Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1873-10-01

.IsIes nj Shnals..


ont Of the "a. They have bold. bali apP'ar-
snse' icing covered with great rOcks and eould-
ers, aud nearly destitute Of irccs or shrubs.
There is also corresponding aearth q animal
lie. But few animals q any Kind are seen roam
ing at large or concealed among the rocks and
crevices. Although once -thickly PoPalAied'
these islands now, present the appearance Of an
uninhabited group with the exception Of few
cottages and hotels kept for the accommodation
of tourists, SEA side visitors aud loungcrs. Only
A few fishermen make their homes here during
the winter season. In many localities large
plots Of ground are literally covered with graves
an traces Of which, would long since have been
lost, but for the position Of the original stones
and rocks placed as foot and head stones thsse
remain a. silent witnesses Of a once popnlous
territory, Of no inoonsiderablc noiorieiy and
importance in early history. These islands wore
visited and described by French and English
navigators before the landing of the Pilgrims.
In 1914 they were visited by Capt. John Smith,
the story of whose rescue from the savage toma-
hawk Of Powhattan, by the lovely Pocahontas,
forms one Of the most interesting incidents Of
American history. The first gave to them the
name Of "Smith's Isles" however, but little
remains to remind one Of his long AID intimate
connection with them, except neat and taste
ful marble monument, erected to his memory
some Years since by several noble and generous
spirited citizens Of New Hampshire. As early
as 1923 these islands were a great resort for
fishermen. The Gods found here were larger
and finer than those found on the banks Of New
foundland, and, to use the language Of Capt.
Lcvctt, "he who could not catch with hook and
line from one to three hundred Gods day, was
very bad fisher" BY process of alternate
drying and sweating, they were enabled TO cure,
without salt, the famous "dum," so cool, dry
and pure was the atmosphere. Large vessels
and sail boats were seen at all times of day and
night, plying their way up and down these
coasts Taycrns, ale houses, and cottages
aboundcd on the islands, while captain, mate
and pilot, together with fishermen Of high and
low degree, made the welkin ring with the alter
nations of keen cutting wit and sarcasm, and
the coarse bacchanalian song of both gambler
and fisticuff; even woman, weak woman, has n
place in the annals of these early stirring times
for by the records it appears she too, figured
conspicuously in the public arena, not as a
voter, or law-maker, but as u subject and cul-
prit, often receiving for her mislcmeanors, pub
lie chastisement, one instance of which will
suffice for present OBLIGATION, that Of Joan Forde,
who as the record states, was tied to the whip
ping post in the public square and received ten
lashes for " garrulous talk" Strange is II not,
that the women of the present age should have
become SO infatuated with the idea of having n
voice in the,discussions and deliberations of law
makers when all past history proves so conclu-
siycly, mans ability to make all needful laws,
not only for himself but for her too, How
much more appropriate for man to command,
and woman, to obey There is something so
noble. and manly in the former, and 50 much
that is exquisitely charming and feminine in the
latter But to return to these celebrated isles.
We find much to attract the visitor; the striking
contrast of scenery, the cool and gentle sea
breeze clear. sky and sllubrious climate are
truly enjoyable. In point of climate and delight
full resort these islands are to the New England
coast, what the Sandwich Islands are to the Pa
ciic coast; the mean annual range Of tcmpera-
turc on the New Hampshire coast being " :
20'' Fair, while in Boston it is 96 70 75'', and
in Portland it is 1900 CO.. Fair. They are
reached from Portsmouth by steamer, distance
of twelve miles, fine sail of an hours duration
AS we approach the group, Appledorc Island first
attracts the attention. 1t is the largest in size,
being one mile in length and five-eighths in
width, and boasts a large hote! called the Sap
pledore House," which looms up in the distance
quite grandly, if large hotel full Of lively and
gay people three or four months in the year can
be said TO be solitary. "Smutty Nose" the
name of the second island in size, is mile long
and half mile across. Just now, it is moro
celebrated for having been the scene of the
Wagner tragedy-the murder of Mrs. Hontvet
and her Mcclellan for its past records. II
has a deserted and dismal appearance, there
being only three small cottages on it, and they
untenanted. The one where the murder was
committed has been somewhat demolished by
visitors, and carried away in driblets as me-
mentocs of the sad scene there enacted. part,
of us went from Star Island TO Smutty Nose in
row boat, only few moments sail, and Wis
tied the spot where the terrible deed was COM
mitted 1t seems the family consisted of Mrs
| IIontvet, her two neiccs and two men. Tn,
women never before had been left alone oyel
night. Wagner, who had il sed 10 the family more
or less for two years previous, had not been oil
the island for two months. but was living a
Portsmouth. lie met the two men there, in tn
early part of the evening and agreed to fur
nish them with ish-bait at eleven O'Clock tina
night. Between two and three in the mornin,
nc arrived in row boat at the island. and sool
found his way into the house, as it was no
locked. He commenced beating with chairs an'
the like, one of the young girls who was aslee,
on lounge in the kitchen. Mrs. Hontvet hear
ing her cries opened the door and succeeded il
getting her into the bedroom. She then leape
from the window Wagner went out at thedoor
and seized an axe that had lain there the da
before, and soon succeeded in killing her, Will
the other girl escaped at the door and fed 70
her life, stunned by the piercing cries of tn
murdered woman. She concealed herself at tn
extreme point of the island with no covering bu
her nightclothes. and no protection from thecol
March winds except what her faithful dog afford