Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-05-23
Report of the Investigating Committee.


our village. and if possible to find out,
and bring to punishment the incendiaries,
ask leave to report
That they have taken pains to acquaint
themselves with the facts and circum-
stances connected w th those fires, and
are satisfied that the steam mill of Gen.
II. S. Jones was burnt down from the
carelessness of some boys, Mho had made
use of the mill the day before. and several
previous Sabbaths. as a kind of q play
house or place Of recreation. But not
so in relation to the burning of the Cath
Ole Chapel. and the tenantless dwelling
house. These fires your committee be-
lcve. were the work of an lncendi.ry
What causes led to these malicious out
RACES. and what motives instigated these
accursed deeds. it is very difficult to de.
tcrmine, but your committee are of opin-
ion that some deluded inebriate ranking
under old grudges, or burning from the
! lash of recent difficulties. and fired with
the intoxicating draft. set fire to the
Catholic Chapel. and that the sam or
some other equally deluded and depraved
wretch, determined 70 bnrn mp the village
by setting fire to dwelling house in the
heart it
This reckless destruction Of property.
and total disregard Of all the sacred OBJ
legations of society. and the duties which
should bind man to his fellow man. with
all the dire consequences whichnaturaliy
flow from such acts. is greatly to be de-
p.orcd. and your committee are confident
in the assertion that it is deplored by the
inhabitants of Ellsworth Gladly indeed
would they have prevented these di o.
ical deeds. and very gladly too would
they now expose the fendish wretches to
that severe punishment which their black
crimes richly deserve. 1t is notifying
in the extreme that we have such bad
men amongst us: and deeply to be re.
GREETED that they canno, be found out at
once. and punished Yet come it will.
and the day is not far distant. when 'he
guilty ones. if not proved to be such in
a court of law, will at least be we'll
understood by the community. and
punished by their neglect. scorn and in.
dignation And your committee would
respectfully recommend to the good
people of Ellsworth. to turn their faces
like flnt against all disorderly ard I'M
hwful conduct. and acts OF violence; and
to treat those who arc engaged in them
as enemies of our town and society: Of
our Country and the christian religion.
Much has been said and written against
the people of Ellsworth on account Of
their lawlessncss, rintous. and tumultu-
Gus condcct, and the inhabitants Of the
town have been Unfortunately. and
severely ccnsured abroad for the lawless
acts Of a few persons, who had for the
most part, been educated in the schools
ofvice in other places. The innocent
have thereby been made to suffer for the
actsoi the guilty, and our own towns
people condemned for the bad conduct
of those who but yesterday came amongst
US. 1t is not TO be denied. nor will your
committee attempt to disguise the fact,
that in common with all extensive lum-
boring places, Ellsworth has some citizens
ofintemperate. lawless, riotous, and dis
tructive characters who when under the
influence Of liquors, are ready to do al
most any thing that is bad, wholly re-
gardless OF the consequences. But by
far the greatest number of thi. class of
persons, whose acts have 50 much injured
the character Of Ellsworth, properly be.
long to other places, and had been taught
their lessons of vice. not in this, but other
towns. This WAS imphaticllly the case
in the summer of 1854 when mobocracv
seemed to run riot. The filthy refuse,
and rabble OF society had locked from
the four winds Of heaven. like the 'custs
of Egypt, into this devoted place. They
came here temporarily for employment.
They filed our mills, our ship yards, and
every department OF labor, and every
gang of loaters by day, and every noisy,
and disturbing assembly by night.
These incorporate, and vicious char
actcrs were not under the restraints which
CONTROL men at home, but were really to
engage in any acts of violence and out
rage which might be recommended by
wicked, and designing men.
The people Of Ellsworth have good
reason to rejoice tina. most of this hor lie +!
has left. and returnrd to their appropriate
spheres.
Your cnmr,iftre have done ,rh,, tba,,