From the Vineyard Gazette edition of May 12, 1904: Story of the First Bombardment of the Island of Magdalena, as Told by Capt. Cyrus Manter, of West Tisbury. The Gazette is privileged to print the following, furnished the paper by a special correspondent.

It’s that time of year again when Vineyard vacationers are returning to find what ravages the elements and/or little creatures have inflicted upon summer homes we thought were so carefully winter-proofed last September.

We are inclined to think that those who rise fairly early, say around 5:30, on any sunny morning on Martha’s Vineyard in this month of June can walk with summer hand in hand.

Right now, this very week, perhaps even this very day and this very minute, spring is at its wondrous peak of perfection.

There was never a fairer Memorial Day than Monday when Vineyard Haven stirred to music now martial, now solemn on the clear air, and stood with bared head to do reverence to veterans of old wars and of new.

An effort will be made by Congressman Charles L. Gifford to have the protection of Gay Head cliffs undertaken as one of the projects in the proposed public works program of the Roosevelt administration. A bill to authorize action by the federal government to check the continued erosion of the majestic cliffs of colored clay was introduced by Congressman Gifford some time ago.