Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-03-14
MAINE DISPATCHES.
SHERIFF MITCHELL
Relates His Experience in Northern
Maine

| tANSOKs 1ldftH 10.
Sheriff Mitchell of Skowhegan was givel
few days ago some papers to serve upon a
sub-contractor Of the Megantic railroad. II,
proceeded 10 Greenylle and thence thirt,
miles into the woods To the camp of the con
tractors To reporter he thus describei
his trip.
! you have no idea of the situation unles,
you have been there. Arriving at Greenvill,
| at noon took Il team and keeper, whom
attended to put in charge of the property
and then began drive thirty miles into the
woods. All along the line were camps of ey-
cry conceivable shape and style, and at work
amid the snow and timber were colored and
white men, English, Canadians, Frenchmen
Italians, Swedes Russians and in fact about
They looked tough and | was glad to have
revolver which the Greenyile people
forced me to take
About ten O'Clock at night, 1 arrived at my
camp, and here saw a scene which beggars
description. 1t was Saturday night and as
the usual installment of Canadian whiskey
had been smuggled in that day, the burly,
brutal looking crowd were in various stages
of intoxication, some drinking, others play
ing cards, while others were growing ard
settling past difficulties, all the while keep
ing up a flow of the vilest talk.
These men were dressed in red. blue, yell
low and other colors, many having on the
bright Canadian bouses; were unshaven
and dirty, and the bright but hickerng glare
of the camp fires lit up scene long to be
membered. | soon found there was trouble
in the camp and later learned that when the
whiskey came in that day the foreman Lad
undertaken TO confsicate it, and came very
near losing his life for his pains. One of
the men in whose favor the attachment was
to be made had dropped out on the road, and
all the aid had WAS the keeper, and opposed
to us was crowd who, so they declared,
didn't give d-n for all the laws in
Maine
II made known my business and then
IL
rap for the contractors. but they were oF-
posed to all law on general principles, and as
they got the idea that the teams were TO be
taken, and thus stop all work, they at first
swore that no attachment could go on, and
told me | had better git out However, |
calmed them down, agreed with about all
they said went through the forms required
bv law, and before Sunday morning was
working back to camp where there was
less Canadian whiskey and Il little more civ
ilization Here learned that two sheriifs
had undertaken the job and failed, and
thought myself extremely fortunate in get
ting ont of it SO we'll.
No | should not care to be Il keeper up
there One of the men. who was half seas
over, said he would allow the man left
there to die natural death. if he hurried up
and was quick about it but the new keeper
has nerve. and AS the teams will be kept at
work hy the ncw contractors who are TO come
in. | do not apprehend much trouble. one
thing. however should say should be
STONED, and that is the wholesale Snug
Cling of liquor in from Canada. I'tic
touch of the Maine law might be good
thing for sonie of those sub contractors who
are dealing IN it,
Mr.. Mitchell says the character of the
work being done there is grand, and that.
wheh completed, the line will be magnif-
cent one. He came down from the lake,
Monday, and with him came the Canadian
whose property had been taken, and who
will try to settle matters here.