The Portland daily press., 1883-07-21

nent divine generally spoken of as Parson
Emerson, who had preached the iron-clad Or
thodox doctrines in the meeting house" near
by for the period OF forTy-three years. His ser
mons were no hali-hour ptdce0os, out contained
spiritual food sufficient 10 last the entire week
and to form the chief topic OF discussion
among his flock for that Length of time. And
well they might, for tradition has it that some
OF them were five hours long" Many Of
these famous sermonsare now extant IN manu-
script written in kind of shorthaDd-sucb,
for instance as q big."O" for world. Near this
cemetery is the site Of this ancient church:
The spot is marked by being walled IN ana
planted with apple trees, now OF suhclent
growth to bear fruit, but, like the hg tree OF
the bible remaining barren. A skeptic among
the visiting party accounted for this singular
phenomenon by the possibility tnat 80 mucn
"fire and birthstone" had been preached over
that ground as TO have permeated the soil to
the extent Of rendering 1t uDproductlve OF
useful veget4tion.
Immediately back Of the church site is the
"horse block consisting Of an elevated rock
of several ieet square, from which the women
ladies were uI nownthere-mounted behind
the "lords' to ride home latter meeting" on
"pilion." With this antiquarian party were
two persons who had worshipped in this an
cient church in their boyhood days-CaptaiD
Robert p. Manson Of Bath, and the writer,
both of whose ancestors were among the earli-
est settlers.
remains OF some forty cellars on either side OF
the road, where once existed the houses Of the
first colony located ON the "Island These
dwellings were burned BY the Indians, who
swept down upon the settlers and drove them
all into the Kennebec river, and every soul of
them were either drowned or killed excepting
one man, who sank his body into the water
alongside of log, keeping his mouth only
above the surface, by which means he breathed
until the Indians had disappeared.
where "lye the bodys" of pioneer settlers,
among whom the family Of Drummonds were
the most numerous and pro ninent, and whose
descendants are legion and emnently reput-
able
Want OF time prevented exploration cf other
interesting spots in this locality, and that duty
had to be left for future expeditions.
The next landing was made on Stage Island,
ut the mouth OF the river. Here was the
debris of a fort and a stoned well, which still
contained clear water. This is laid down In
history as the pioneer settlement OF Sagada-
hock by one writer, while another makes it out
as the resort of Massachusetts, people for fish
ing purposes, the locality ahordiDg the best
possible facilities for catching salt water fish
at that and even at the present day for small
boats. From the most elevated point on this
island magnificent view is to be had of the
ocean and coast east to Squirrel and other
islands and west to Casco Bay.
On the return trip the party made tarry at
Popham, where the historians took additional
notes, the particulars of which are too familiar
for recounting at this time; and at an early
evening hour the steamer arrived at its place
of departure where the passengers landed
highly delighted with the days trip, and filled
to the brim with ancient lore.
The Sagadahock Historical Society was or
ganzed October 5, 1877, and contains select
number OF members who take an interest in
Collecting for preservation ancient ira
ditions, records and relics. 1t holds regular
meetings for reading papers and discussions
Much interest is kept up in the objects and
doiDgs of the society. Albert G. Page is Presi-
dent, and i'll. Douglas Secretary. The
originators were Mi. Douglas, j. M. Hayes
aud w. d. Haley. X.