USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Cape Cod, the right arm of Massachusetts : an historical narrative > Part 22
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careful survey of Provincetown harbor and the channel, the current and the waters adjacent to the projected dike, by the late Henry L. Whiting, for the purpose of verifying the alleged fact of the deposits of sand by the current from East harbor into Provincetown harbor, and after making experiments by driving tongues and ground piles in the channel between the north end of Beach Point, in Truro, and the opposite bank in Provincetown, and considering all the contingencies liable to occur, Mr. Francis became convinced that the appropriation was insufficient for the work required, and $50,000 more was appropriated May 20, 1868. The work has proved most efficacious for the end sought, and has doubtless saved that important harbor from destruction at that point. After the work had so far proceeded as to exclude the tide from passing the dike, Mr. Francis resigned. Subsequently, upon the death of Gen. Pierce, George Marston of Barnstable was appointed on the commission, and served until the completion of the work. Since 1877, the dike has been employed as a road bed between Provincetown and Truro. The total cost to the state was $133,250.
By an act of the Massachusetts legislature of 1869, the Upper and Lower bridges connecting Yarmouth and Dennis, the only toll bridges in the county, were made free to the public. By the terms of the act, the supreme judicial court was authorized to appoint three commissioners, to make a valuation of the property and apportion the cost and maintenance among the county and several towns interested. The court appointed Hon. Thomas D. Eliot and Andrew T. Wood of New Bedford and Hon. Alfred Macy of Nantucket, as commissioners, who, after several hearings, made a decree, which was confirmed by the court, viz. :
Valuation of lower bridge, $9,928.14. Seven-fourteenths
JOSEPH E. HAMBLIN.
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to be paid by county of Barnstable, $4,964.22; 3-14ths by town of Yarmouth, $2,127.50; 3-14ths by town of Dennis, $2,127.52; 1-14th by town of Harwich, $709.18. And for the future maintenance of the bridge, the town of Dennis to pay 4-11ths, town of Yarmouth 4-11ths, town of Harwich 1-11th, county of Barnstable 2-11ths. Valuation of upper bridge, $758.71. 8-16ths, $379.35, was to be paid by the county of Barnstable, 3-16ths, $142.26, by town of Yarmouth, 3-16ths, $142.26, by town of Dennis, 2-16ths, $94.84, by town of Harwich. And for its maintenance the county of Barnstable to pay 4-16ths of expense, town of Yarmouth 5-16ths, town of Dennis 5-16ths, and town of Harwich 2-16ths.
A great storm, which occurred in the northerly region of Buzzard's Bay, Sept. 8, 1869, rivalled in destructive power that of 1635, of which Bradford speaks in his history. The wind which came from the bay blew a hurricane, the tide was the highest of record for two hundred and thirty-four years. Buildings were in some places moved a considerable distance, in one or two cases directly obstructing the rail- road track, trees prostrated, bridges carried away, railroad beds undermined and washed away in several places.
By an act of the legislature of May 28, 1870, the district of Mashpee was incorporated as a town, making the fourteenth in the county. A post-office was established here the same year.
July 3, 1870, Brevet Brigadier-General Joseph E. Hamblin died in New York. He was a native of Yarmouth, where he was born January 13, 1828. He was the most distinguished soldier which Cape Cod contributed to the national cause in the War of the Rebellion .*
A new library building, which was presented to his *See page 277.
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native town, Yarmouth, by Nathan Matthews, Esq., of Boston, was dedicated with proper observances, Dec. 20, 1871. An address was delivered by Hon. John B. D. Cogswell, and President Eliot of Harvard college, and other gentlemen participated in the services. Mr. Matthews also contributed other funds to the library on the condition, which was acceded to, that an existing library with some three thousand volumes, owned by stockholders, should be merged with the new association, which was to be made free to all the people of the town.
The treaty of Washington, which was negotiated in 1871, and which was in agitation the elose of that year and beginning of 1872, by which the fishery products of the Dominion of Canada were to be admitted into the United States free of duty, was regarded as extremely harmful to the interests of this county, as afterwards proved to be the ease. A meeting of those interested in the fisheries met in Harwich in December, and appointed delegates to go to Washington, to oppose the ratification of the treaty, but their efforts were unavailing.
One of the most disastrous shipwrecks of modern time occurred Dec. 28, 1872, by which the ship Peruvian, from Singapore for Boston, was stranded on that graveyard of shipping, Peaked Hill bars, off Provincetown, with twenty- five lives lost, and with a cargo valued at $1,000,000, which was either lost or greatly damaged.
The reorganized life saving service established by the United States government went into operation under its present system, Jan. 21, 1873. The service was originally established in detached localities on the coast in 1848, through the efforts of Hon. William A. Newell, represen- tative in Congress from New Jersey, whose humane and beneficent efforts deserve to be held in grateful remembrance
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by those who go down to the sea in ships. But, though accomplishing great good, the organization was seen to be defective. By the act of Congress of June 10, 1872, the service was extended to Cape Cod, and Benjamin C. Sparrow of East Orleans was appointed superintendent of the Massachusetts district, ten stations being designated, viz. : Race Point, Peaked Hill Bars, High Head, Provincetown ; Highland, Pamet River, Truro ; Cahoon's Hollow, Wellfleet ; Nauset, Eastham; Orleans, East Orleans; Chatham and Monomoy, Chatham. Several additional stations and changes of location have occurred since their first establish- ment.
Hon. Seth Crowell of East Dennis died at his home April 1, 1873. He was a shipmaster of repute. He was four years representative, two years senator, nine years county commissioner, several years president of the First National Bank of Yarmouth, and a member of the Consti- tutional convention of 1853.
The opening of the Cape Cod Railroad to Provincetown, giving additional transit from Boston to that place, a distance of one hundred and twenty miles, was celebrated July 22, 1873, with enthusiastic demonstration of joy and gladness, as the importance of the event to the people of the towns justified them in doing.
Dec. 11, Nathan Freeman, Esq., an honored citizen, while still living presented to the town of Provincetown a building to be used for a public library, for rooms for the Young Men's Christian Association, and other similar purposes.
The first visit of a chief magistrate of the nation to this region while in office was made by President Grant, August 28, 1874. He was accompanied by Mrs. Grant, and by Mr. Belknap, secretary of war, and Mr. Jewell, post-
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master-general, and by a number of personal friends. The party came from Nantucket, via Hyannis, and from that point to Provincetown many demonstrations of respect were made at every station at which the train stopped. After remaining several hours at Provincetown, the party returned in the evening.
Oct. 19, 1875, Amos Otis, Esq., of Yarmouth, departed this life, at the age of 74 years, Mr. Otis was a native of Barnstable, was in early life a teacher, and afterwards became cashier of Barnstable Bank iu Yarmouth, and its successor, the First National, and secretary and treasurer of the Barnstable County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which positions he occupied for nearly forty years. He was a prolific and interesting writer, his most conspicuous service to the cause of letters being his researches and publications of matters of local history. His collected papers, entitled "Genealogical Notes of Barnstable Families," exhibit persevering research, a tender sympathy and appreciation for the founders of the town, and a discriminating judgment of their acts and motives.
Angust 31, 1882, Hon. Marshall S. Underwood died in South Dennis. He was a son of Rev. Nathan Underwood of Harwich, where he was born. He was many times called to fill positions of honor and trust, having been four years representative from Dennis, two years senator, two years a member of the executive council, and a presidential elector in 1880,
By an act approved June 26, 1883, a charter was granted to the Cape Cod Ship Canal company to construct a canal to unite the waters of Barnstable and Buzzard's bays. This act was amended by the act of May 27, 1884, by changing the location of the Buzzard's bay terminus and several other provisions. By a resolve of June 4, 1884, the legislature
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commended the subject to the favorable consideration of Congress, as a work of great national importance, and worthy of substantial assistance from the national govern- ment. As this was the only one of many projects of the kind which resulted in active operations, and in which an effort was made in good faith to accomplish the work, a retrospect of the various phases of this much agitated enterprise may be properly made here, although the recital will necessitate traversing some portion of the ground already covered. The digging of a canal across the Cape has at various points been a favorite scheme at times for the last two centuries. In 1717, when the pirate ship Whidah was wrecked at Wellfleet, after a great storm, Capt. Cyprian Southack from Boston sailed with a whaleboat through the channel which was forced by the sea, near the point which defines the boundary between Eastham and Orleans. This channel was closed after the storm subsided. An application, which was afterwards made to the legislature for permission to dig a permanent channel, by legalizing a lottery to promote the object, was never carried into effect. About sixty years ago the project of a canal from Hyannis to Barnstable harbor, through the towns of Barnstable and Yarmouth, was agitated, and the region was surveyed by U. S. engineers. The Bass River route has of late years been brought into prominence, and a charter was granted in 1895, which was never operated. The route between Barnstable and Buzzard's bays has always attracted greater attention, from the fact that it avoided the outside passage around the Cape, with its numerous shoals and dangerous obstructions to sailing crafts. Official notice of this project was taken as early as 1698,* when a committee of the general court was raised to consider the subject, as already set forth. *See page 135.
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Again in 1776, the council and general court, and also the general court in 1791, passed resolves favoring its execution. In 1818, private parties considered the project, and surveys of the route were made. In 1824, the federal government made surveys under the direction of officers detailed by the secretary of war. A very favorable report was made to Congress, and but for the election of General Jackson to the presidency and the change of policy of the government on the subject of internal improvements, it is most probable that the work would have been commenced. The report favored the construction of locks to overcome the difficulties resulting from the difference in the time of the tides in the two bays, which has been the problem which other engineers have sought to solve. The legislature again considered the matter in 1829, and, in 1860, the state, in conjunction with the general government, caused elaborate surveys to be made, upon which favorable reports were submitted. In 1870, Gen. Foster, then in the employment of the govern- ment, examined and reported upon this route, as did Mr. Clemens Herschell, an eminent engineer, whose report was made in 1878. About this time a charter was granted for the construction of the canal to private individuals, who procured the Herschell survey. At that time there existed a very strong sentiment in Massachusetts in favor of the canal, and a most liberal charter was granted. The corporators, at the head of whom was Mr. Henry M. Whitney, largely interested in coastwise steamship transpor- tation interests, after a deliberate investigation, abandoned the enterprise, as involving too great a risk and not assuring sufficiently favorable results. From that time to the present, the subject of the construction of the canal has almost annually engaged the attention of the legislature, five or six charters having been granted for the purpose.
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The history of nearly all these organizations has been a record of failure, disappointment and unfulfilled pledges by their promoters.
Operations were vigorously commenced under the charter of 1884. The sum of $200,000, required by the charter to be deposited with the state treasurer, as security for the faithful performance of the obligations imposed by the incorporate act, was promptly paid in and land along the course of the projected canal was bonded. The work of excavation commenced at the Sandwich end of the route. A deep channel exceeding a mile in length was excavated by a steam dredger in the marshy land, to a point near the village of Sagamore, but at the end of about two years the work was abandoned and the charter lapsed. It is well understood that the experiment proved a very costly one to its promoters, and in 1897, by a decree of the supreme court, the deposit of $200,000 was devoted to the payment of land damages, to liquidate the claims for labor performed or furnished in the construction of the canal, and the balance reverted to the agent of the parties furnishing the eapital.
August 11, 1883, Hon. George Marston died in New Bedford, where he had resided for several years, having removed there from his native town, Barnstable, in which he was born October 15, 1821. Mr. Marston was a jury lawyer of exceptional ability and influence. He represented Barnstable one year in the legislature, was register of probate from 1853 to 1855, judge of probate, 1855 to 1858, until the consolidation of the courts of probate and insolvency. In 1859 he was elected district attorney for the Southern district of Massachusetts, and, in 1878, was elected attorney general of the state, which office he held for four consecutive terms. Mr. Marston was a brilliant
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and interesting public speaker, and his few publie addresses which have been published possess much literary merit.
The town of Bourne was created by an act of the legislature approved April 2, 1884, the territory set off being the western portion of Sandwich, with nearly half the population and valuation of the town. The name selected was probably suggested by the memory of that early and devoted eitizen of the parent town, so inseparably connected with the cause of the aborigines, and some of whose descendants, of wide and honorable reputation, were born within the limits of the new town. This accession made the fifteenth town in the county.
The town of Falmouth celebrated, with mneh enthusiasm, the bi-centennial of its incorporation, June 2, 1886. There was a procession, dinner in a large pavilion erected for the purpose, an historieal address by Gen. John L. Swift, a native of the town, and speeches at the dinner by His Excellency Gov. Robinson, Hon. Wm. W. Crapo, and a number of the native citizens of the town.
In 1886, the county sustained the loss of an unusual number of its valued citizens. Capt. Nathaniel E. Atwood died in Provincetown Nov. 7, of that year, aged 79. Capt. Atwood enjoyed but few educational advantages in early life, but his natural abilities caused him, while engaged in the avocation of a fisherman, to critically observe the habits of fish, so that he was consulted by naturalists and formed a permanent friendship with Storer and Agassiz, who pronounced him "the best practical ichthyologist living." He served two years in the house of representatives, and three years in the senate of Massachusetts. He also delivered a series of addresses in the Lowell lecture course in Boston, besides many occasional addresses on his favorite theme.
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Following Capt. Atwood, only five days after, Nov. 12, Hon. Joseph K. Baker departed this life, very suddenly, at his home in Dennis. Entering the same pursuit as Capt. Atwood in early life, and soon after upon that of fitting and managing vessels for sea service, he successfully pursued this business until the decline of the fisheries. Mr. Baker, besides holding many local offices, was two years a representative from Dennis, two years senator from the Cape district, four years a member of the executive council, and also of the commission on harbors and public lands. He was also a member, and high in the councils, of the Masonie fraternity, and director in railroad companies and banking institutions, enjoying a wide personal popularity. His age was 59 years.
Rev. Azariah Eldridge, D. D., died at his home in Yarmouthport, October 1, 1888. He was born in Yarmouth, Feb. 30, 1820, graduated at Yale college, in 1841, was settled over the North Congregational church, New Bedford, from 1847 to 1856, and over the Fort-street Congregational church, in Detroit, Michigan, from 1858 to 1865. He was in charge of the American chapel in Paris, France, from 1866 to 1868. Dr. Eldridge settled in Yarmouth about 1875. He was a member of the Republican national convention in 1881, and Presidential elector in 1884, and ten years president of the Barnstable County Agricultural Society. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Hamilton college, in 1863.
June 10, 1889, Hon. John B. D. Cogswell died in Haverhill, Mass. He was the son of Rev. Nathaniel Cogswell of Yarmouth, where he was born June 6, 1829. He was graduated at Dartmouth college, studied for the legal profession, and in 1857 was a representative from Worcester in the Massachusetts legislature. He afterwards
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settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was several years U. S. district attorney for that state. In 1872, having returned to Massachusetts, he was elected a representative from the First district of Barnstable county and was twice re-elected. In 1877-8-9, he was senator for the Cape district, serving the three years as president of that body. He made a most efficient and accomplished presiding officer. As an orator, Mr. Cogswell was highly esteemed for graceful rhetoric and wide information.
The two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of what is termed the incorporation of the towns of Sandwich and Yarmouth was fitly commemorated in 1889. September 3, 1639, being the date when those two towns were recognized as such, by being represented in the first colonial represen- tative assembly, was taken as that of their corporate existence. The Sunday previous was observed in Yarmouth by services in the Congregational church. Rev. John W. Dodge, pastor of the First church, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Taylor, Rev. C. A. Bradley, Rev. G. I. Ward, Revs. Atwood and Osgood; and Messrs. Thomas Prince Howes and Joshua C. Howes, representing the Dennis portion of Old Yarmouth, participated in the exercises.
The observances in Yarmouth, on the 3d, consisted of a procession, under the marshalship of Mr. John Simpkins, along the streets of the town, which were tastefully decorated, an address in the Congregational church, by Philip H. Sears, Esq. of Boston, a dinner in the pavilion, erected on a portion of the first parsonage grounds, at which Henry C. Thacher, Esq. presided. Addresses were made by Lieut .- Governer Brackett, and Treasurer Marden, representing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Mr. A. H. Hardy, representing the Boston Cape Cod Association, Hon. Wm. W. Crapo, Rev. John W. Dodge, Capt. Thomas
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P. Howes, Judge Darius Baker of Newport, and a poem was read written for the occasion by Mrs. Mary M. Bray. There was a concert and dance in the evening at the Nobseussett House, Dennis, which closed a most interesting occasion.
Sandwich, on the same day, celebrated the occasion on a scale commensurate with its importance. Bourue, being a portion of the original Sandwich, as Dennis was of Yarmouth, participated in the observances. The decorations of the town were elaborate and tasteful, and the procession, under the marshalship of Mr. Win. A. Nye, paraded through the principal streets of the town. The exercises were held in the Casino. Hon. Charles Dillingham presided and made a speech of welcome, and afterwards introduced Rev. N. H. Chamberlain, who was the orator of the day. A dinner was served in a mammoth tent, after which, under the auspices of Toastmaster Frank HI. Pope, sentiments appropriate to the occasion were responded to by ex-Gov. John D. Long, Gen. John L. Swift, Hon. Charles S. Randall, Col. Myron P. Walker, Mr. Charles E. Pope. An ode, written by Mr. Daniel F. Chessman, was sung to the tune of "America." In the evening there were fireworks, a ball, and a Venetian boat carnival. It was a matter of regret that the three towns of the county, dating their origin on the same year, could not have had a union festival, but it was a natural feeling with each to wish to observe this natal day on its own hearthstone, and amid accustomed scenes and surroundings.
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The original design of this narrative was to cover the two and a half centuries since the settlement and incorporation of the first townships of the Cape. Since the fulfilment of this purpose various matters have transpired which should be put on record, in order to complete the story of the county's history up to the present time, which will be found recorded in chronological order.
A memorable shipwreck occurred Dec. 5, 1893, on the outer side of the Cape, opposite the South Truro shore. British ship Jason, from Calcutta for Boston, with a valuable cargo, was stranded on the shoals and went to pieces, and all the crew but one man, 24 in number, lost their lives.
The state of Massachusetts, by the action of the legisla- ture of 1893, undertook the preservation and improvement of the long neglected Province lands, located in Province- town, comprising about 3100 acres. Their care and custody were given to the board of commissioners of harbors and public lands, and $3000 was appropriated in 1894, $3500 in 1895, and $3500 in 1896, which was expended in planting trees, constructing roads and paths, and other improvements. James A. Small is superintendent in charge.
The cause of historical research and elucidation and the roll of good citizenship suffered severe loss in the sudden death, June 26, 1894, of Capt. Thomas Prince Howes of Dennis, at the age of 77 years. Capt. Howes had commanded several ships in the foreign trade, and in the ports which he visited improved all the opportunities open to him to acquaint himself with the people and their customs and institutions. He was an extensive investigator and reader, and his knowledge of English literature was wide and discriminating. After his retirement from the sea, he served for several years as superintendent of schools for the
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town of Dennis, for two sessions as representative in the legislature, and several years after as pilot commissioner of the port of Boston. He wrote much upon subjects of local history, as well as upon topics of general interest, and had wide knowledge and appreciation of the forefathers of the town and county ; and the memory of one who has done so much to keep alive the names and acts of the worthies of the Cape, will be in like manner cherished by bis contemporaries.
July 14, 1896, observances connected with the erection of a Memorial tablet in the space in front of Town hall, Provincetown, under the auspices of the Old Colony Com- mission, to commemorate the first landing of the Pilgrims and the signing in that harbor on board the Mayflower of the compact or constitution of government, was held in the hall, in presence of a large concourse of citizens. Addresses appropriate to the occasion were made by the presiding officer, A. P. Hannum, Hon. Wm. T. Davis, Henry A. Thomas, secretary to the governor, and other gentlemen. The tablet on one side of the memorial stone bears a representation in relief of the signing of the compact, copied from a marble tablet on the Pilgrim National Monument at Plymouth, and also the following commemo- rative inscription :-
This Memorial Stone is erected by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to commemorate the Compact or Constitution of Government signed by the Pilgrims on board the " Mayflower" in Provincetown harbor, November 11, 1620, (old style.)
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