Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-11-09
iSccllaMtu
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Ancient Times of Mt. Desert,

! 4 prologue- Origin Of the Ntme Of lh. De-; =
er- Ohhoepy ofthe name-Edrly Explorers
Madame do Guerchecale's Ctarer-Pon
Royai-Fahcr's Biurd ana .M,sse- 7errito-
ridt LIMITS ErteRded-M,lam G's Mssiona-
~ and Colonih Projeet--M. Desert ReacA-
sd-St. Sariour -Asticou-.t Ner Site Select
Disputes-!Setttement commenced-A
Hostile SLIP Appears-Preparations for
Bante-ArgaU Jtetorious-De 1het Kill
cd-Destructiod Of the SeHlem>nt-D Disper.
son Of the Co.onists-Pon Royat anil st.
Croir Dcstroyed-De Peyster--A Bit ot
| MyStery-C Cnnclusion.
FRIEND RCsT:-IIaving made another
.'pigrimagc" to Mount Desert. have had
revived in my memory the associations
which cluster around that famous iiSular
spot New sights and additional reininis-
ccnces have been witnessed and acquired.
which have dcspened and extended the i'll
terest | have. heretofore. felt in all that
pertains to this now noted place of resort.
have before intimated that Mt. Desert
can lay claim to historic transactions which
are as exciting and interesting n any otli-
er locality in Maine, if not in New Eng
land, can adtluce. Although an eNliiu>-
tive account of it, history will not be ex-
pcctcd in Il newspaper communication. yet
an outline sketch may answer the same
purpose which the simple bone OF Il fossil
did To Cuvicr. or else tend to stimulate in
some of your readers a desire to become
better acquainted with the renowned events
which pertain to this ''sca-girt isle
Mount Desert was ancently known to
the Abcnaki Indians by the name of Pcme-
tis or Pemr.ic. but the English gave it that
of Mount Manscll IN honor of Sir Robert
Mansell. Champlaiii. one of the most not
ed French explorers of his time. is tho :u-
thor of the present ppcllatlon-Mount
Desert. lie aud and his countrvmen call
ed it Monts Deserts, however. which im-
plies Il plurality of mountains. and is in ac-
cor,lancc with the fact itself. Many sup
pose that the term Desert was applied as
being cmincntly suitable. because of the
bare and bleak appearance of the noun
tains. This idea should not be entertained.
because. in early times, these nights were
clad in the vcr'lurc OF luXuriant forests.
aud the picture they presented TO the eye of
Champlain and his party was such alone
as would challenge their admiration. and
as would elicit from them some aplUlation
which ould remind them of their native
France. where they were wont to behold
mountain scenery not much unlike that
they were then gazing upon with raptur-
o,,s delight. As they contemplated the
beauty of the scene before them, they.
doubtless, reverted to their own Cevenne>
mountains whose retired dclls and passes
were known us the Deserts. There i'll the
deserts of I.angucloc. the Naudoi, and
Camisar,ls in the days of relentless and
sanguinary persecution, were wont to as
senble to hold converse with the Supreme
Father. Did not the wild and uncxplorcd
de.ilc of the mountains OF ancient Pcue-
tir naturally re-awaken in those old tx
plorers the memories which the rugged
and untreuuented passes OF the Ccvennes
would bring to mind. We can readily im-
xpipe that the resemblance at once seen
between the island nights and those of
France. prompted Champlain to term the
former the mounts OF the dcscrts-Or Mons
Deserts.
There is a tradition which ! have heard.
relating to the circumstances that gave
name to the aforesaid mountains. which
runs thus "A vessel in early times. sailing
near to Pcmatig saw the elevation distinct-
w. Shortly after. on looking towards the
land. those on board the vessel found that
the fog had settled down upon the ancient
hills and concealed them from view.-
where are the mountains:" was the que
ry that passed from man to man. "They
have deserted us" was the successive re-
SpOnsc llencetorth. $50 sai'h the trati-
tom that chain of mountains became known
AS Mount Desert. Whence this story origi-
mated know not-probably it was invent
ed for the purpose of onlightcning those
who love to inquire after knowledge.
Authorities differ rs to the pronunciation
of Mount Desert. When the point is be-
yond dispute rs To whether the name is to
he understood rs IL verb. noun or an adj
iectivc. then we can reach a colYect con-
clusion, If we are to adhere to French or
thoepy. then. as Il substantive. the pronun-
citation would be (mong) dai gdir. II we
follow the usage OF the oldest inhabitants,
they would be found to lend their sanction
to Dcsart. The only point actually to he
settled now. is this: Is the accent on the
first or on the second syllable? Usage leans
both ways-is like an ambldeXtcr, or as
eauivocal as the Delphic oracle. Web
stcrs Dictionary presumes not to utter
dictum one way Or the other, and. conse-
quently. the veXata quGstia Is left for eve
nv one to settle according to his tastc.
prefer to pronounce it Desert. accent on
the last syllable; those who prefer can call
il Desert. accent on the first syllable.
Mt. Desert in the early part Of the 18th
century, was behcld by Grosmold, pring.
De Monts. Weymouth, Smith and others,
but it seems no attempt was made towards
colonixing it until Madame dc Guerche.
vile, stimulated by the ADVICE of Father
Cotton. the provincial OF the Jesuits, deter
mined to lnaugurate scheme for spropag-
andism. Herinfuence at the French court
gained the attention of Henry Nv aud his
queen Maria dc Medicis. who heartily es-
loused her plans. DE M0nts, having sur
rendered his charter Of Acadie, the same