Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-19

not answered. Then, concluding that It
might be nothing more than the falling of
atree, their spirits again sunk within them,
and they moved on with heavy hearts.
But on the evening of the 22d, having
built small fire upon an eminence, they
were discovered and kindly relieved by
two huuters-Jonathan Crosby and Luke
Sawyer.
1t was now the tenth day since they left
Mrs Forbes and the children. And during
this time they had eaten up the two OF
three ounces of moose-meat which they
had taken with them, and their moccasins
having nothing else to subsist upon.
The hunters supplied them with such
articles of nourishment as they had with
them; and then conducted them to the
settlements at Seven Mile Brook, so called
a little above Norridgewalk, where they
arrived in few hours, but so reduced
that they were scare ely able to stand alone;
Upon their arrival, Mr.. Forbes procured
Major Hale, and Messrs. VIM. huston
and Ebenezer Hilton, three OF the most
suitable men that could be iound' 10 90
with all speed to the relief of his wife and
children They set out Immediately, and
after having been gone thirteen days re-
turned without having been able to find
them.
1t was now twenty-four days from the
time Mr.. Forbes left them with only one
pound and half of moose-mcat and a
bound and a half of tallow for their sub
sistence. 1t was the general opinion,
therefore, that they must have been dead.
Nevertheless Mr.. Forbes anxiety would
not permit him to rest satisfied until he
had procured two other persons (Messrs.
James Mcdonald and Jonathan Ames, } to
go with him, and see whether they might
not be still alive But by this time all the
low lands adjacent to the river were over
flowed, which rendered the passing ex-
tremely difficult. For this reason, and
because they had no expectation Of finding
them alive, they could not be prevailed
upon to set off until the waters were
abated
On the 18th day of May they set out
Having travelled one day, Mr.. Forbes
found himself unable to keep up with them
and upon their telling him he could be Of
no service, and that he might depend on
their fidelity. he consented to return.
They proceeded on their way, and on
the second day of June arrived at the
place where Mrs. Forbes and her children
were left; and here, to their great aston
ishment, they found the mother and one
of the children alive. 1t was now fifty
days since they were left with nothing
besides the before mentioned moose-meat
and tallow. Nor had they anything else
during the whole time, excepting cold
water and the inside bark of the fir tree.
And in addIt on to this, they had been
forty-eight days without fire.
To paint in proper colors this scene OF
distress is altogether beyond my powers
of description 1t must be left to the i'm
agination of the reader.
On the thirty-eighth day after the de-
parture of Mr.. Forbes, the little boy ex-
PRED Katharine died the next day; and
Mary lived but four days longer. 1t is
remarkable that this last child had often
told her mother they should all certainly
starve to death, and earnestly begged, in
case her mother should outlive her, that
she might be put where the wild beasts
could not devour her.
The poor woman was herself but just
alive, and expecting every hour to close
the eyes of Peggy, her only remaining
child and companion. The bodies of the
deceased children were laid out and kept
by her side; for she was unable to bury
them-having been so weak for the last
fifteen days that she had been Obliged TO
crawl upon her hands and knees to the
spring for water.
The breath of life, however, was still
remaining in them; and the two men who
came to their relief afforded them such
assistance and administered to them such
punishment as their situation and circum-
stances required.
On the Sd day of June they set out for
home, and carried Mrs. Forbes and the
child on bier by land, and in canoe by
water, till they all safely arrived at Nor
ridgewalk where, to the surprise of the
inhabitants, and the utter establishment of
Mr.. Forbes, he was once more presented
with a living wife, and one living child.
The Postscript" of this Narrative
states that Mrs Forbes soon recover her
usual health and strength, and that the
family afterwards settled, in the town of
"Newgloueester" how in Cumberland
county, where it is probable some of their
descendants may be still living.1