23 



Thursday, June 11, 1868. — Field Meeting at Saugus. 



This day a small but zealous representation of the members of the 

 Institute met at the Eastern Eailroad station, according to appoint- 

 ment, at 10 A.M., to start for Saugus to hold the first Field Meeting of 

 the present year. A lowering sky strongly hinted the propriety of a 

 postponement, but with unextinguished ardor the happy few took the 

 train for the field. 



Arrived at Saugus they were conducted to the Town Hall, where 

 Mr. Wilbur F. Newhall and others gave information concerning 

 the various places of interest in the town, and proflfered guides to any 

 parties that might be formed to visit them. Several parties were 

 formed and succeeded in making their chosen tours, and in returning 

 to the Hall before it rained. This was a matter for general congratu- 

 lation, which heightened into unusual satisfaction when it was found 

 that the objects of the diflerent excursionists had been, for the most 

 part, attained and that the friends had, with much liberality, provided 

 for the hospitable entertainment of their visitors in welcome additions 

 to the usual collation. 



One party had an opportunity to visit Dungeon Eock, where Mr. 

 Hiram Marble and his son are still engaged, under the direction of 

 clairvoyants, in searching for the traditional Pirate's Cave and hidden 

 treasure, said to have been buried by the great earthquake of 1658. 

 The story of the pirate's retreat and fate, for which there is no re- 

 corded authority older than that of the late Alonzo Lewis, in his his- 

 tory of Lynn, is too familiar to need repetition here. Those who wish 

 to peruse the story in full can consult Mr. James R. Newhall's valu- 

 able edition of Lewis' History of Lynn, which is greatly enriched by 

 the editor's additions and comments. 



The elder Marble was not at home on Thursday, but his son did the 

 honors of the Dungeon Eock very acceptably. The excavation which 

 they have made in the solid rock extends along an irregular opening 

 into the bowels of the earth, some two hundred feet, more or less, 

 when lighted by lanterns at suitable intervals, admitting of a not difli- 

 cult passage, to any one who wishes to explore its recesses, upon the 

 payment of an admission fee of fifteen cents. They have been en- 

 gaged seventeen years in their labors and their patience is not yet ex- 

 hausted. Their blasting processes are only carried on in the winter, 

 when they expend the funds they receive from visitors in the summer, 

 the direction being determined by the instructions conveyed through 

 the spiritual mediums consulted by them. The spot is very romantic 

 and picturesque, and well worth a visit, aside from any traditional in- 

 terest with which it is supposed to be invested. There is a good road 

 to the foot of the hill, if you only succeed in finding the right one, 

 and the view from the summit of the rock is extensive and beautiful. 

 Several portraits, photographs, drawings and relics, are shown, and a 



