The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-04-01

In my wanderings along the rocky and pic
turesque coast of Maine, I have from time to
time iotted down many bits in my notebook
which seem to me to have more than passing
interest 1t is possible that after the fashion
of collectors in general oyerrate my treasure
trove, but even in the mustiest mass of bric-a-
brac is to be found some choice bit or at least
some trife that tickles the fancy of the visitor;
and humbly hope my offering of shreds and
patches here is not worse than some dusty,
musty, worm-eaten gatherings of odds and
ends I have seen, which were yet greedily
overhauled by eager connoisseurs.
We were lying becalmed in the yacht off
Head Harbor Jonesport, when Billy Steer
stick, an old salt who had come aboard half as
pilot and half as guest, RECALLED us with yarn
of diableiie which ran something in the follow
ing fashion: Head Harbor seems to be place
especially favored with supernatural occur
rences, particularly such as lie in the line of
the Father of all Evil. A family is scarcely
respectable there unless it has its private ghost,
and to hold anything like distinguished place
in Head Harbor society, it is necessary to be
able to boast at least one personal encounter
with the devil. Billy Steersticks story had to
do with one Captain Binney, master of coast
er. Being engaged in loading his vessel with
wood, at Head Harbor, Captain Binney hired
to assist him, am ong others, rough fellow
named Dobbin. One day Dobbin was sent to
roll a lot of wood down steep bank to the
shore while the others took round the gunda-
low in which it was to be conveyed to the yes
sci. When Captain Binney and the men ar
rived with gundalow, they found Dobbin
looking very wild and pale, and appearing to
suffer from severe fright. He said that hay
ing finished his work he had selected COM
Portable place, lain down and soon fallen
asleep. He was awakened suddenly by the
touch of foot, and started up to find Satan
standing beside him. He said further that he
had had long talk with the evil spirit, but he
declined to tell its nature. The crew began
loading the wood into the gundalow, Captain
Binneys boat lying at anchor couple of rods
away. The wood being heavy and difficult
to handle, Binney profanely wished they had
Dobbin's friend to help load it. Scarcely had
he spoken than Dobbn uttered a fearful
screech, crying. "There he is!" He pointed
towards the captains boat, standing in the
"" VI hhiOu appSdrcu prtttruaturdlIy tail,
slim gentleman with fiery eyes. His look was
liked upon Dobbin, who. crying out, 81 didn't
mean to tell!' fell down in fit, shaken with
horrible convulsions. The tall gentleman, ap-
parently satisfied with the effect of his glance,
smiled sardonically, and turned his face tow
ards the shore. As if obeyng his will the
| boat shot swiftly forward to the land, as soon
as its occupant had stepped out returning by
| some strange power again to its moorings.
The stranger instantly vanished, but whether
into earth, air or water no one of the men
could say. Dobbin gradually recovered from
his fit, but he Immediately went ashore, refus-
added Billy Steerstick, giving vicious pull at
his stumpy black pipe, THAT shiftless Dobbin
| didn't pear to do nothin,' but he always had
money enough, somehow or nuther; though 1
| don't caPlate any man could tell how he got
it, "But what of Captain Binney?' asked
| get anything out of it?" "if you want to see a
mad man." returned Steerstick, with an unc-
| tious chuckle, "You just talk to Jack Binney
about Dobbin, and hear him cuss an swear
cause the Devil didn't make him an offer,
| same's he did to Dobbin."
Some fifteen years ago there lived, and 1
| think still lives, q pilot at st. John, New
| Brunswick, who was famous character along
shore. Cross Island lies in Machias Bay. and
among the few families settled upon it was
| that of fisherman named Cook 'Mother
| Cook, as she was called, was a shrewd, kind
| ly, bustling woman, we'll known by all the fish
| ermen of the region, her house being a sort of
hostelry at which were. received belated fish
ers, wandering yachtsmen, and stray trav.
elers in need of shelter. Her husband, a wiry,
keen.eyed salt, although completely under hi
wife's infiuenc, had too much independence