Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-05-27
A MONOMANIAC,


Twenty-nine years ago, Sept. 1928,
there died, in one Of the stone cells OF
the Augusta, (Me Jail, the stalwart form
of man of three score years and ten,
who had spent just half of that long life
thirty, fire ysars-in that solitary dun
geon This man was HENRY McCAus-
LAND, of GARDENERS
The circumstances that brought him
/ thither and that shut him out from the
sight of the world, or the sun OF heaven, /.
! for so long time, were very remarkable,
and rendered him the object of a grave
curiosity for more than one generation
of meu. A quarter Of century ago,
everybody had heard of, and thousands
had seen, the tall, majestic form Of that
lifelong prisoner; and to them the story
of Old McCausland" may be interest
ing and useful. What we shall write viii
be with feelings of entire respect for the
descendants bearing bis name that still re-
side amongst us; for surely they are in
no wise accountable for either his faults
or his misfortunes and all of them, as
far as we know, are eutitled to, and enjoy
largely, the respect and love of the com
munity in which they live.
McCausland came to Cobbosse shortly
after the war ofthe Revolution (in which
he served his part well as a soldier and
for which he drew pension till the day
of his death.) He came 10 work for Mr..
Gardiner, ia a saw-mill. lie married a
lady of great intellectual vigor, and OF
the purest character sister Of the late
James Stackpole, Esq, Of Waterville,
who, before the husbands fall, became
the mother Of several children. These
she educated well,and reared in the strict
est principles of virtue. Through lif,
she was most highly respected. McCaus
land resided, we believe, a little off the
main road to Hallowell, few lots abov,
" u the residence Of Hon. Barzillia Gan
nett.
- During revival Of religion, abop
r, the year 1898, McCausland became ex
4 cited, and the excitement operating 20,
>. powerfully upon one Of the weaker pas
sions Of his nature, influenced that to al
imperious control over all his mind, AM
rendered him monomaniac. On all 9th
er subjects than religion, he was ratioua
but on this he really was insane, thong
: his religious friends around him at th
time would not admit il. He becam
wonderfully illuminated. His compr'
hension Of spiritual things was remarks
ble. He was favored with yisions-tt
Lord made special revelations 70 him.
:. One night, He appeared to him in pc
son, and commanded him, to arise,
= forth, and make burnt oferiag and
- sacrifice, reminding hin Of the Scriptur
- which saith +" Without the shedding
- blood, there is no remission" Unle.
&c therefore, be shed blood, bis own si
could never be RENTED These exerci
g. es he was bold to repeat in the religio
> meetings be attended, and too many b
IA lieved and respected them.
go Before the Resolution. the first ehur
-. (Episeopal) had been erected by \
7. Gardner ancestor bat, owing to pol
:. ical troubles, and other causes, il had 1
,,r been completed. On the death Of q
her ancestor, his will required the eompleti
Of the church and during this s. regiva
the carpenters were at work aceompli
ing this design. McCausland duty,
- be interpreted the Divine command y
70 make a burnt offering" Of that {
fee. Accordingly. one night he arc
- took one Of his shoes, placed some
''''- Goals therein, FASTENED 70 the chafehra
an set fire 70 a quantity Of shagings and Q
90 er light stuff that was az band and c
''i'a geniensly placed them in right post
q ignite the whole building Il
CHI burnt TO the ground. II stood On the
Of the present lecture Foea, where,
.iuds ,he second one which followed i
With burned