Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-19
NO. 43.

Kennebec, and as they might, peradven-
ture, find the Indian at Mccormick Pond,
they concluded by the help of God, to
proceed on their journey.
Accordingly they left the most cumber-
some, though necessary articles, which
they had now remaining, and the eldest
daughter undertook to travel on foot with
her mother-while Mr.. Forbes took two
OF the children, and John one, upon sleds,
and thus they proceeded with as much
despatch as was possible.
! The way, however was rough, and they
travelled but short distance during that
day. At night they encamped, and the
next morning there came on violent
storm of rain, hail and snow, which con-
tinued till Wednesday evening. In the
meanwhile the children were pinched with
hunger and with the cold, and their cries
were so bitterly distressing that, leaving
the mother and children in camp, the father
and son pushed forward with all speed to
the Pond; but it was still stormy, and the
travelling so difficult, that they did not
get back with the two loaves till Wednes-
day evening.
Upon their return, they had not dry
thing about them, nor any dry clothes to
put on. And to add to their misfortune,
the fire was extinguished, and they were
unable to rekindle it for the whole night.
The next morning, the storm being con-
siderably abated, they proceeded on their
journey but the trees and bushes being
wet, they had an uncomfortable time, and
did not reach the Pond till Friday morn
ing about ten o'clock.
Soon after this, to their great consola-
ton, they met with the before mentioned
Indian, who proved to be one John Baptist,
and with whom they had had some pre-
vious acquaintance in Canada. He very
Hospitality invited them to his camp, which
was at considerable distance from the
Pond; and there he kindly treated them
with the best of what his house afforded.
This was camp where he and his wife
resided while he followed hunting. Here
they tarried until the next Monday. And
the Indian having just before their meeting
killed q moose at few miles distance,
Mr.. Forbes and his son went with their
sleds, and assisted him in bringing it
home.
The Indian gave them as much moose
meat as they would undertake to carry,
and agreed to pilot them to Kennebec
river. This agreement he punctually full
|,
them to the settlements, but his wife was
so unwell that he did not dare to be any
longer absent from her. He therefore
marked the way on piece of bark, rep
resenting the bends, windngs, falls and
carrying places along the river. He then
wished them WELL and left them.
On taking leave of the Indian, they
could not sufficiently express their graft
tude. His kindness was beyond their ex-
pectation. Before his departure, however
they gave him what things they had left
behind, together with some other articles
of considerable value. And they had
reason afterwards to wish that they had
presented him with more; for their loads
proved so much too heavy for them that
they were obliged to leave by the way a
large bag full of valuable articles.
They now met with almost insurmoun-
table difficulties for in pursuing the river
their progress was obstructed by craggy
windfalls, rocky lodges, lofty mountains
and hideous precipices.
On the 18th day of April their provisions
were again exhausted; and Mrs. Forbes
thought it most advisable to have camp
erected, and for herself and the children
to remain there, while her husband and
oldest son should 60 forward to see whether
they could find the inhabitants appre-
hending that they were much nearer than
they afterwards proved to be.
A camp was therefore erected, and
leaving Mrs. Forbes with her four young
children, Mr.. Forbes and his son went
forward with as much speed as possible.
The first and second days, finding the ice
would bear them, they travelled on the
river; and would have made considerable
| hu+ forum tal fbay O,isf0nt
their way at material carrying-place,
where instead of leaving the river and
crossing by land to the next bend, which
was only twelve miles, they followed the
river sixty miles round.
A little before night, the second day,
they came to the falls. and could go no
further on the ice. They went on shore,
and soon after came to precipice where
thay were obliged to descend twenty feet,
almost perpendcularly, and at the risk OF
being dashed upon the rocks. Night COM
ing on, they encamped and the next day
finding shoal rocky place in the river,
they crossed over to the other side, in
hopes of finding better travelling, and
more convenient place to encamp. Here
they were obliged, by reason of stormy
weather, to encamp for the remainder OF
, the day.
The next day they travelled on; and
, perceiving the river to be almost clear of
ice, they concluded to build kind OF raft
"a thing with which they were altogether
f unacquainted, and by means of which
they had both like to have lost their lives.
They got on to the raft and under way
about ten o'clock the next morning. The
current, however, run so swift, that they
soon found there was no possibility of
turning it to the shore. AS they passed
down the river, they struck against tree
which they were obliged to cut away in
order to clear the raft. When they de-
scended over ripples. the water never
failed of dashing over tham, so that they
were wet continually.
About the middle of the day, the raft
moving with great rapidity, struck large
rock. parted one its corners. and spread
into single string OF logs. At this time
they lost their axe, and it became ex-
remely difficult to keep upon their broken
machine.