Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-11-04
For the Ellsworth American
Reeds Pond.

NJ. Editor:
ln my article Of the 18th inst. promised
to give some further recolections of Reed :
Pond "reminiscences Of years long ago.
The cave. mentioned in my former article, is
situated about one fourth Of a mile from the
north side of the main pond. and nearly
north from Black Island. l, is in the west
side Of perpendicular ledge, abou, twenty
FIVE or thirty feet high ; the other three sides
dtsce.d gradually. | used to think il re-
sembied a tomb. The entrance TO the cave
Is abou, ten feet square. Inside, the cave
is about twenty feet wide and thirty feet
long the walls are from twelve TO fifteen
feet high. There are several assures in the
sides, which were always inhabited by large
numbers Of porcupines also there was q
crevice near the bottom of the cave, on the
eastern side, opening abou, two feet, the
whole length Of the cave; this crevice de-
scended, on an acute angle, 10 what distance
never knew. With other young men
have cut poles and run them down the crew
ice twenty feet and more Often We would
FIRE guns into the opening and the report
could be heard al broken ledge near the
pond. as plainly as at the entrance Of the
cave; the report would come rumbling along
and continue TO echo for some time. In my
youthful days with other boys and Young
men. we used to 60 to the cave and some
would remain at the pond TO hear the guns
that others fred into the crevice; We called
j, making earthquakes.
About sixty-tve or seventy years ago
there vas an individual travelling through
the country. He said he had a special call
TO preach and prophecy; and he warned the
people that on certain day there would be
violent storm Of hail, pieces Of ice falling
that would weigh from ten TO 6hy pounds.
and that a large portion Of the people and
cattle on this continent would be killed. and
their buildings crushed to pieces. Many
people believed this addie headed lunsiic
and stopped all business and prepared for
the shock. The day fixed for the storm sas
the FRS, day Of October.
My father had FIVE men at work for him
in the mills; and several canoes and one
boat IN the pond. The night before the ex
pected storm. the mill crew, the boat and
two Of his canoes disappeared, and the next
day he learned that the mill crew and three
families had taken the boats and had gone
up the pond and taken possession of the por
cupne den. (as the cave vas always called.)
The, believed they would be safe in the cave
from the storm of hail stones. and remained
there ,ao days and nights, spending their
time killing skinning and cooking porcu-
pines. and holding prayer meetings. Their
company consisted Of sixteen persons, men,
women and children. On their return, they
all looked very weary and sheepish, and
some Of the women and children were sick
and had to be lifted from the bost and car
ned 10 their homes.
will give bear story as have heard il
frequently told by Joy and Jellison, in which
Black 10 was the hero. When Joy and
Jellison were hunting on the pond, they
would frequently stop with Scott. sometimes
for several days. Scott never hunted larger
game than ducks and geese, and our two
hunter. alwavs kept bin well supplied with
venison when they we're on the pond. Bears
were very plentiful and were seen most any
DAY swimming 10 and from the islands,
where they feasted on huckleberries and
bueberries, which grew in abundance along
the banks Of the islands. 10 was very anx-
ious to attack bear in the water, and after
bis encounter with the bear in Joys pasture,
he always carried the knife, rather dirk,
be fought the sharks with, and brought
with him from Demerara. The blade Of this
dirk was thirteen or fourteen inches long
with sharp edge on both sides. 10 kept II
polished and carried it in sheath fastened
to belt he wore around his waist. This
dirk was few years since in the possession
Of granddaughter of Benjamin Joy. over
eighty years Of age residing in Ohio.
One day while they we're with Scott they
saw bear swimming for Black Island. 10
w,s the first in the boat to pursue the bear,
and begged of Joy to let him fight the AMI
NAL. He stripped off his clothing and they
were soon alongside Of bruin and Jo
plunged, head-foremost into the water with
his knife in his teeth, and in a moment the
bear gave one hideous yell and turned over
on his side. At the same moment 10 arose
to the surface, about ten feet on the opposite
| side of the bear, from where he went down.
and remained upright, treading water with
his feet. The bear was perfectly still and
the water around him colored with blood.
10 sung out, "Hollo, Massa Joy. l guess
he tink de debbel has broke loose 'mong de
folks under de water
! The bear was dead. Jo swan to him,
| took hold of his ears and called for them to
toss him line, saying: "Massa Joy, we'll
take dis chile in tow, for de swim is all out
of him. The bear was soon landed on the
beach. Scott asked 10 if he was afraid OF
the bear when in the water. "Oh. no." 10
replied, "Pd rather fight two bears in the
water than one shark, for bears do not swim
under water" When the bear was skinned
it was found that when 10 arose under him
in the water he had passed the knife twice
through his vitals. Joy said that Jo killed
several bears in the same way the next
year.
will now give one more of the bear
stories as told by these old hunters, in their
language. They had q camp near Mountain
Pond, which was one of their best places for
trapping small game. One fall. while hunt
ing on this pond, they killed large deer.
and in the morning they put the CARCASS in
their camp to keep it away from Wild ami
mails, as they intended to be away al day,
looking after their traps. They returned
| late in the afternoon and were much sur