The Republican journal., 1885-05-21
The Traditions of the Elders.

been in print. | will begin with the Massa-
| ere of Indians in BrooksvilIe. AS the story
was received from three independent sources
and they all agree in essentials. 1 believe it to
be substantially correct.
That beautiful body of water, between
Brooksville on the West and Sedgwick on the
East, now known as Walkers Pond, formerly
Gray's Pond, and by the Indians as Winneway,
and which by Interpretation is the Beautiful
Water Place, is somewhat over two miles in
length by about three fourths of mile in
breadth and of an average depth of twelve feet
The waters, clear as crystal are cool and limpid,
abouDding in fish of mqny kinds, and of old In
countless tlocks of ducks, wild geese and other
water fowl that bred upon its grassy and flower
decked banks. Near the outlet, which is the
southern branch of the Bagaduce river, was
once tiourshing Indian village of the Tara
tines. The fertile soil produced AN abundant
supply of maize and beans, the neighboring
woods abouuded in moose, deer, bear and other
game, making this ii happy hunting ground and
II veritable paradis for the hunters of the tribe
They enjoyed all the uXuries that savage life
afforded.
The Jesuits had tablishpd Il mission here
and the natives had embraced the religion of
Rome and We're its deyotees and faithful
followers. The fact that they were Catholic,
made them obnoxious to the Puritans of Massa-
chusetts, and in their dealing with the Indians
they did not stop to consider whether they
were guilty or not guilty but slaughtered ill.,
discriminatory friend and foe. Possessed of
this feeling Capt. Cargill did not make any
distinctions or show any mercy. As the story
runs, while cruising in the vicinity of Owls
head Cargill surprised and captured young
Sanup belonging to this settlement at Winnie
way, and by the torture of fire prevailed on
him to act as guide 10 the village of his people,
The English landed at Bucks harbor in the
evening, had a four mile march over rocky
hills and through tangled swamps, and arrived
at the Indian village ust at day break. To be-
gin his cruel work he first cut the throat of
his people and give them an opportunity to
escape, or perhaps make successful resistance
The village was on nearly level piece of
ground between the pond and semicircular
range Of hills on the west and north. The
Indians had just risen and We're preparing the
morning meal The surprise was complete
Before they We're aware of the approach of IL
relentless enemy, the discharge of two hundred
muskets carried death and dismay to every
WIgwam. No resistance was made. Cargill
and his men rushed on and with knife and
bayonet finished what the rifle had failed to do
Five hundred Indians lay weItering in their
blood. Not pale face was hurt. As the
whites tell the story, only five escaped in IA Ca
noe across to the east side of the pond and hid
themselves in the almost inaccessible hilIs-the
French Priest, an old >quaw and three pap
poo>eS The Indians say that more than fit,
escaped and joined their friends at OIdtown.
The late Shadrack Black, OF SedgWick. claim
ed that his great grand father, who settled Mas
keag in 1863 was lieutenant under Cargill and
was one who with his knife cut the thloats of
the defenseess ones a they piteously begged
for mercy.
When Mr.. Gray built the mills at the outlet
of the pond about l79O hc employed mill
wright from Massachusetts, who said he recog-
niZeti the place as one where he as a private
took a part in the slaughter. About 100 Il
widow Grindal settled here and she selected
the battle ground as her garden spot She hat
cd Indians and was accustomed to spuIn their
bones with her foot and pile them under the
bank until She had heap a, large a> IA hay stack
Many relies are found even to this day y->kee-
ions, stone arrow heads, hatchcts, etc.
We suppose that this event took place in loo
as in that year Carsi was commissioned to Kilt,
burn and destroy the Northern Indians and it
Is recorded that Cargil did Kill friendly Indians
and was arrested and Kept in prison two ear,
but no one appearing against him WAS relpas-
ed. The name of the Indian guide who was
compelled by the torture to btray his pc oIde
WAS gemoggin now applied to that dy of
water between Deer Isle and Sedgwirk. When
the writer was small boy he visited The
place III com pany with Mr.. Levi GRAY then "a
gentleman of more than three scoIr and ten
years. who showed u> stone which he said
was the corner stone of the Catholic chapel.
O>ah. the >quaw, was noted for her unchang-
ing love for the pale face and her equally strong
love of the PALE faces fire water When Gen.
GoIdthwait had command of Fort Pownall he
was the governments agent to pay the Indian
their annuitie>. Whelhtr justly or not we 'illl-
not say, but they believed that the General
cheated th III in the quantity aud quality Of
goods intended tor their use and determined 10
he avenged on him. OF this O,ah became
awaie and informed GoldhWail. The nrNj
time the Indians came he admitted tUtm To the
Fort one AZ a time di>arming them as thrl
came in. After all were IN, dl>armrd and
bound, he told them that he knew of their evil
intentions aud thai the Great Spirit had told
him in i DREAM l'hunder>truck they remain
ed silent for some time but at last v"ntured to
ask, who ,peak:' He again asserted lha h.
had his Information from the Great Spirit.
They answer. Ii "Great Spirit no speak to pale
face. 1t is O>ah who ta> told This" After up
braiding them for their treachery the General
dismissed them without punishment. TO rt-
venge Themselves they found poor Old O-ah
and knowing her weakness for occupee gave
her much She became dead drunk, then laid
her in IA canoe and SET her adritl without sail OF
pande Alas for O-ah. she died in the canoe.
Mr. John Lee happened to be out fishing near
the lower end of Verona and found aud recog-
nized her Out OF pity he said. "Well, poor
old Osah, 1t is all over with you; come down to
my .hore aud viii bury YOU
Though it was flood idle and strong South
wind blowing when Mr.. Lee returned some
foul miles below, there She WAS waiting for ner
burial. He gave ner Il decent burial near the
shore on the farm now owned and occupied by
Mr. Ayeriil Heath. For her many good deeds
we think Osuh', name should be ptrpetuated.
She taught the early settlers the native plants
and their use. showed them where the best
fishing places Were, nursed the little white
babies and made herself useful III huldred
different WAYS. In return she was ALWAYS wei
come in the cabins of the whites to a share of
the food dnd blanket by the fire. Strong
drink killed her, as ii has many one since.
HOSEA b. WARDwELI.,
s Mr.. Morgan, recently appointed t. S. Consul
General TO Melbourne. is a brother-in-aw of
the editor of the Charleston, 5. g., News and
Courier, and appointed on the personal
solicitation of the latter. The New York Her
aid having referred to Mr.. Morgan, and other
Presidential appoinees, as ineligible, the News
and Courier came to Morgans defence as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Morgan was an acting midshipman for
year or less in 1860, resigned the appointment
and entered the Confederate service, but he is
amendment, which amendment debars from
of the United States" b wing taken IAN oath to
engaged in ''nsurrection OF rebellion against
the same" Mr.. Morgan was merely an acting
mid>hipman, and was not an "oficer," nor did
he, in any capacity, take an oath to support the
constitution. Such an oath was not required at
the time he was at Annapolis. and was not re-
quired, we believe, until the Naval Academy
was removed to Newport. Mr.. Morgan is not
touched by the amendment, for he was not an
a irpra an "A q he oath