The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-11-01

imUtsn,--The Outrage on a Cath
oIic Priest at ELLSWORTH, Maine.
The Bangor Journal gives the following
detailed accounts Of this most disgraceful
affair !;
We mentioned briefly in yesterdays pa
per, that Rev. John Bapst, the Catholic pas
tor in this city had been foully treated by a.
gang of ruffians, at Ellsworth, on Saturday
evening last We learn that Mr.. Bapst was
staying with one of his people at Ellsworth,
by the name of Kent, whose house is near
the Catholic chapel Mr.. Kent's house,
about o'clock on Saturday evening, was
surrounded by large crowd, of whom some
twenty or thirty, mostly young meh, enter
ed the house. They searched from top to
bottom for Mr.. Bapst, who had retired to the
cellar to keep out of their way. There they
found him., bore him out of doors, ran him
down the street. and having got some dis
tance from the house stripped him OF all his
clothing except his pantaloons, and IN that
condition put him astride of fence-rail, and
carried him upon it some three or four rods,
when the rail broke. t.... ... .,.e.
About this time they began to debate what
further indignties to infiict, most being in
favor of throwing him into the ditch and
! leay ing him, when light was seen coming
up the street. Some said this was the ap-
proach of persons who had provided tar and
feathers. The gang broke up into small
knots. The light approached and it proved
to be the Sheriff of the county, with some
assistants, though we did not learn that they
were recognized by the victim at the time
In one of these knots he was placed. and his
garments thrown over his shoulders, anC
1 thus, not recognizing the Sheriff and hii
party, he ives not recognized by them. The
latter, supposing that Mr.. Bupst had beer
murdered by the gang, proceeded further
along the street to find his body, if haply
life was remaining in it. 1t was raining vic
lently at the time, and very dark. The ruf.
fans, as soon as they were rid of the Sher
iff, came together again, and proceeded dowI
the Mt Desert road to a shipyard. Her
they took the pantaloons also from Mr.
Bapst's person, rendering him entirely ma
ked.
Before taking off his pantaloons, the.
: lifted him among them, and he heperceived on
| thrusting his hand in his pocket, and laying
hold of his wallet, in which was something
more than $50. He besought that one, no
to add robbery to his other violence, but tn
: other person took his wallet, nor has Mi
l Bapst seen it since. His watch was takel
| from him at the time that they first Stripe
! him. Then they proceeded to smear hin
; with tar from head to foot, and afterward
: covered him with tar and feathers, not with
out, however, in the meantime, making som
disgusting personal assaults, and using varl
! Gus degrees of foul language. 1t is butt ]ud
: t ice to say that some of the young men wer
), in liquor at the time. ......,., .,...55r.
d During these indignities Mr.. Bapst aske
e to speak. Some said, "Let US hear him.
d But the most cried, "He shall not b
e heard"
e Then they let him 60, and said to hiI
), that he should have fifteen minutes to leav
S town, and asked him what reply he had
d make to that. He said, "All's right" Bt
e he went back to Mr. Kents house, where
t by the aid of grease, &C., the coating of ia
II was fully removed in half an hour. He wa
: besought to take nourishment, but intent
It ing to say mass on the morrow, he was, b
d the forms of his religion, constrained to fas
IS He slept none during the night, being muc
n excited The next day, being the Lord
1t day, he performed morning and evening Sc
d ice in the chapel at Ellsworth. Yesterda
!. he returned to this city.
3, Mr. Bapst is native of Switzerland, an
d not of Italy, as stated yesterday. He is
IS cultivated man, of sensible views, al
v of unquestioned personal habits and mo
ais