The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-16
TODAY IN HISTORY
The MayfIower Sails for America.
FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 1e, 1911,

1t was on September 16. 1920, that
NE NE little band OF Pilgrims set sail from
Plymouth, England 10 find new home
IN this far away land. 1t was with dlf-
ticulty that, they escaped from their ma :
i've land, first going TO Amsterdam,
Holland. Here they dwelt for eleven
! ing their bread by the labor OF their
| hands. But these seekers after religious
| freedom found that Holland was rot
their home; they could not endure the
thoughts OF giving up their language and
customs for those Of the Dutch and hav-
Ing hoard OF the colony of Virginia. their
| thoughts were directed to the wilderness
| OF the new world.
| They finally secured sufficient money
| 10 purchase q vessel, the Speedwell, and
to hire another. the Mayfiower. They
first secured grant Of land In the Hud-
son valley, and promise from the king
that he would not interfere with them;
The Speedwell proved unseaworthy, and
the little band finally embarked on the
Mayflower alone. William Brewster was
the spiritual leader OF the band.
The Pilgrim Fathers" with their
Mayflower, numbered one hundred and
two; one died on the voyage and one
was born. Who has not read Of the ter
| rlhle discomforts and dangers of the
perilous voyage of sixty-seven days. IT
was not until early In November that
they reached this continent. far from
the point at which they aimed:
Determined 10 put In at Cape Cod
harbor. and so to land on territory
where their patent could confer no
rights. the leaders of the expedition,
OF the Mayflower; there drew. UP and
signed the historic Compact world
which was 10 convert the hundred
yoyagers into the founders Of COM ma
mutually. in the presence OF God and OF
one another. combined themselves into
civil body polite, to frame such laws
signed on November Il. On that day an
exploring party went ashore. and fourd
the country bleak and uninvlting In the
extreme. The snow was half foot deep.
and the fierce wind of the sea blew q
spray upon them.
But the Pilgrims had not sought ease
and comfort They, choose Plymouth
Der l6. one hundred and two days after
leaving Plymouth England, they made a
| landing in the face Of a wintry storm
on barren rock since known as Ply Ply
mouth Rock Next they fell upon their
knees and blessed God for having brought
them safely over the ocean
In few DAYS the men busily engaged
In building cabins returning each night
TO the ship; but ere they We're finished
the wintry blasts had planted the seeds
OF consumption In many OF the little
more than forty of them, including the
wives Of some of the leaders, had been
laid in the grave.
And vet when the Mayflower sailed
lot England IN Ine carry SDIiiiS' H'I o''s
of the survivors returned with her, and
It Is a singular fact that nearly all who
survived that dreadful winter at Ply
mouth lived to a good old age. The site
OF their first common house is now
marked and near the lot assigned to
Elder Brewster stlll We may stop to
drink from the Pilgrim spring. The first
meeting house is also marked. as we'll
as the spot OF the fort built by Captain
Miles Standish whereon he promptly
placed his cannon.
'Cnable 10 speak for himself was he.
But his guns spoke for him valiantly!'
And most persuasive did their voices
prove. inspiring awe in the hearts OF
Here in the shelter of the fort, for the
most part, the Pilgrims were compelled
TO worship, and hero probably the first
hymns of praise and prayers for guidance
were sung and uttered by New England
colonists.
September 16 is the date Of the battle
OF Harlem Heights. n, Y. in 1916; and
the battle of Antletam. commenced in
1862, 1t is the birthday OF Samuel
Adams. the Father OF the American
ham Whipple Q733); William a. Muhlen
berg. clergyman and hymnologist IT96); ;
Squire Whlpple the Father OF Amerl
can Bridge Building" GS0p; Francis
Parkman, author and historian Gs23); /;
James Hill. the railroad president
GS3S): and the date OF the death of
Charles V. OF France Q3s0); James ii.
Of England GT0l), Gabriel Daniel Fab
renheit, inventor OF the Thermometer