The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-07-14
From the Portland transcript.
A SOUVENIR OF THE NORRiDGEWOC
MASSACRE.


From the Portland Transcript.
A SOUVENIR OF THE NORRlDGEWOCK
MASSACRE.
Among the old and curious books be-
queathed to our Public Library by the late
Hon. William Willis, is a gilt-edged pocket
edition of a Latin work published in 1852, at
Lyons, France, under the sanction of the
Society of Jesus, for the especial use of its
members. Considering its history, it is well
preserved, showing but few traces of the
troublous times through which it passed in
the first forty years of its existence. 1t is
especially curious as having been the Tade
Mec1t,11 of the celebrated French Jesuit, Rasle
who for thirty-four years held something
more than spiritual sway over the Indians Of
Maine-tor it was the general belief of the
English at that time that all the bloody
massacres of our settlers in those days were
instigated by him. 1t is entitled 'Heduln
1heologi9 Nora2iS," and is interesting on its
own account aside from the romantic and
tragic interest which attaches to its history
1t is full and exhaustive treatise upon
the leases of conscience" and is evidently
designed as guide and help to the priest in
his delicate duties at the confessional. The
distinction between mortal and venial sins is
pointed out and the reasons for the hair
splitting differences are given. We are told
in what cases otherwise deadly sins become
vcnial. The title page claims that ''scruples
are resolved by an easy and perspicuous
method The style is not. as might be sup
posed, at all dogmatic, but the reason is
appealed to throughout. In all the subtle
casuistry in regard to the various degrees OF
sim the reasons are set forth with the earnest
simplicity of one who has full faith in his
teachings. The Protestants of that time
We're not in general so free as this author
from dogmatic assertion. The strangest
thing about the book, considering its topics,
is that not once, so far rs we have been able
to discover does it appeal to the Scriptures
as authority Neither does it look to the
ancient Fathers of the Church But copious
references are made to contemporaneous
Jesuit authorities. The minuteness of de-
tail with which 1t discusses topics seldom
treated Of nowadays except in medical
works, shows how carefully the priests
watched over the habits Of their tlocks in
matters of which Protestant pastors would
never be allowed to take cognizance.
This little volume has. us we have said, a
romantic and tragic history. 1t was the
companion of the travels Of one of the ahleSt
and most learned men of his day, who APP
pears to have been rs Jealous a Frcnchman aS
he was 4 Jesuit For thiry-tour years
Sebastian Rasle, (his name is spelled Ralle
by the English writer's of his time), lived
and labored at Norridgewock, on the Upper
kennebec, acquiring an influence over all
the tribes of Eastern Indians, which enabled
him use to them al his will in crushing out the
English settlements on our coasts. From
1890 to l124, his hand is to be traced in all
the bloody work of those troublous times.
A price was set upon his head. and yet he
occasionally appeared at Pcmaquid and NJ
st. George in company with the Indians who
had been invited to meet the English with a
view to treaty-making In all eases. he pre-
vented his savage followers from concluding
such treaties as otherwise might have saved
our settlements from destruction. French
fleets co-operated with him, and the peaceful
settlement of this State was postponed over
halt a century through his influence.
Rasle was 4 man Of great erudition, an
cNtraordinary lin",list. being familiar with
Indian dialects, rs well as with most OF
the languages Of the civilized world. a
manuscript dictionary of the language of the
Eastern Indians, prepared by him, and
probably. like the little volume before us, a
trophy Of the fearful massacre of which he
was the yictlm is now in the library Of llar-
yard College,
Noridgewock had been visited by the
French almost as early as the earliest settle
ments on the st. Lawrence river and the inn
portance of its position in reference TO theil
designs upon the coast of Maine was perceiv-
ed by them. In 1870 Rasle took up his abode
the centre of the tlourishng Indian village.
Thuray and Bigot, also French Jesuits, took
up similar positions on the Penobscot. The
English. goaded to desperation by the fire.
qucnt forays of the savages, mstigated rs
they we'll knew by the Jesuits, organized
several expeditions into the interior TO make
reprisals. In 1922 Col. Westbrook was
sent with orders to take Raslc to Boston
"elther rs corpse or rs prisoner lie
failed to surprise the village, but Rasle being
the last to leave, barely escaped with the sa-
cred vases of the temple and the ornaments
Of the altar. His books and papers Were
seized. For two years thereafter the savage
were unusually active. In 1924, Capts
MoultOn and Iarman, started from Fort
Richmond, (wherc the village of Richmond
now stands,) with 2OS men and three Mo
hawk Indians, and with II whaleboats, first
making an excursion to Brunswick, where
they killed BomaZeen. q chief whose hands
were still red with the blood Of their friends.
Then they stole up the kennebec, left 81
| lltH III w l$SloW, tWo llllltN ptl'N tH' ''il'
grounds ii Watewille, divided the rest o
the force lAo two equal bands, one of which,
under Moiilton marched direct on Norridge
Wock, while Harman with the other made Z
detour in order to catch the Indians who
might be in the corniields. The surprise
was complete and overwhelming, the whole
of the work being done by Moulton's band on
the afternoon of the 18th of August, 1924
Harman did not arrive till evening. There
were fifty warriors in the village, and they
made q stand under the lead Of their sachem
Mogg, andy encouraged by Rasle, in order to
gain time A,r their women and children to es
cape. Rasle standing by the cross, accord
ing to the French accounts, fell riddled with
bullets and covered with the bodies of seven
Indians who cndcavorcd to shield their be-
loved pastsr. Mogg was killed by one Of
the MohaYk Indians. A panic seized the
savages, SEVENTY of whom were killed and
wounded. The church was rihed and its
holy vessels deliled, and as the French his
torian, Charlcvox, says, The adorable body
of Jesus Christ was set on fire. Rasle was
scalped and his scalp sent to Boston with
other trophies The French say that he was
mutilated in all his members and his eyes
filled with mud. Joshua Coffin, the historian
of Newburyport, says that Rasle was killed
ba