The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-02-13
Capt. John S smith.


VI. II Milan e Ge7e.se, SeA.
Very little indeed j. known for q Ger
tainty by present day mortal in relation
" the noble race Of abOrigines vino once
Inhabited the beautiful valleys Of the Ken
nebec river and Cobbosee stream. We
say noble race, for they we're Ia every
way superior, intellectually aud physical
ly " their brothers South and North
Of the great and powerful tribe Of Ken
nebecs, who inhabited all the land from
New Hampshire ~ the PenoDscot river,
not one single defendant now remains
Such is the Irony Of fate where once
their wigwaDs nestled now sits the busy
mill Of the white man aud the shrek Of
the locomotive I. heard through these do
mains. This tribe was presided over by
a great chief called I3ashaba. who resid-
ed on Swan Island, near what l. now
Richmond, aud 70 him all the different
Clans Of the Tribe Of AbenakiBs Of which
the hennebecs were one, submitted all
their differences for arbitration.
OF all the many powerful branches Of
this powerful race. none were more pow
erful than the Cabassas, OF whom We
have more particularly ~ deal, and VINO
Inhabited the valley OF the Csobasss, or
+ Cobbossee-contee stream, from it, source
TO its mouth. They were presided over
By chief known a. CabDassa, and who
had daughter named Sebois who was
famed among her tribe for her beauty
and grace.
Capt. John Smith, Of Pocahonta- fame.
experienced an adventure commencing
at the mouth Of the CoboOssee. slmo-, as
thrilling a. that With the Virginia maid
en- Capt Smith was the first white man
10 visit the kenne5ec river and a. the
time this trip was made 1913, he and hi
companions were received with great
cordially by the soorgines Of this yicini-
ty. in fact he was treated with royal hon
ors, given the best TO eat aud the best Of
everything. In fact before he left the
vicinity Of what is now Gardner be was
given rather more than was intended By
the Indians
Seboi-. the chiefs beautiful daughter
was Immediately SIN tten with the gallant
and handsome captain, and in the manner
OF the maidens Of her tribe sppropr ated
hiul a. hers and hers alone. To tell the
truth. the captain was not aware Of the
intentions upon his person. for be could
talk no Indian and she could not speak
English, and he supposed her overtures
were made merely in the spirit that
prompted those from the Steiner sex aud
were for his comfort and ease Of mind.
He and his party Of brave explorers soon
departed. with many regrets. but it seems
that one of his lieutenauts not satisfied
with the hospitality extended the party Of
white men, unbeknown TO Capt. Smith.
! kidnapped several of the Indians and
made slaves of them. His party went 10
one direction, up the keuuebec, aud Capt
Smith with larger party. started east.
following the Worramontogus stream.
They camped that evening about four
miles from the river. and the fires had
t just been kindled when Sebois appeared
before Capt. Smith. making wild gesticu-
lations wholly uuintelligible TO the Eng
lishmen. They were not kept long in
suspense, for soon there appeared upon
the scene q large party of Cabbsssa IT,
dams in full war dress and prepared to at
tacs the Englishmen They were led BY
:'asSassa Iiinseif - do possibly Gid not see
his daughter. but be that a. il may h.
gave the order to open tire ard a. he did
so fifty or more bows twanged and fifty
arrows sped on their deadly mission.
The party Of Englshmen dropped upon
the ground as the missiels departed from
the bows, and thus saved much slsugh-
ter.
bul Tue beautiful SCHOOLS thinking OF
nothing but saving the life of the man
she loved fed with wild cry. before the
Captain and received in her breast the al
row intended for her beloved the noble
Capt. John Smith. When the father saw
the destruction he had wrought his hand
was palsied and his tongue almost refu>-
to work, but as Schools, not quite dead
as yet. beckoned to him. he ordered his
warriors to lay down their arms No.
body knows the exact words the dsugh-
ter spake to her father. but they were
without doubt bit of adv &C to him. that
the Captain was not to blame for the
stealing of his men. But be that a. il
may no further violence was offered the
Englishmep, and Schools with gesture
to Capt. Smith. brought him to her side
where he remained to her death. a few
moments later. She died no doubt as she
would have liked, in the arms of the man
she loved and whose life she had given
hers to save. At that moment John
Smith was shown the cause of her solicit
atoms in his behalf, he knew that Schools
loved him and he was sorely grieved not
that he loved her In return, no; but that
such a lovely and lovesble noble and
self-sacriticing being should have come
to such an untinely end. and by her own
people through love of N.
He and his party went their way. while
the grieved parent returned to his home
with the lifeless form of his beloved of,
spring; but he did not rest there. The
dead was burned in the tribe, burial
ground, near where the Randolph Metho
dist Church now sets, and Caha>ss. with
his ar party, Immediately started after
the party who was really guilty of the
grave charge of kidnapping his subjects,
the search for whom had cost Csbsssa a
jewel almost as dear as his own life
The lieutensnt's name was Thomas Hunt
and was found by Cabsssa and his braves
near Norridgewock, where the Indians
fell upon the white men, nesrlv obliegs
ting the party, only three escaping. This
little ndiscretiOn of Hunts male the set
tlement of this portion of Maine more
difficult for while the Indians were We'll
disposed to white men before. they were
after that very bitter in their hatred of
the white race.
The devotion of the beautiful Schools
was always kept green in the memory of
John Smith, and though in after years he
received many fayor> at the hands of In
dians of both sexes, none were remem-
bered with more feeling than this one,
received Way down in Maine"
Anew Town in Maine.
In the northern part of Franklin Couu-
ty, Me, there is a small border town
properly designated upon the map a.
To IN. ~ M : tti . h..a a