Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1906-11-21
PLYMOUTH ROCKS CRACK.
Its Origin Involves n Unique and r
diculous Bit Of History.

Its Origin Involves n Unique and r
diculous Bit Of History.
Plymouth has been called the cradi
thirty-eight miles south Of Boston, an
Is a thriving and prosperous New Eng
laud town, with good schools an,
churches, and town hall, and shops o
all kinds, and comfortable homes.
On the nat strip Of land that run,
the bay, the diminutive white houses
Of the fishermen are crowded close to
gether. In the center Of the same
nat land-strip, nanked on both sides
by the nshermsn's homes, II q large,
open square forty yards from the wat.
er front Here stands Plymouth Rock.
the nrst sight Of which gives ono q
mental shock, for, no doubt fancy has
pictured an immense boulder rising
yrandly out Of the sea; but. instead, the
visitor sees only an oDlong lrregularly
shaped gray sandstone rock twelve
feet In length and Ave feet in width
at the widest point and two at the
narrowest Across one part runs a
large crack which has been filled with
cement. and which gives to Plymouth
Rock q highly artificial appearance.
The origin OF this crack 10 4 bit of
UNIQUE history, and bears evidence to
the early differences that at times d.
vided the Inhabitants into two fac
tons.
For a long time there waged spirited
and bitter wrangling between the op-
posing parties, and 1t even settled
down upon the h-cherishsd Ply
mouth Rock, which one party declared
ought to be removed to q more worthy
position in the town square, and the
other wranglers protested It should
not be moved an inch from Its posi-.
ton, 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 It up the
hill split It asunder, which seemed q
bad omen for those who had attempted
such q thing, until an ardent Whig
leader nourishsd his sword. and by an
eloquent appeal to the other jealous
Wings convinced them that they
should not swervs from their plan Of
carrying the rock to q place In the
town square.
The portion that nrst fell to the
ground belongs to u.s." he cried; land
that we will transport with all care
and Aiif~Aona - a.. o.oo>v hnunW
Twenty yoke Of oxen drew the Wing
section Of Plymouth Rock up the hill.
amid the shouts Of the throng that
pushed forward around the liberty pole
which was to mark the new site. The
ceremony Of dedicating ths-rock In Its
new position was very impressive. and
the people stood with barred heads, and
In reverent tones chanted their high
pitched psalms In token Of thanksgiv-
Ing.
In the town square this part Of Ply
mouth Rock remained for more than
half q century, when q committee Of
the council resolved to move 1t back
to its original position, and Join It ~
best they could, to the other half. Ac-
cordingly In 1884 on the morning Of
the Fourth Of July, the Plymouth Rock
had been reunited In all seriousness to
Ito long estrangcd portion. and the
Union made complete BY mixture Of
cement and mortar.
To-day four granite columns support
q canopy Of granite that Offers Ply
mouth Rock an Indifferent protection
against the rain and the sun, and
serves to keep back. In some measure.
the thousands Of sightsesra tsat come
to Plymouth with only one object In
view. namely. to press up around the
Iron bars. and to gaze, through them
at the revered rock. on which they
see the single inscription, cut In the
middle Of it, face In long. plain d.
ures, 1920"
The rock 10 surrounded BY q high
iron railing composed Of alternate boat
hooks and harpoons, and inscribed
With the illustrious names Of the forty
men who drew up the Pilgrims COM
pact on board the Maynowsr that No
vember day a. they sighted the coast