Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-10-01

NO.. 232.
Misfellaneons.
from the Portland Press.l
THE REMNANT OF A TRIBE.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE PA.sAMAouoppY
INDIANs-THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF
THEIR GOVERNOR

THEIR GOVERNOR.
| For almost a century the inhabitants of
this State have heard of 'sLewey's
Island" but there are doubtless few who
know much about the place so called, ex-
| cepting OF course those who reside in its
lmme date vicinity. The Island. although
small and Insignificant in appearance, has
history. Leaving the city of Calais and
taking the train over the St. Croix & Pc
nobscot railroad, the traveller comes to
Princetuwn. the terminus of the real, af-
ter ride of twenty miles, which occupies
one hour and half. Princeton is situated
on the west branch of the St. Croix river
at the point where the river stops and a
long system oflakes begins Crossing the
bridge over the river. a little spot of land
can be seen in the middle of the river at
low water but at high water it is invisi-
| BILE. This spot of land was once quite An
| island, and where there are now barren
rocks, one hundred years ago there grew
tall, stately trees. These trees sheltered
the cabin OF an old Indian chief called
Captain Lewey. From his living here,
the Island took the name, "Lewey's
Island. Twenty years ago when the
railroad was built from Calais it was
named for this Island. To this day there
are many who think that the town of
Princeton is an island, but II is not. II
was Incorporated as the town of Prince
ton in 1882 1t is still known to q large
number and will be as Lewey's Island or
The Island" as the village is called in
other parts of the town. Capt Lewey be-
longed to the Passamaquoddy tribe of
Indians. and the lake above the Island
| was named for him. son of his died q
few years ago. but so long as there is
town OF Princeton the name of the old
chief will be perpetuated
| The death OF the Governor of the once
powerful Passamaquoddy tribe, which oc-
Cured last week, recalls the fact that this
like other tribes OF the same race is fast fad
ingfrom the earth. Just across the river
from Princeton is the Indian township re-
resvedior this tribe by Massachusetts, be-
fore Maine was a State. This township is
nearly an unbroken forest. Near the riv-
er, opposite Princeton. there are few tum-
bled down novels where a few Indians
| live, and up the lake there is settlement
on what is known as Peter Dana's Point.
Here there are some thirty-tiye families,
making quite little village, their houses
being all on one street. This village, with
i W.
makes up the whole of the tribe. The
Governor, Newell Neptune, died last Fri
day, causing great sorrow in the little viii
lage by the lake. He died at the age of
IS Years, and has been Governor since
| 1852. He was spoken of by all as an ex-
cellent man and his influence in the tribe
| was always good He did much towards
breaking up the habit OF drinking among
| his people. He had been sick some little
time, aud when it was announced that he
was about to die the whole village gath
cred at his house, and he gave each one of
| them word of good advice. As soon as
he was dead his body was taken to the
| Catholic chapel and preparations were
made for the funeral The Catholic cler-
| gyman from Calais, who breaches for them
| once month, was sent for to attend the
funeral, but he was out of town and could
not officiate. The funeral took place Sun
day at l o'clock, and was very largely at
tended. One of the Indians, deacon of
the church, read the burial service of the
Catholic church, and the body was borne
to the little cemetery near by. Every
thing pertaining to his Office was placed
in the grave and buried with him, accord
ing TO the custom. He had flag and
handsome cloak or blanket, which he wore
on state occasions, which were placed in
the coffin. Early the next morning the
flag staff from which the the flag bearing
his name had waved since he took the oath
Of office, was cut down, chopped up and
taken to the cemetery and burned to ashes
over his grave. A simple wooden cross
stating his name, age and date OF his
death, was placed over his grave. The
Lieutenant Governor will act as Governor
until next September, when the tribe will
have an election, conducted the same as
our State elections.
This tribe is largely aided by the State
They receive bounty for all they raise, to
encourage them to plant and sow, but the
bounty hardly has the desired effect.
Hunting and acting as guides for fishing
and hun ling parties is much more to their
taste and it makes up their business. The
women make good many baskets which
they peddle far and wide. They are gen.
orally quiet. orderly and quite well
dressed They live in better houses than
many of their white neighbors in sdjoin-
ing towns. The State provides q school
where the children are taught. Mr..
Dresser, the teacher employed at present,
says that some OF the fifteen children he
has enrolled are very readily taught the
first principles, but when il comes to COM
blnations they are all adriit. la addition
to the church and school-house, there is =
public hall in the village for social gath
erings. There the young folks have dan
ces occasionally, and at the marriage OF
couple the whole village turns out en-