Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-09-23
Away Down East.


BEYOND MI. DESERT TO MAcHiAs BAY.
Boston Iournall
MACHIAsrokT, ME. August, lss6. The
summer tours, who has taken passage on
the steamer City of Richmond and landed a,
Bar Harbor feels that he has reached the
goal Of Eastern travel. With look Of pity
al the stanoh steamer as it proceeds on its
way 10 NacRlasport he goes ashore and gives
himself up TO the gayety Of Bar Harbor.
or the many Who have heard the name
Machlasport few have any conception of the
varied and picturesque features OF this place
and It's surroundings.
As the boat enters Mac has Bay We ge,
the first hint Of the grand panorama Of
islands and coast seener, that has been the
birthugRt Of the quiet settlers here for so
many Years. The most romantic time for
the entrance is at sunset. The steamer
moves slowly up the golden channel, wend-
ing its way among the dark islands, which
send out sweet odors of balsam pine, as
welcome TO the weary traveller from the city as
the spice-iad-n air TO the Spanards cruising
among the islands of the new world. The
Indians called the river here "Mechisses.'
or bad place
When morning dawns the first view OF
our surroundings Is from cottage near the
top OF the so-called Meeting House Hill.
We look down on the wharves, the lumber
vessels aud the freight train from the Port
to Whuneyyille. This track Is by no means
a part of any new railroad enterprise but an
indication OF once fourishing lumber bus
iness.
On our left We can trace the windngs OF
the river I'll II is lost among the hills. On
the right is the broad bay. sparkling in The
morning sun, and on it lie peacefully Round
Island, Libby and many Others. Avery's
Light stands out prominently on one. Coves
creeks, rugged promontories, soft meadow
lands and rocky pastures lie extended in
almos, bewildering variety. Inland, strange
! boulders crop out, with round, gray contours
warmed by fringes Of rich green. Eastward
and westward run the roads to East Machias
/ and Machias. called earlier East River and
/ West Falls. Across the water, on the "Eas,
/ side of the Port" mounted on the top OF
| another hill, IS another meeting house, long
neglected and unused, and beside it the
/ burying ground. The weather-stained houses
/ stand in oldtime simplicity. Natural lawns
4 Of fresh green surround them. No Queen
| Anne buildings. with ambitious shapes and
harsh colors, disturb the soft picture.
| While we are gazing at all this beauty
! the carriage is ready 10 lake our party 10
/ Jasper Beach. A few minutes drive carries
/ US by the site of the old fort which CON-
manded the entrance TO the rivers, ,and we see
/ the remains of the barracks of the soldieri
| in l775. Looking at these relics We learn
with pleasure that the old town Of Machia,
| has had brave record in history, for these
waters witnessed the fret naval battle of the
| Revolution on the 18th of June, l775, when
the armed British schooner Margaretta was
captured by the valiant settlers. Their so-
lated position on the extreme eastern
frontier rendered their act the more daring
as they were in danger of incurring the ven.
geance Of the British, and ran the risk o
| losing supplies from the west.
! But we must push on for the long ride
ahead. Another steep hill crowned with
| larch trees rises before US. The horse stop,
and turns around to see who will tighten hi.
load. This arrangement seems to be an un.
| dertaking between horse and passengers
but the exhilarsting air makes it no hard.
ship. We turn of down narrow road or
the left TO see the pictured rocks" on the
beach at Clarks Point. Here are smooth,
shelving ledges, washed by the tide. into
which are chiseled rude figures representing
man, dog, snake, moose, crosses, etc. They
are not outlines, but the whole figure il
followed out, much smaller than life size
Old people Of the place tell how much these
curious cuttings have been worn away with.
in their memory. These markings we're OBJ
served and studied by the earliest settlers
Inquiries were made in those times of the
old Indians Of the Psssamaquoddy tribe, bul
without any satisfactory results. They had
no traditions about them.
Retraeing our steps, the road winds on.
ward among groves of fir, spruce, birch and
alder, revealing vistas of unknown beautie,
as We skirt along by the side of the water
A short drive further and we see of on ouI
left the little village of Bucks Harbor. ID
field by the roadside We pass . contem
plstive ''barefoot boy with cheek Of tan
sitting on log. In his hands he holds
miniature boat. He does not notice US, thil
young Columbus, but seems buried in thu
hopes and aspirations which the white sail
whisper to him. We ride swiftly by ant
leave him to his day dreams, which maj
become reality.