The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-05-01
Mistfllaneons.
For the Uni0n 4 Jssrnsk
"REMINISCENCES No. 2.

,
Ing some few Incidents which transpired in
the vicinity Of Buxton, in days Of yore,
thought brief sketch Of some additional
occurrences might be interesting to the gen.
Grafton now living in the same locality.
Many years ago, I was told by my aged
/ Grandfather, (who by the way was one OF
the first settlers Of the town. that in the
early settleneu: of NIragansctt No. l. (now
Buxton beasts of prey, such as bears and
wolves. were numerous, and often destruc-
tive to their hocks and herds, in that, and
the circumjacent Plantations. Hence the
pioneers in going from one opening or set
element 10 another, either on business or
pleasure, often had to cross dense forests,
where they not only suffered many hard
ships from the imperfect state and rough.
ness of the roads, but were often exposed to
dangers from the wolf and other wild deni.
zens of the woods. But the early settlers OF
this and other plantations, were men OF
nerve, fearless a'd undaunted, otherwise
they never would have pitched their tents
in this almost unbroken forest. Often With
miles intervening between them and their
nearest neishbor. 1t certainly required no
small degree of fortitude for a lone man to
pass four or five miles througha 'ense forest
by night, unarmed, with pack Of blood
thirsty wolves hanging ON his trail, read
to deyour him ut every turn. That this
was lite'ally true, the following incident
will show. But, b,frrc | proceed to de.
scribe lhis incident, it will be expcdient for
me To diSress for moment, in order to show
the state of the roads ut that period. The
inland roads from one settlement TO another,
were very circutous and rough, being orisi- |
nally made by woodsmen for the purpose Of
Logging. Their bridges across the streams
were of rude construction, beng covered
with round logs, us plank were not to be
had, and over the low lands, or through the
mirr swamps, the first settlers made II sort
of Corduroy roads-callcd cansewnys; the
remains Of which are still to be seen, and
even felt, Gr You sho"ld happen to ride over
them in cIrriag',) ut the present day. In
after time these corduroy roads were iuprov-
cd by spreading over them layers Of brush,
loan, and gravel. but every spring they
make their appearance above ground, as If
merely to see what improvements have been
going on during their seyenty-fye years ab-
s,ncc. But now for the incident.
In Oct. 1904, us Mr.. John Cole, senior,
who then lived at place called Bsceh Plane,
was returning, one Saturday evening, from
PcppcrcliborOugh, now Saco, to Nuragan-
sett No. /, (Buxton) he had the misfortune
to encounter pack of fcrocious and blood
thirsty wolves. The road at this time, from
Deep Brook, well known watering place
on the Buxton road, to Bryant's Opening,
some four or five miles above, was one entire
wilderness. ln this primeyal forest, he first
met the wolves; and though Cole was natu.
rally strong and fearless man, yet when lie
heard their well known howl in the deep
solitude of the woods, he was inclined 10
ascend some tree for safety. But rccllect.
Ing his promise to his family that he should
return that evening and their deep anxiety
ON his account, should he disappoint them,
he cuts Sicialsh and prepared to defend him
self ut all hazards. The Wolves at first kept
at II respectful distance; but having gather
ed courage by the incr, ase of their numbers,
they ut length approached within few feet
of him, 50 that helcould almost reach them
tn his war club Then again, they would
retreat some distance into the thickets, as il
To consult upon their mode of attack. At
one time during the assault, they made II
Simultaneous rush upon him, growlins and
knashins their teeth, With u seeming deter
mina,ion not to lose their prey. Often was
he compelled to gcl his back against tree,
aud thus stand on the defensive. But, hav.
inS by this time become acquainted with
their mode of warfare, and Injured to the
fight, Cole found means to keep these cow
arlly villains ut hay, until he reached Bry-
ants Hill, when they set up u tremendous
howl, which seemed 10 make the welkin ring.
then left him To pursue his way homeward
without further mJle,ations. Trey often.
is he said, during that nights interview.
become much 10 familiar, aud took liberties
with him which were neither pleasing to
him nor becoming in them, and. ther,firc.
IS he did not wish to form more intimate
acquaintance with them, he was much graft
feel when they hid him farewell, and to,k
up their lac of march in another dircctioi.
B,forc the first settlers mide inrIids up
ou their haunts, the deer, the wolf, and the
brown bear, were numerous in all the pan.
tatious of Yorkshire. But when the forest |
began to disappear before the woodmin'.
ax, and cultivated fields to take the place Of
the primcval forest, then the deer ID bear
respectfully rrtircd to the interior wilder
ncs, and il is said, the wolf, after holding
cOnvocition, and giving one universal
howl, as II farewell salute t.man, his hered-
try ensy, followed in tn, trail o. his
predecessors.
The following heroic feed wa, related to
me more than fifty years go, by an intimate
friend Of the parties concerned.
rs Mr.. William Andrews and Benjamin
Bradbury (who FIRST settled in the East Cor.
ncr of Buxton,) were one day travelling in
the woods, they discovered large bear,
bounding along among the fallen trees and
though they were without any weapons,
save u !nckknifc, did not hesitate to give