The Portland daily press., 1875-02-19
The ArOOStOOk War.


lecture on the Aroostook war, in Representa-
tives Hall, Augusta, recently.
Mr. Varney said he would attempt to revive
in the minds of the old and tell to the young
the story of an amusing yet critical period in
the history of our state. By the treaty OF 1888
which closed the war for American independ-
ence, about one half of the st. Johns river
belonged to Maine; but soon after the war OF
1872, Great Britain began to claim the whole.
In 1888, the principal settlement ON the river
north of Woodstock, was on the north side OF
the river, at the northeastern angle OF the state
the rude log houses struggling along the shore
for nearly twenty miles. This bad been lncor-
porated as the town of Madawaska, and had
representative in the state legislature; but re-
Gently the neighboring British authorities had
forbidden and broken up its meetings. In
June, 1887, an agent of Maine, while taking
the census, was arrested by British consta-
BILE. This agent had at the same time been
distributing to the people their proportion OF
the surplus money which had accumulated IN
the-U nited States treasury. He bore Oft his
prisoner to thel nearest shire town, but the
sheriff declined to receive him into custody;
the agent therefore returned to Madawaska to
prosecute his mission. The son of that consta-
BILE is now member of the legislature 1t is
not proposed to expel him on that account.
But Gov. Harvey of New Brunswick was in
formed that the agent was distributing money
to induce the inhabitants to continue their alle
glance to the United States, ordered his re-
arrest, and he was lodged in Fredericton Jail.
Gov. Dunlap of our state Immediately issued
general order announcing that the soil of our
state had been invaded by foreign power, and
notifying the militia to hold themselves In
readiness for actiue service: The British forces
were reinforced Gen. Hodsdon of the eastern
division of Maine militia, unsheathed has
sword, and issued orders. of defiance. The
American blood was boiling "By this time"
says Major Jack Downing, my hair began to
7 IL IL. and I An'f hnlr n
ing up and shifting my fists together, saying
pretty hard things about the British" And the
Major proceeded to raise ION paper) that scare
crow company which should cause the British
lion to run away. few weeks later, at the
request of President Van Buren,, the imprls-
Oned agent was set at liberty.
Thus they fought and bled in the Madawaska
war, and the contending palties retired upon
their laurels. The offence charged against the
Maine agent was Exciting sedition." Great
Britain was jealous of the colonies growing up
upon her borders. In 1914, abandoning the
line of the treaty of 1888, she sat down on the
Penobscot and coolly declared that to be the
boundary of her possessions. But she lost
that, and insisted upon the sovereignty OF the
river St. j ohm with all its tributaries There
was great difficulty about defining its limits,
even according to this standard, and so the
question was referred by the two governments
to William, King of the Netherlands, for ad-
judication. His decision was rendered in 1881.
The instincts of our sapient Hollander, led
him, like a duck, to the water, and so, Curl
ously enough, he placed our northwestern
boundary in the bed Of a ri0er, instead OF along
line of highlands. He declared that the line
ought to run due horih from the ST. Croix un-
til it struck the ST. Johns, whence it should
run along the IN 'ddle of the latter river to the
mouth of The st. Francis, at the north, and
along the middle of this river to the source of
its southwest branch; thence, west to the high
lands, and from this point onward, as described
in the original treaty. Maine was exceedingly
indignant at this division; the federal govern
ment offered to compensate her for the terri
tory lost, offering million acres in Mic higan,
in exchange. This was declined, and then fol-
lowed the prolonged negotiations looking to
the establishment OF the line of ,11S3. The his
tory of the French settlers in that territory was
here given.
In 1888, understanding the unsettled state of
affairs IN the disputed territory, when Gov.
Kent came to the gubernatoral chair, be ini-
tsted measures to increase the efficiency of the
militia. Gen. Wool was sent on tour of in
sDecton to make an examination of the state
defences, and Notifications were recommended
to be built on the st. Croix, Penobsc0t and
Kennebec rivers. The boundary line of rs was
again established officially by survey
The rigorous policy of Gov. Kent was opposed
by President Van Buren, aud the adminissra
ton papers of the state called him "His topo-
graphical Excellency.' Our whole northean
border was still disturbed by the Canadian re-
bellion, and Maine was sought not to embar-
rass the administration. Thus the dispute con-
tinued until the winter of 1889 Trespassers
on the public lands were robbng the region OF
the Aroostook river OF its most valuable timber.
The legislature of 1889 Immediately went into
secret session, and authorized the sheriH OF Pe-
nobscot county to raise 200 volunteers With
these he was ordered to proceed to the Aroos.
took, dislodge the trespassers, destroy their
camps and provisions, and seize their teams.
Sheriff Strickland of Penobscot promptly raised
the force ordered, which was placed under the
immediate command of Capt. Slower Rines; the
first company setting out from Bangor on the
9th Of February, and arriving at Masardis
township No. 10Y on the evening of the Sth
inst. They moved down the river next day,
Mr.. McIntire proceeding in advance. The Sher-
iff, in a sleigh, followed down the river. the
next morning. Opposite Peter Bulls about a
mile above Hoopers behold! a line of men aoith
qunS, stretched across the river; and, below
them, two strong ltgglng teams Fastening
away. Did the sheriff hesitate? No; the adj
vance guard of his posse was at his heels; and
he pressed boldly on in pursuit of the trespass-
ing teams, regardless of the sixteen muskets
brought to bear upon his horse. There were
visible on one side thej high Sheriff of Penob-
scot, with 200 well armed men; on the other
side 16 sturdy woodsmen with rusty fowliDg
pieces; yet with the eve of imagination might
have been seen, in battle array, the soldiers of
Britain. in unnumbered battalions, and the
glimmering sails of her dreaded fleets. Sever
al trespassers fired as the Sheriff passed their
line, and tuft of hair fell from the name of
his horse. There it lay, dark, bloody and 81
lent, on the white snow, fist token of the car
mage! and the first 'Bull Rum" The sherff's
pluck was still good, and after long chase he
captured the teams, and his posse made prison.
ers of the lumbermen. Capt. Rines was then
sent to the mouth of the Little Madawaska, to
intercept the trespassers who fled across the
line into the Queens dominions. Then came
the occasion for the lines
.sRun! Strickland runl fire! Slower, fire!
Werelhe last words Mcfntre"
The land agent was forced over the line at
the point of the bayonet, mounted on bob
sled, hurried away to Fredericton Jail. The
trespassers were now in high feather, having
broken into Woodstock Jail and supplied them
selves with arms and ammunition. The flight
of the sheriff aud his forces were narrated. The
legislature authorized the raising of three hun
dred more troops. On Feb. 16 proclamation
reached Augusta from Gov. Harvey, COM
manding, that the arms illegally taken from the
government depot be returned, and declaring
that hostile invasion of the territorp should be
resisted. This was accompanied by au order
for draft; 1000 militia were ordered out Then
a communication was received from Gov. Har-
vey, demanding the recall of the state force in
Aroostook, and announcing that he was in
structed by his government, to hold exclusive
jurisdiction over the disputed territory, and
that he should do SO by military force. The
legislature immediately passeg resolve for the
protection of the public lands, and appropria-
ted $500, 900 to carry it out, The Governor the
next day ordered draft Of TO- 343 men from the
militia, to be held in readiness for immediate
pSn Tho procIa atinn If tba British GOVERN