Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-03-25

I entre


"Matnicus Island has been the Scene Of
some very exciting occurrences. The ven
erable Reuben Carver Of Nna,hayen. was
the speaker, say, the RockiaHd Corier-
Gdzetts. My mother was Hannah Hall,
grand daughter Of Ehen Hall, who was Kill
ed on that island b, the Indians many years
ago. Mr.. Hall was the only resident Of the
Island al the time. lie had a wife, Two
daughters and two sons, the Younger being
fourteen years and the older eighteen. Mr.
Hall had been on "A trip to Portland, and on
his return was told b, his wife that Indians
had been proving around in the vicinity.
The older son, EbeneZer. was away fishing
at the time The night OF Mr. Halls arrival
from Portland the Indians made their ap-
pearance on the Island and camped near the
house, evidently with the purpose Of laying
siege to IT, Hall told his wife that he
would 20 GU, and shoot them, hoping that
he might kill enough with his two guns to
scare the rest away, but She, IN her terror,
dssuaded him from so doing, which IN all
probability would have been his wse.,
course
The Indians next day began the siege in
earnest, throwing fire brands upon the house
to set il on fire, and in other wa,s endeasor-
ing to make the courageous Islander surren-
der. For several days the siege continued,
each party waiting for chance to shoot at
the enemy One day as Mr.. Hall was stand
ing near the door parleying, shot from one
of the Indians ,ing in ambush passed
through the door killing him Instantly.
Mrs. Hall then in her grief and terror threw
open the door and cried for quarters and
the Indians entered and carried them
all off, with the exception Of the boy who
escaped through the window and hid IN
swamp.
..Mother and daughters were taken on
board Mr. Halls schooner which was an
chored in the harbor, passing within rod
of the hidden boy as they were led off. In
the schooner they were taken up the Pen
obscot to what Is now Bangor. From there
they were led through the wilderness toward
Canada. After journey OF few days the
mother was separated from her da ghters,
never TO see them again. She, herself, was
taken to Quebec, was sent from there to
France, was ransomed and came to New
York, proceeding thence to Old York, near
er kIttery. where she was born, and where
she spent in mourning the remainder Of her
DAYS
The boy who was left on the Island stay
ed there for week subslsting on milk from
the family COW, which the Indians fortunate
ly overlooked in their hurry TO escape. He
spent his time watching for vessels. once
padding out to sea in his endeavors to reach
a vessel some miles off, but failed in the at
tempt. He at last succeeded in attracting
the attention of vessel, which proved to be
Camden craft. commanded by Captain
Thorndike. Capt. Thorndke came ashore.
helped the hoy bury his father and took him
away. When he grew up he married and
settled on Green Island Some years after
he settled there he saw party of Indians
encamped on one Of the islands, with whom
was a white woman. After he left them it
occurred TO him that the white woman might
be one of his lost sisters, and the more he
thought of it the deeper the conviction be-
came that one of bis sisters was near by.
He again sought the Indians, but the white
woman had disappeared.
'The older sen, who was away fishing at
the time of the tragedy, afterwards settled
on Matinicus, cleared up large tarm and
raised a large family who all grew up to
womanhood and manhood. The fate of the
two sisters always remained a mystery. In
all probability they were adopted by some
dusky chief and finally became the bride of
some dark-skinned warrior. Be that as it
may they disappeared forever"