The Portland daily press., 1885-01-27

indexes In registries of deeds provides for
penalty of $40 for each month in case county
commissioners neglect to change the indexes
as provided by the law passed in 1888.
In few days bill will be introduced to
amend the charters of the Wiscasset and @ le-
bee Railroad, the Messalonskee and Kennebec
Railroad and the Somerset Railroad, the OBJ
ject of which is to effect connection with the
International Railway, near the point where 1t
crosses the Canada road between The
Forks and Moose river. The friends OF this
measure desire this connection for the pur-
pose of diverting portion of the trade of Cam
ada and the West to the Atlantic seaboard
through the Kennebec valley, and thus afford
cheaper and shorter land transit than by
going to either st. John or Halifax. Wiscssset
and Bar Harbor Ferry are the termini mem
toned, the parties interested believing that
commercs will be sure to seek the shortest and
cheapest routes of transit.
The present week promises to be an unusual
ly busy one. What with the temperance con-
vention, the Legislative hearings on the bridg-
ing of Moosehead Lake, the Reofrmstory for
Women, as we'll as numerous otherss hearings
on less important matters, there will bo large
indax of people in town. Already large
mum ber OF rooms at the hotels are engaged, as
well as quarters secured at private houses.
A bill was presented in the Senate by Sena-
tor simonton, to amend the savings bank law,
which provides that any depositor in savings
bank may nominate one or more persons to
whom deposits may be paid on his decease
without administration on such depositor's es-
tate.
The veteran Maj. Dickey, Representative
from Fort Kent, is very much interested in
having the Legislature purchase the old block
house in his town, which, as is known, was
named in honor of Gov. Kent. The Major
thus expressed himself to the PRESS reporter
this evening" in relation to the matter:
'I want to have il saved as historical relic
of the memorable Madawaska war, for the pos
session of our eastern territory. The fort was
soei..tt - 1910 or 1841, by the United States.
Maine employed" "ysaS was called a posse of la
borers and soldiers, and they, wf0n -ha Nation
al Government, built this block house. It was
named after Gov. Kent. 1t is situated at the
mouth and west side of Fish river, at the
junction of Fish river with the st. John river,
on high elevation of land known as "Horse-
back" There are about ten acres of land on
which 1t 10 situated, in the village of Fort
Kent. In 1857 the United States relinqaished
all its right and interest to it to the State of
Blaine. The State subsequently, sold it
through their land agent, Noah Barker, and it
is now owned by R. Fl Page. The b sngor
Historical Society, whose president is Hanni-
bal Hamlin, st a recent meeting, after stating
that il is desirable that all landmarks con-
oerniDg the past history of this country should
be preserved to posterty, adopted a resolve,
which was as follows:
That the members of the Bangor Historical So
ciety respectfully ask the Legislature of Maine to
make suitable appropriation tor tue purpose of
pairing the old block house at Fort Kent.
"Perhaps you will like to hear" continued
Major Dickey, "something about the erection
of this block house and The Madawaska war.
You see State troops went from theEcaDital and
marched for the seat of war. Portions OF them
we're quaItered at Mar5ardis through the win
ter. Another portion of the came troops
marched through the wilderness until they
reached within tive miles of Fort Kent. Here
they quartered for the winter. In the mean
time Jne United States sent regular troops
through to Fort Kent. There was regiment
OF them about 1000 strong. They were under
the onmand OF Gen. Winder, who had charge
OF the rebsl prison at Andersonville during the
late war. His quartermasier was Mai Dom
Nelson. Gen. Joe Hooker, who distinguished
himself during the rebellion in fighting the
battle above the clouds at Lookout Mountain,
was lieutenant, The next summer, 1912, the
legislature had special session called by Gov.
Fairfield, and the legislature agreed to accept
of a certain stipulation from tho United
States, to take the st. John and st. Francis
rivers as boundary, on condition, according
to my recollection, that the United States
shall pay Maine some 5000, goo for the territory
coded TO Great Britain and lying north Of the
st. John and St. Francis rivers. It was also
agreed that The United States should pay, and
it did pay, the claims of persons living
on the territory as nov bounded,
think, $150 per scre, and to give
Them grants of their farms, and England
treated their subjects on the ceded territory in
the came way. The treaty then was made
and signed on or about the 9th of August,
were soon after Withdrawn. 1t was bloodless
war, but still many soldiers died through the
inclemency of the weather and by poor &C som-
modations which had been provided for them
just as they do in all border life and wars
Before the difficulty was settled we had Col.
Storer Rhines in command of the United
States troops. Rufus Mcintyre was our land
slipped up to Fort Kent one day and captured
him prisoner. They took him to Fredericton
jail. Mr.. Greely, who was sent by the State
authorities TO take the census of the people of
the disputed territory was also captured aud
carried off. Oh Gen. Baker, ana old Uncle
Savage aIso were captured On account OF their
loyalty to the United States. Maj. Strickland
had charge of the ''posse" when Mcintyre
was captared, and the event gave George P.
Sewall an opportunity to shoot of some
rhymes, which run something like these
'Run. Strickland. run;
Fire, Storer, fire,
Were the last words of Mcintyre"
Mai. Dickey, on Wednesday, will introduce
a resolve providing for the repurchasipg and
repairing of the old block house, which he
believes the Legislature will cheerfully appro-