Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-08-06
MEMORIAL TO PILGRIMS
UNVEILED AT PROV|NCETOWN
President Taft Attends, with Gov. Draoer
Senator Lodge, Rev. Chas. w. Eliot
And Other Well=Known Men--City
Crowded with Visitofs--Eight
Battleships in Harbor.


greater duty ever devolved on Prov
lncetowhs two criers, George Wash
burn Ready and Walter Smith. than
their ringing announcement today of
the coming of President Taft and the
dedication of the tall gray shaft on
Town hill, erected to the memory of
the fnGrlm Fathers. The custom of
crying important events through the
streets of the town still obtains in sew
eral Massachusetts communities like
Provincetown and Nantucket and the
inha bitants of this old port would not
feel that they had begun the day right
even with so important event as the
coming of the President, if it were not
formally proclaimed by the towns
human bulletin boards
Pro"incetown had a good rain bath
last night and woke up this morning.
clear, dustless and considerably re-
freshed as well as eager for third
big day in it's history. The first was
Nov. Il, 1920 when the famous COM
pact was signed in the cabin of the
Malhcwer. The second was the laying
of the corner stone of the Pilgrims
monument Aug. .. 1907, by President
Roosc velt. before large assembly
across whose heads and the sand
dunes of the cape he shouted men,
orable defiance to certain corporate
interests.
The tall granite shaft, erected in
memory of the Pilgrims and begun
under the eye of President Roosevelt
received it's official dedication from,
President Taft today And once more
the narrow streets of this old fishing
town were taxed to their limits to hold
the crowds.
Last nights storm had cleared the
air and today a fine northwestern was
blowing straight acros sthe bay from
Beverly to Cape Cod and running be-
fore the wind the Presidents yacht
Mavfower came flying across the va
ter to be welcomed by mighty array
of the nations naval warriors.
Preparations for receiving the crowd
and the distinguished guests were
completed last night and before the eX-
ercis"s on top of the hill began today,
the fleet sent ashore 2000 of its sailors.
who formed along the streets from the
wharf where the President landed to
the erandstand. The principal act OF
the dedication of the monument was
the unveiling of bronze tablet over
the door facing the harbor on which
was the following inscriptions;
Given by President Emeritus
Charles W. Eliot. of Harvard
NOV. o1, 1920, the May flower. carrying
10, passengers, men. women and children.
cast anchor in this harbor, 81 days from
Plymouth. Eng.
.The same day II adult males in the
company solemnly covenanted and com
bined toge ther into a civic body.
This body polite established and
maintained on the bleak and barren edSe
of the vast wilderness "A state without 4
King or a noble, church without
bishop or a priest. democratic common
wealth, the members of which we're
'straichtly tied to all care of each oth-
er's goods and of the whole by every one
For the first time in history they lli1S-
trated with long suffering devotion ana
sober resolutions the principles OF civic
and religious liberty in practice or
genuine democracy. Therefore, the re-
membrapce of them shall be perpetual ir
the great republic that has inherited theil
ideals
The town clock was striking when
the Mayfower came around the ht''e
white beacon at the end OF Long foih'
and passed in between the lines OF pd''
tleships. Eight of the great war vesse'S
were here to greet the President. the
Connecticut. Michigan. Mississippi. ldaho
South Carolina. Louisiana, Kansas aho
New Hampshire.
As the Maytiower headed in, the hrs'
gun doomed from the flagship Connecti'
cut, followed by u guns from all the
ships The sailors manned the rails ano
the entire ships companies stood at at
tentiOn.
The Mayfiower dropped anchor at the
head of the line at $50 A. NJ. ana Pres
ident Taft Immediately went on boaro the
Connecticut where he received the COM
manding officers of the fleet.
Meantime details of blueJackets aho
marines to the number of about 2W0 had
been sent ashore. They lined the stree'
from the wharf to the base of the mon
ument.
The reception on the Connecticut LASTED
for about half an hour, ana theh tht
President started for shore.
The launch from the Maytiower pear
iry President Taft reached shore al
1G.30 O'Clock. The President was greet
cd nv GOV. Draper. Capt. Sears. pres
ident of the pilgrim Memorial Assocla
tion and members of the local commit