New-York tribune., 1919-12-28
For That Reason
PrOvincetOWn Gets
I'm on the Cele-
bratiOn

"But between the ending of the
Civil War and his coming to Pro-
vincetown-I can't remember what
year it was-Felt must have suf-
fered reverses, for he had very
little, if any, money when he landed
here.
"By arguing and pleading he
finally got lot Of us to chip in
dollar each and he started a publ
cation he called Sea and Sand
which was his nickname None Of
US had very much money in those
days and dollar was a very i'm
portant sum out here on the tip Of
Cape Cod, but Charlie pried off
dollar here and a dollar there until
he got enough to pay for getting
the publication going and then he
began campaign of education.
"Then old Sea and Sand disap-
peared, and soon afterward we heard
that he had died"
Looking back over the events
which led to the erection Of the 252-
foot granite pillar on High Pole Hill
in Provincetown and the present
plans for giving the town Joint honor
with Plymouth in the tercentenary,
chief credit for actual accomplish
ments must be given to the late J.
Henry Sears, of Brewster, Mass.
Sea and Sand'' Did 1t
But no one can go among the VII
lage folk of Provincetown without
recognizing the impetus that was
given to the undertaking at the out
set by that strange, homeless and
admittedly eccentric individual, "Sea
and Sand" who drifted into the
village from place no one knew
where, and then died in some
equally obscure place, which none
of the villagers who owe him so
much seems to remember.
1t is now pretty we'll known
throughout the United States that
the Pilgrims made their first landing
, on American soil at Provincetown
on November II, 1920, according to
the old style Of reckoning by calen-
dar, or November 21, according to
the new
The Mayf1ower, as is known. put
into Provincetown harbor because
the captain Of the ship feared to
risk being wrecked by trying to con-
tinue the voyage to Virginia, and
it was after the vessel had dropped
anchor that the famous compact
was drawn up. Although this was
not the first written constitution, il
was one Of the first, and contained
the basic principles of government
which later made the United States
d free nation.
Ultimately a copy of the compact
; was engrossed on a bronze tablet
and placed on a beautiful granite
, base IN front of the Provincetowr
Town Hail.
| From the records it appears that
, the Pilgrims spent until December
21, 1920, exploring the coast of Cape
Cod for a suitable site for their
settlement. During the month in
tervening between November II and
December p the Maytlower re-
manned anchored off Provincetown.
The explorations along the coast
were made in shallop, and while
these proceeded other companies Of
Pilgrims, sometimes headed by Cap
tain Miles Standish, searched the
inland on foot on a similar mission.
On December 21, 1920, ten men
in the shallop landed on Plymouth
Rock, and, after thanking God that
their search had finally brought
them to place which was suitable
rs permanent home, went back in
the shallop to the Mayfiower and
reported what they had found.
While these explorations were TAX
ing place, it may be pointed out, the
first birth of white child in New
England had taken place at Prov
incetown. This was that of Pere-
crime White.
The Mayflower set sail as soon as
possible for Plymouth, and on or
about December 26 the voyage was
finally completed and the colony es-
tablished.
: Plymouth may not start its cele-
bration of the tercentenary until
December p, 1920, which is the an
nlversary Of the day the ten landed
, on Plymouth Rock, but Province
town may begin its part of the fes
tlvities earlier. One of the spectacles.
no doubt, will be new landing from
Mayflower, first at Provincetown
and then at Plymouth.
The celebration in Plymouth will.
OF course, be on a much laroor coal.