Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-08-20


Crescent Grove, Squirrel Island,
August Is, 1873. J
DEAR JOURNAL The temporary jewellers
on Squirrel Island participated in a grand old
fashioned clam bake, Saturday forenoon, the
occasion being in honor of the third anniver-
sary of the formation of the squirrel Is
land Association" While the inhabitants of
the island-men, women and little children
were gathering, in picnic attire and with pic
mic equipage andutensils, in lovely grove
bordering the easterly shore Of the island,
! flames were arising from an immense boulder
which was to become the altar of sacrifice for
twenty bushels of fat CLANS and half as many
struggling Holsters. The rocks being prop
erly heated, they are covered with layer of
seaweed, on which is strewn a thick layer OF
clans, and these in turn are covered with
Holsters then seaweed is again applied and
canvas sail drawn down over the steaming
pile, and this also covered by seaweed.
| About twenty minutes are allowed for the
steam from the hot rocks to do the work of
baking; then an opening is made into the top
of the huge oven to see if the batch of clans
and Holsters is properly baked. The gentle
man who has this in charge--no other than
the President Of the Association, Hon. j. b.
Ham of observation-disclosures anxiousy with
pitchfork in hand to remove the seaweed; for
be it known that clam bakes are not always
successful. and it is an awful thing to under
take the superintendence of such a task and
fail ttar, l,Nri otl1.
Of two or three hundred clam. orous but dis
appointed and hungry individuals who think
you are altogether TO blame for the loss of
their dinner. But there was no such disap-
pointment on this occasion-the CLAIMS and
Holsters were done just right, as the multitude
present testified, gathered in groups on rocks,
in the shady grove, eating to their stomach's
content, or discontent). 1t is wonderful how
much person will hold on such an occasion,
with appetite sharpened by the sea breeze.
Their corporal capacity may be gagged at
home to the capacity of half pint; but here
by the rocks it is measured only by quartz. |
After dinner the appeased people were
called to order by the President, Mr.. Ham,
who said that the inhabitants of Squirrel Is
land were not Invested of their political rights,
but, on the contrary, extended the rights of
suffrage to all classes-male and female, bond
or free, rich or poor, white or black Ghere
are but few whites here), handsome or home
ly. He would therefore ask them to bring in
their votes for Governor A committee OF
which Mr.. |. A. Stanwood of Gardiner was
~, tnI a
count the votes, and it was found from their
repor, that the result was much like that at
Bangor-Nelson Dingley, Jr., had received
all the votes but three. One crazy man voted
for Hi Morrell of the Gardiner Home Jour
nal. Morrell in a speech, recognizing the
honor that had been done him, said that SPUR
rel Island was the most favorable ground for
missionary efforts that he had yet seen. The
successful gentleman, Mr.. Dingley, made a
pleasant speech, but thought the vote suspic-
ously large, 3l2 ballots having been cast.
Whereut Mr.. Stanwood, to clear himself
from all seeming imputstion, remarked that
he was not politician, and had only multi
piled the actual vote thrown by two, as he I'M
derstood that was the usual practice. It was
decided that this eminenty democratic.
The happy party broke up after singing Aud
Lang Syne" and ''America." In the even
! ing the annual business meeting was held,
the old board of officers being reelected
New cottages are constantly going up on
this beautiful island by the sea-" which La.
so suddenly been trans formed from sheep
pasture into the summer home Of SO many Of
our fellow citizens on the Kenuebec and An
droscoggn. There are now thirty-aye cot
tages, Cor real houses, as some may be prop
erly be classed) on the island costing all the
way from one hundred to two thousand dol
lars each, and scarcely two cottages have the
the same style of architecture or form, and
certainly their situations are as diverse as the
tastes of the different families. The broad
ocean is in full view from almost every point,
fishing and bathing common luxuries-and
there is no sickness here. But to speak of
the advantages for rest and recreation offered
here would consume time that would other
t wise enjoy in bobbing for cunners, and will
: stop here. no
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