The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-03-26

THE STORY OF AN EARLY SETTLER OF MT
DESERT,

THE STORY OF AN EARLY SETTLER OF Mt
DESERT.
1t is very interesting, writes Sea
Harbor correspondent of the Mt. Desert
Herald, to go to the Seaside House anG
have chat with Mr. James Clement, OF
as he is Familiarity called, " Uncle jim
N.Y." and hear him tell the history of this
place and some of his adventures and eX-
perlences on the sea.
Uncle Jimmie was born on Dram Point,
Bucksport, opposite Winterport, in the
year 1901. His father being a cooper,
he moved to OldtoWn for the purpose OF
making shad barrels. That failing, in a
few years they packed all their worldly
possessions in small boat and came
here to carry on the coopering business
for Capt. Hadlock, of Cranberry Isles.
They landed on the west side Of this
harbor at what is now called Smallidge'S
Beach: drove down two crotched stakes
and laid on poles and bark, and before
dark had fair temporary shelter After
a while they bought out the hetterments
of one Roberts, and made permanent
residence near where the Seal IIarbOr
House now stands. Here they built
cooper shops and made barrels and raft
ed them over to Cranberry Isles, The
boys, Of which Uncle Jimmie was the
eldest, were now old enough to work il
the shop, and 90 after hoop poles.
Jones Cove, in Gouldsboro, was at that
time a good place to get poles and they
used to go there in the boat for them
On one trip they got as far as Bar IIarbol
on their return and had to lay by on ac-
count of Il head wind. The houses at
that time were few and far between and
entire village. The food at the house
where they found shelter consisted Of
fresh paddock boiled in milk, and that
was the best that could be Lad.
When the people Of this part Of the
island got any corn they had to 90 tC
Jones Cove to get it ground. AS fol
flour they could not get it-or not more
than one barrel a year.
In course of time the boys, James anC
Jacob, took to going fishing. James went
to he Magdalen Islands in the first YES
sci that went there for herring to smoke
He went with Capt. Thomas Stanley d
Cranberry Isles. The neXt Year he went
in a small vessel of his own called the
Golden Rule of thirty seven and eighty
seven nine-titths tons, loaded her decks
to the water and came home all right
He made the first dip-net that was ever
used at the Magdalen Islands to dip her
rings out Of the seine, every other mel
being small scoop-met
They now bought another small vesse
and went to the EBAY" With both. They
carried a smoke house and built if there
and smoked it full of herring, comin4
home in the fall with both vessels loaded
with dry fish and smoked herring. Whel
they settled up in the fail they had five
hundred dollars apiece clear of expenses
The earliest Mr. Clement ever got t
the Magdalens' was the seventh day OF
May. On that occasion he could not gel
into the harbor for ice, and anchored
about one-halt mile from the shore, Clost
to the Ice. soon he saw three men SLOWLY
making their way across the ice towards
the vessel dragging a log canoe Will
them. They proved to be a Frcnchmal
(Simeon ShvaIee by name) and his two
sons, old acquaintance. They were
about starved out and had had to resort
70 eating boiled r0ckwced and seal. One
of the family had laid down to die. Thai
morning Simeon went up on the higl
hill and kneeled to the cross. When he
got through his devotlons he looked
away towards the Strait of Canso when
10, he beheld the "Golden Rule" with the
stars and stripes flying, coming toward,
him. With what high hopes he hasteneC
to tell the news, let US imagine. Whel
the captain told the cook to serve then
dinner, although it Was Friday and they
We're Catholics, pork and beans tasteC
Just as good as or any other day. The
Golden Rule" went to the bay for sever
summers in succession.
Mr., Clement long since retired from
the sea, and is now enjoying the quiet D
home in his old age.
Capt. Clement is the father Of Mir. A
Clement of Belfast.