Rambles in America, past and present. By Alfred J. Pairpoint ...

With
illustrations by Miss N.M. Pairpoint ...
Pairpoint, Alfred J.
Boston, A. Mudge & Son, printers, 1891.

http://hdl.handle.net/2027/nyp.33433081762373

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54 RAMBLES IN AMERICA.

Lynn fire, show that the total value of buildings destroyed

was near five millions of dollars, and of the contents near
four millions of dollars.

Pirate's Dungeon Cave, near Lynn.

About two miles from' Lynn's city proper, and up a steep

hill, is a large mass of rock, known far and wide as " The
Pirate's Dungeon Cave." The writer and two friends, by
paying the person in charge of the rocky estate twenty-five
cents each, were permitted to enter the dark abyss, though
our guide speedily lighted lanterns affixed on the rocky, damp
walls, and carrying one in his hand, he introduced us to the
explorations ; and after the legend is given, the reader may
form his own opinion of the veracity of the story.
This is the " legend " which the narrator found in the little
office near the cave, printed at the bottom of a large photo
graph of the rocky eminence :
"According to traditional accounts, there formerly existed
a cave in this place, which was frequented by pirates. Since
the great earthquake in 1658, which closed the original en
trance, no vestige of the cave is discernible, and at that time
a pirate, known as Thomas Veal, was imprisoned alive ; hence
the place is called ' Pirate's dungeon.' It is believed by
many that treasures are secured here, and various attempts
have been made to force an entrance to the cave. Some
years ago renewed attempts were made to blow up the place,
but succeeded only in displacing a mass of rocks. Subse
quently Jesse Hutchinson (one of the singing brothers),
under the direction of a clairvoyant, tried to reach the cave,
but he abandoned a labor so very expensive and laborious.
Afterwards, Mr. Hiram Marble, under the guidance of clair
voyants and spiritual mediums, commenced the present ex
cavations (about eight years since Mr. Hutchinson's ven
ture) ; he has penetrated into the solid rock to the distance
of more than one hundred feet, making a passageway eight
feet in diameter ; he professed to be guided in his opera
tions by the spirits of the pirates who occupied the cave,
communicating through spiritual mediums. Should he verify
the predictions of the spirits in finding the cave and treas
 RAMBLES IN AMERICA. 55

ures,it will certainly be an irresistible evidence of the truth

of Spiritualism ; but should he fail so to do, it will prove the
wonderful faith, patience, and perseverance on the part of
the excavators."
So much for the legend. But the writer was informed
that it was as far back as 1851 when Mr. Hiram Marble,
Sen., undertook this ardous work for years, failed in his
purpose, after spending thousands of dollars, and died, per
haps, broken-hearted. His son took up where his father left
off ; excavated at great expense some feet further in the
rock, found no treasure, and died comparatively a young man.
The rocky estate, we were informed, was mortgaged to its
supposed full value. Like Captain Kidd, the once buccaneer
of the seas, who was supposed to have buried his treasures
in a little inlet near "Stony Creek," Conn., called 'i Pot
Island," but it was supposition only, as may be the case
of the dungeon pirates near Lynn ; and it seems sad and
foolish to venture a fortune in hunting after a myth, and
ruin two worthy men in vain efforts to gain riches by digging
and delving bare rocks.

Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass.

Cambridge, the seat of Harvard University, and the semi-

capital of Middlesex County, is an opulent and elegant city,
about three miles northwest of Boston. Aside from its
celebrated University, Cambridge has many buildings and
other objects of interest to the visitor ; on one side of the
Common stands the famous " Washington Elm," under which
it is said that the ' Father of his Country " took command
of the Continental army on the third day of July, 1775;
and on Brattle Street is the fine old mansion where he held
his headquarters, while at Cambridge, till late occupied by
the lamented poet, Henry W. Longfellow.
Cambridge University was founded in September, 1636.
It is not only the oldest, but also the best endowed and
most extensive institution of the kind in America. The
college grounds embrace an area of twenty-two acres of
land, and are almost entirely covered with buildings pertaining
to the University. In close proximity to each other stand