Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-08-24
iron bridge, over which the cars have just be.

straight forward on the read to prosperity, re-
gardless of panics, and Burnham, where be-
gins Cor ends) the Belfast road we came to
the little town of
UNITY, OR "PoNp Town."
as we think it ought to be called, as it lie S
upon, and is watered by Twenty five mile
Pond" which lies between i. and Burnham.
Along the edge of this silver sheet of water,
for quite a distance, runs the railroad, and to
the eye of the passenger, helped by bit of i'm
agination, the pond has the appearance of a
vast inland sea. The next stopping place is a
a quiet country village with an ignominious
fame on account of the terrible
| THoRNpIKE MURDER.
On the brow of the hill leading straight up
from the Thorndike station, is pointed out the
house in which, at the midnight hour, Gordon
perpetrated the cold blooded trip.e murder
That bloody deed has fastened upon the place
a weird, strange fascination, that attracts the
attention Of all passers-by. This quiet, charm
ing spot amid the rugged, broken country over
which we pass after leaving the Kennebec, is
|
idea must have been born in the heart of the
arch fiend, who transferred the scheme to the
brain of the wretched prodigal brother. But
| this place is celebrated in song, as well as in
| the annals of murder, David Bakers lines
"Padlock station" applying to the station
| where for years the doors of the baggage room
were fastened by the huge paddock formerly
| of the kennebec Jail. When Rich left the sta.
| ton he carted off the paddock with him.
few miles farther on brings us to
BELFAST,
| the shire town of Waldo county, that sets like
| gem on the waters of the picturesque bay Of
| Belfast. The place is rapidly recovering from
the disastrous consequences of the great fire of
last year. Its fine public buildings, regular
ly laid out and shaded streets, and good hotels
and boarding houses, give the place numerous
| attractions for summer tourists while its
| manufacturing establishments and shipyards
furnish employment to large and intel
ligent population. Like Castine, whittier we
are found, the place is rich in historic
| interest, and was the scene of numerous con-
| tlcts in the revolutionary period. Our party
| embarks on the safe and comfortable but not
| fleet-footed steamer Pioneer, and who shall
describe the sail down the beautiful
BAY OF BELFAST?
The blue sky is mirrored in its still waters this
| calm summer morning; everything is typical
of rest and peace. The near shorelands, the
islands and deep sea, and billy ranges in the
distance, the grand prospect that stretches out
on every hand, all combine to form picture
of surprising loveliness. AS you sail out of
the harbor, you soon come in sight Of Sears
port on your left, of the spires and tops of the
buildings, in Stockton, of old Fort Point, no.
ted place of summer resort, and in the back
ground, the elevations in Bluehill, towering
| to the height OF one thousand feet. On the right
Isleboro' supplies thesecenery for a distance
of fifteen miles. The boat stops at Ryders
Cove, lovely retreat in that town, and is
then pointed toward Castine, lying at the
gateway of Penobscot bay, its white light
house shining clearly and prominently in the
sunlight. 1t is magnificent sail across from
Ryder's to
CAsTINE,
and we arrive at the latter place at one O'Clock.
and quickly scramble from deck to wharf, be-
ing told that we must "do" this ancient town
in just one hundred and twenty minutes.
Fortunate those who came prepared for pic
mic dinner, for those who sought the hospi-
tally CT the poor old decrepid hotel, came
away in starving condition. Castine is real
| ly "gem in the ocean, Astounding in locali-
ties of thrilling historic interest. almost un =
equalled in its natural res lurces as a summer
| resort, and why in the world don't some of
her wealthy men open their Golfers. and build
| a hotel and see that it is conducted decently :?
This place seems TO have been, during the
Revolution and the war of 1872 the disputed
point between the combatants, as indeed it
was an important position, holding the key to
the bay and river of Penobscot, being but
| seven miles from the mouth of the river. Its
history covers period of two centuries, and
can of course be but briefly referred to here.
1t was first discovered by Smith during his
voyages of discovery; in 1880 was made a
| trading station by the Plymouth company.
The French and afterwards the Dutch held
possession of it. Then the English held it,,
and afterwards it fell again into the hands of
| the French. Baron de st. Castin (for whom
the place is named) French nobleman, mar
| ried an Indian girl, built castle and resided
here thirty years. Some of the remains of
the castle were pointed out to our excursion
lists. The place was abandoned by the
French, and in l7G0 became permanently set.
tied by the English, who in 1870 established
here military post, building a formidable
| fort in position overlooking the town and har-
Dor. The Americans made desperate and
unsuccessful attempt to gain possession OF
| the fort and place, and here were fought some
of the hardest battles of the revolution. I,
remained in possession of the English until
peace was declared. In the war Of 1912 it
was again taken possession of by the English,
where they remained for year, no attempt