The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-08-05
ProvIncetow Mass, Unveils
Monument In Their Honor
and Hears an Address by
the Chief Executive.
SAILORS AND MARINES
TAKE PART IN PARADE
AN This Forenoon Thousands
Of People Poured Into Cape
Cod Town to Witness the
Great Spectacle.


GRATED with thousands OF flags and
streamers of bunting and filled with
q throng Of visitors. this tip-end town
Of Cape Cod today witnessed the most
momentous event In the history Of Its
people. the dedication of the great
monument to commemorate the first
handing OF the Pilgrims. with Presi-
dent Taft as the guest OF honor and
chief speaker.
Two thousand sailors and marines
from the ships OF the North Atlantic
fleet anchored In Provip cetown har.
Dor took part In the parade and acted
az police escort for the presidential
party, who came over from Burgess
Point on the Mayflower-the name OF
which vessel could not have been
more appropriate for the occasion.
The president was met at the end OF
the railroad dock by the chairman OF
the board of selectmen. who deliver
cd cordial greeting. Meanwhile the
sailors and marines formed In two
lines as police guard. Shortly after
the arrival of President Taft came
Governor Draper and mis- staff OF ten.
together with u number of other no
exercises OF the day.
ola Crowd Present.
During the early hours of the fore.
noon an immense crowd Of visitors
poured into the town. A score Of
steamboats, and u number of special
trains. two from Boston. two from
New Bedford. and several from the
upper cape. In addition to the regular
railroad and steamboat service, arriv.
cd before nine o'clock and soon the
narrow. winding streets OF picturesque
Provincetown were thronged as never
before In their history.
The president and other distinguish.
ed guests. with the military and ma
val escort. marched In procession to
the site of the monument upon Town
Hill. The speakers stand at the base
lof the monument. and the president.
,other orators. and az many of the in
vited guests as It would hold faced
the crowd of $4,000 massed on the
hill.
The exercises were opened with the
reading OF the Scriptures and an in
mandie OF Boston. Captain J. Henry
Sears. president Of the Pilgrim Men,
orial association. delivered short
speech, introducing Governor Draper.
who spoke briefly and in turn welcom,
ed and introduced the president.
President Taft spoke extemporane-
ously and paid . glowing tribute to
the memory OF the Pilgrims who first
landed on Cape Cod soil and. while
the storm.tossed Mayflower rode in
temporary security In the harbor over.
looked by the memorial just complet-
ed. signed their famous compact.
which has been Justly called the
forerunner Of the declaration of indie
pendence." The president frequently
was interrupted by applause.
In addition to President Taft the
speakers included former President
Charles w. Eliot Of Harvard univers.
ity, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of
Massachusetts and Hon. James T. Nc.
singing interpreted the program. The
sounding of u trumpet marked the
end Of the formal part of the exer.
cises. after which the guests of the
occasion adjourned to the town hall
where an informal reception was held.
The president was then escorted back
to tho wharf and embarked on the
Mayflower for the return trip to Bev.
erly.
An Imposing Monument.
The monument dedicated today Is
o most imposing structure. Situated
ON the brow Of Town Hill. with Pro.
vincetown's one long street and the
harbor at Its foot. 1t towers 252 feet
into the air. more than $50 feet above
the sea level. The tower Is construct.
ed Of Maine granite AMI stands upon
o solid concrete foundation. The de-
sign 10 . copy Of the tower OF the
Palaxzo della Republica. built In 1909
In Sienna. Italy.
The tower without the foundations
weighs .B.26s tons. The distance to the
tower platform 10 2l0 feet. thence to
the top Of the lantern tower 20 feet.
There 10 q slight tapering OF the shaft
it being - feet at the base and 81
ut the lantern tower platform.
The monument cost about 500. 0O0
Of which the national government
rave sac. 900. the state cf Massachus.