Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-05-06
A Tragedy of the Kennebec.

The following story of the ol,Ien time, IA
miar 10 all who have long resided on the
Kennebec, and which we copy from the
Gardner Transcript. is taken from the forth
coming History OF Gardiner by Rev. J. w.
Hanson.
On the 22d of the following August, u793)
the Church was burned by McCausland the
maniac.
Henry McCausland, who has already been
spoken OF among the early settlers, aud Rev
olutionary soldiers at length became insane,
and went wandering about the town, though
he was always considered harmless but at
length he fancied that the Lord had directed
him in a vision TO make burnt offering ard
sacrifice. The offering was 10 be the church
and the sacrifice the Rev. MIR. Warren, who
had for some time preached in the vicinity
He then lived little north OF the Cabbassa-
contee. Watching for good opportunity,
he filled a chid's shoe with live Goals, and
fearful that he should he discovered if he
crossed the Cabbassa bridge. be forded the
river near New Mills, and went cautiously
over to the little church. The building be-
ing unfinished, shavings were scattered in
gallery, and he gathered them ino pile,
and placed the Goals among them, and 10
prevent a 100 early discovery, he covered
them with door, and taking the church BIZ
Bile, he very tenderIy carried it to the woods,
and laid it OH stump. At that lime the
boards were rough and loose on the floor,
and the humble edifce, in small clearing
in the pine woods, was in strong contrast
with the present elegant structure. Having
made his burnt-offering, he looked about in
vain for an opportunity TO secure The sacri-
fee. Finding no favorable occasion, he con-
cluded that some one bearing the same name
would answer equally well. An opportunity
soon presented itself In October, Mrs. Sol
omon Tibbets, who lived near Potter Bridge,
was very sick, and needed a careful nurse.
Accordingly she sent her son Ablathnr down
to the village after her daughter, Abigail,
Pclatiah Warren's wife, housekeeper for
William Gardiner. There was no road from
the Cabbassa pond TO the village, and he
took canoe and went after Mrs. Warren.
They started on their return and were seen
and followed by McCausland, in another
boat, but his canoe was heavier, or young
Abiathar understood The use of paddle bet
ter-he could not overtake him. He pro-
cured another boat, and arrived after Alba
thar had gone to sleep in fieldbed OIL the
floor. Mrs. Warren sat on the edge of the
bed, resting her mothers head on her shoul-
der, when McCausland entered. He spoke
pleasantly for few minutes and the women
paid no further attention to him. They had
killed COW that day, and knife was stick
ing in beam overhead. The maniac sud
denly seized it, and plunged il into the
throat Of Mrs. Warren. He immediatel,
made his escape. Abiaihar heard the ou,
cry and sprang up, and saw the event in .
moment. He seized a loaded gun. which
was suspended over the mantel piece. an,
would have shot him dead, but his brorhe
restrained him, until the maniac escaped
He wandered about until the people had be
gun 10 assemble In the Great House, wher,
they had worshipped since the church wa