National Republican., 1881-08-15
A MAINE CENTENNIAL
soALPING THE EARLY SETTLERS.
Celebrating m Indian Massacre At Bethel One Hun
dred Years Aso-A Lively Turnout Of
the Citlzens-uock Fighting,
Speeches. and Songs.
specInl corre.ponhencr ofrnr rrrrnL1cAr.

DEIhELy ME-, aug, III 81 ~ you
an account OF one Of the most novel aud ex-
citing celebrations or historical dramas ever rep
resented in this country, to wit; The great CEN
tennial celebration Of the last Indian attack upon
the settlers of this town. one hundred years ago,
which occurred in this place the other day when
the war-whoop, tomahawk, and scalping and tortur-
ing Of the first settlers was faithfully revived wit
messed by over three thousand spectators, who
nocked here from over the hills and far away to
witness the spectacle. brief description Of this
charmin little town of Bethel would seem first in
order 1t is like an amphitheatre, situated within
the encircling mountains Of Maine and New
Hampshire, which abruptly hem in the village,
leaving only narrow pass for the Androscoggin
River and Grand Trunk Railroad, making IL one
OF the most picturesque places Of summer resort in
Maine. The natural scenery and the atmospheric
effects are sublime, Now you see black showers
nll beyond the Bethel and White Mountain ranges,
with their grand,
LOFTY, CLoUD-TfPPED WALLS,
and the phenomena produced by the suns rays
bursting through riffs are oflen indescribably
beautiful, while within the valley there is flood
Of sunshine, the showers being barred out IL is
also the outlet Of the Rangcly Lake region, and
easily accessible to the Umbagog and Richardson
lakes, and is much frequentcd by strangers from
large cities, who como here to inhale the whole.
some mountain air. where they can be out OF reach
natural fasinesses The last incursion by the In.
dans upon the Now England settlements took
place here August 3, 1881, then called Sudbury
Canada. Six Indians, commanded by Tomhegan
(siguifyiug tomahawk), made their appearance
among the settlers. They belonged TO the st.
Francis tribe Of Canada. The first house they
plundercd and robbed, beating two young ladies
with great cruelty. They then seized Captain
Twitchell, Lieutenant Clark and Lieutenant Segar
mud hound Ihptn han nd xpl,iia dnrin n %
the cellar. The former escaped with a Mrs. Clark
to the woods; the other two were loaded with
HEAVY PACKS OF PLUMBER
and, with their hands tied behind them, marched
away. on the road the Indians killed and scalped
several white men, and, after capturing colored
man, released Lieutenant Clark and took the for
mcr in his stead These prisoners became so hun
CRY on the way that they ate the moose moccasins
which the Indians had thrown away. They were
taken to Montreal, where the Indians received
their bounty for them and the scalps taken and
were never niterward heard from. These outrages
led to the building OF forts by the pioneers for the
protection of the settlers, and the subsequent
events which TRANSFERRED and in commemoration
of which this historic drama was prepared
and enacted by the citizens of Bethel on the
same spot where 1t actually transpired just one
hundred years ago The performance began with
grand chorus of bells from all of the steeples In
the town at FIVE o'clock in the morning. The pro-
ccSsion formed at nine o'clock. II was splendid
morning.
ALL BETHEL WAS AGoG
Flags were flying In every direction and the street,
were full Of people. Your correspondent was In.
vited by the commandant ofthe day to take promi-
nent position at headquarters, where all the evo.
lutions were directed by colored signal pennant
from flagstaff The procession consisted o
mountain rangers, equipped In pioneer costumes
and mounted on stout nags, with rifles and fierce
powder horns Carried formerly By their ances
tors slung over their backs and around theii
waists OF selectnen, cadets, soldiers, and citizens
many OF the latter with their families in huge
| wagons with hay-racks on trimmed with flower
and foliage, the whole preceded by a brass bant
playing Yankee Doodle" &c. on the neat little
| common was built block house, in imitation o
| the fortress Of ancient Bethel, the sides beinl
| formed of logs, with PORTFOLIOS, and the roo
peaked and matched with hay and boughs.
WHEN THE PROCESSION REACHED
| the head of Church street bare back rider cam
| galloping down the road on a foaming gray hors,
| shouting, The Indians are comingr' A mounte,
| detachment was sent Immediately to the outskirt
to reconnotre the cnemy's position the rest Of tn
| SOU ad taking possession Of the fort. Soon twent
| Indians, in their war paint and feathers, spran
| into sight and opened fire on the fort, to whicl
the men inside quickly responded. Volume afte
| volume followed and the excitement became in
tense. Time nor space will not permit full de
scription. The makeup and mock fighting of th
Indians were natural and splendid, with their hal
dozen squaws following in the lead of their braves
Suffice It to say oil Of the varied and exciting in
cidents of such an attack, battle final repulse anC
capture were gone through with, including tn
| skulkings surprises, and strategy of the savages
| with their brandlshing tomahawks, demoniac yells
hand to hand fghtngs, killings, scapings (Ggura
| lively speaking Of course) on the one hand an,
the stern, desperate resistance, courage, sharp
shooting, and charging Of the pioneer on the othc
hand.
PRISONERS WE'RE TAKEN
| md recaptured, tortured, and exchanged under
flag Of truce Captain John Smith was beinj
| burned at stake when rescued and saved by
| Pocahontas, and Indian burials with the funera
war.dance were enacted all faithfully repre-
sented and exciting in the extreme but perhap
| the most thrilling scene of the whole was when al
Indian brave, when the fight was raging hottest
scaled the ramparts and, with lighted torch, as
Ccndcd the roof of the block house, and giving al
uncarthly warwhoop, set fire to the straw anC
brush that covered 1t, which soon enveloped the
whole In flames where the brave men within wer,
defending 1t, and with 1t their families and homes
As rs the fire was discovered by those within
they rushed out and while the most desperate O
the hand to- hand conflict was raging amidst tn
fire and smoke of battle and the burning buildin,
the iend who had set fire to the latter was seei
reGreating from the ruins, brandishing
SCALP OF ONE OF HIS VICTIMS
taken soon ailer committing his first dabolica
efforts TO burn the inmates OF the fort alive. A
length, however, the tide of battle turned in favo
Of the settlers. Those of the Indians not kille
were taken prisoners, placed in n hollow SQUARE
and marched through the streets to their place 0
execution, and peace and prosperity rcigned one
more. In the afternoon historical speeches wer
made in the grove near by, toass were offered an
responded 10 by distinguished persons presen
original poems read, patriotic and Indian song
sung, and the whole, which was most novel. eX
citing, and grand success, most theatrcally car
RED through rejecting great credit on It's orig
nators and eXecutioners, concluded with an even
ing ball. hope lhaye not wearied but intereste
you aud your readers. II have promise not I
trouble you again until get Ia "snir" OF Mour
Washington air and sunshine, A X.
FOR THE WOMEN.