The Pilgrims: We think we have problems

Dear Editor,

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, plans for the 400th anniversary celebration of the landing of the Mayflower in 1620 are on hold.

The U.S., England and the Netherlands were scheduled to participate.

Originally, the Pilgrims planned to reach America in early October of 1620. A rendezvous was planned with the Speedwell, arriving from Holland at Plymouth, England. Sadly, the Mayflower and the Speedwell set sail for America three times.

Each time they had to return to Plymouth because the Speedwell sprang bad leaks.

Twenty Speedwell passengers joined the passengers on the Mayflower. Other passengers returned to Holland. The crowded Mayflower carried 135 people to the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts.

The Jamestown colony, which was founded in Virginia in 1607 suffered 440 deaths from starvation.

After arriving in November of 1620, the Pilgrims had to survive through a hard winter. With help from Native Americans, they lived through the winter. March 22, 1621, William Bradford, the governor of the Plymouth Colony after the death of John Carver, signed a peace treaty with Chief Massasoit of the Wampanags.

After their landing in 1620, the Pilgrims remained onboard the Mayflower. Only 47 colonists were able to survive diseases they had contracted on board the ship. Six or seven were able to feed and care for the sick. Obtaining food became essential. they uncovered burials containing corn, which they saved for planting.

Three years prior to the coming of the Pilgrims in 1620, an Indian village known as Pawtuxet was abandoned due to what they called Indian fever or smallpox. A crew from an English ship brought it to them.

During the winter of 1620-21, there was an outbreak of scurvy, pneumonia and tuberculosis. (We think we have problems with coronavirus.)

Exposure and other privations also caused fatalities.

All this was endured while they ship’s main mast was braced a jackscrew that one of the colonists had purchased in Holland to help with construction of houses.

After their arrival, the Pilgrims offered thanks for a safe journey.

Helen Ruth Arnold,

Trenton, Neb.