmen
"n New England soil. This tablet is
erected 10y the town of Thomaston,
1896, H
The Maine Historical Society was
Welcomed by Joseph f.. Moore. chair
man of tn" local committee. and May
"t james =. Baxter of Portland. who
Is president of the society. responded.
There Mas singing Of God Save the
Ming. and "America." by the school
children.
III" first address ut the unwilling
was by Governor William T. Cobb. who
SPOKE as follows:
We ar" here. today. not to make his
rory. hut to refer to its local beginnings,
ana To commemorate by appropriate OBJ
S"rNan'es an event of historical import
ah'e To the State. and of peculiar inter-
est 10 this beautiful town
II has been established substantially
'-Nond controversy. that on a certain
morning in the early summer of the year
I"", George Weymouth an Englishman
ana commanding an English ship. while
On voyage of discovery to the New
world. sailed up this river, and landing
al the harborS head. was the first
hn""n white man to set foot upon these
Shores
HIS stay was brief. and not until
many Years afterward did Court or his
'"fS take more than careless notice of
'AiS lar away possession. But obscure
ana Distant as it was. Weymouth was its
US'overer. and by this act linked his
.aihe Tor all time with the beginnings of
Maine
On that June day when Weymouth
'ent his anchorage on the coast. and pro-