The Portland daily press., 1878-09-28
THE REMNANT OF A TRIBE.
Something about the Passamaquoddy I'm.
dians-The Death and Burial of Their
Governor.

Something about the Passamaquo oddly I'm
dians-The Death and Burial of Their
Governor.
For almost a century the Inhabitants of this
| State have heard of a "Lewey's Island" but
there are doubtless few who know much about
the place so called, excepting of course those
who reside in its immediate vicinity. The
Island, although small and now insignificant
in appearance, has history. Leaving the city
of Calais and taking the train over the st.
Crox & Penobscot railroad, the traveller comes
to Princeton, the terminus of the road, after a
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 of lakes be-
gin. Crossing the bridge over the river, lit
tie spot of land can be seen in the middle of
the river at low water but at high water it is
invisible. 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 and the place about
it 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 it is not. 1t was in
corporated as the town of Princeton in 1882 1t
is still known to large number and always
will be as Lewey's Island or "The Island,' as
the village is called in other parts of the town.
Capt. Lewey belonged to the Passamaquoddy
tribe of Indians, and the lake above the Island
was named for him. A son of his died few
years ago at an advanced age, but so long as
there is town of Princeton the mans of the
old chief will be perpetuated.
The death of the Governor Of the once power
full Passamaquoddy tribe, which occurred last
week, recalls the fact that this like other tribes
of the same race is fast fading from the earth.
Just across the river from Princeton is the In
dian township reserved for this tribe by Massa-
chusetts before Maine was a state. This
township is nearly an unbroken forest. Near
the river, opposite Princeton, there are few
tumbled down hovsis where a few Indians
live, and up the lake there is a settlement on
what is known as Peter Dana's Point. Here
there are some thrty-6ve families, making
quite little village, their houses being all on
one street. This village, with another one
at Pleasant Point in Perry, makes up the
whole of the tribe. The Governor, Newell
Neptune. died last Friday. causing great
sorrow in the little village by the lake.
He died at the age of IS years, and had been
Governor since 1852, He was spoken of by all
as an excellent 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, and
when it was announced that he was about to
die the whole village gathered at his house. and
he gave each one of them word of good adj
vice. 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 Sunday at 1 o'clock,
and was very largely attended. One Of the In
dams, deacon of the church, read the buria
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, according to the
custom. He had a flag and handsome cloak
which were placed in the coffin. Early the
next morning the flag staff from which the flag
bearing his name had waved since he took the
oath of Office was cut down, chopped up and
taken to the cemetery aud 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 tribs 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 hunting parties is much
more to the r taste and it makes up their bust
ness. The women make good many baskets
which they peddle far and wide, some of them
going to Mount Desert in the summer season to
sell to the tourists They are generally quiet,
orderly and quite we'll dressed. They live in
better houses than many of their white neigh
b,rs in adjoining towns. The State provides
Dresser, the teacher employed at present. says
that some of the fifteen children he has enroll
ed are very readily taught the first principles,
but when it comes to combinations they are all
adrft. In addition to he church and school
house, there is public hall IN the village for
social gatherings. There the young folks have
dances occasionally, and at the marriage of
couple the whole village turns out en- masse to
celebrate the event.