The Somerset reporter., 1891-06-04
A Day for sko"hega n.

j At the last meeting II The Board u
Trade Vice Precedent Ge9. Z Ssa1f 1
addressed the meeting and oua ned tfe
following proposition f9r GAS " H..
torical bay, which proposition IA, upJu
his motion referred to the BoA:d u Msu-
ayers
4hr. Prosal.i4, aad Gent'tmen
A. understand 1t. tho %. ect
and duty Of tbs Board Of Trade, +. 70
ring forward schemes ami devise means
which will permanently benefit our com
munity and also TO use all honorable
means in the carrying out u such schemes
If after mature elaboration, they Be
found advisable
Feeling assured that this Board has the
welfare OF this community al heart aud
knowing that any scheme presented
Will receive careful attention | without
hesitation present 10 you plan for a gaia
day for ekowhegan.
And from the fact that 10 and around
Somerset County there clusters more his
toricM events than most places IN our
state | will call tnis day Historical
Day. In all the great events that have
transpired TO make our country what Il
is Maine has performed her part, and We
are justly proud Of what she has done.
Almost every city and town can boast
of deeds of daring, by their noble som,
or can claim for l.sef the honor Of being
the very ground upon which life has been
given up that Liberty might live, and by
these sacrifices their sons became the
resurrection aud the life, which II we be-
lieve and cherish will be to us a. a nation
everlasting life, There we're events
enough In the early history OF our coun-
ty ana town To justify u in taking our
place upon the right Of the line.
In order to make the day success, II
must be carefully considered In all its de.
tails aud | would suggest that If my
scheme should meet the approval Of the
Board that we should at once call TO our
assistance and take into our counsel the
Woman's Club and Sorosi- for we must
admit to ourselves (and / would suggest
that 1t be kept secret that we could
never succeed with this undertaking with,
out their aid
had in mind August %, 1881, as the
date for this historical celebration. One
aldred and sixty seven years ago this
date one of the important events in the
history of this section occurred. His
torians have never forgotten to give 1t
place in their works, and we never for
get to rehearse the story to our visitors.
r Jer to the death Of Father Rasle, one
hun tired and slxty-seyen years ago August
1924 Allen tells us IN his history Of y n
ridgewock, that $50 men under commsnd
of Captain Hammond and Moultou were
sent To the headquarters Of this warlike
tribe which was located at Old Point.
When they approached the enemy they
divided their force, a part making cir
cult so as to enclose the village Most
of the warriors were absent, and were
not aware that death aud destruction
were about TO fall upon their wives and
children. 1t was nearly noon when the
unsuspiclous natives We're surrounded by
the English and thus surrounded on all
sides, and hemmed in as 1t were, men,
womeE and children rushed for the river
and were shot down in the water.
Orders had been given to the soldiers
that Rasle should be taken alive, but 10
their excitement they could not he re-
strained, and Immediately upon the sp.
pearance of the Priest as he came from
out the chapel door be was pierced by the
bullets Of the English. Thus fell this
aged pastor with his slaughtered flock
Whittier in his poem, Mogg Megone,
describes the scene as follows
"lhrough the chapels narrow doors.
And through each window in the walls,
Around the priest and warriors pours
The deadly shower Of + lgiish balls.
Low on his cross the Jesuit falls,
W hlle at his side the Norridgewock
With failing breath essays TO mock
Aud menace yet, the hated foe.
Shakes his scalp trophies to and fro
EXultingly before their eyes.
I'LL cleft and torn by shot and blow
Dehant-he dies.
This event marked the beginning of
the end of the French supremacy on this
continent" Now many events of a his
torical nature, which occurred in the sew
enteen hundreds will If we carry out this
scheme be brought out and will refresh
the memory of the Oldest citizens and
will inspire in the young desire to know
more of the history of the section in
which they live, and thus we hope TO
make the day interesting to the old and
instructive to the young.
Among the most Interesting of these
events is the Arnold Expedition which
passed up this river on its way to Que
bee in l1I5, and were greatly assisted by
the people of Skowhegan and Norrldge-
wock.
| think this date a favorable one for
it is well known that about this season of
the year, is the time when large numbers
of pleasure seekers are at our sea side
and mountain resorts, and who would be
only too glad To make US a visit al this
time.
Now then for the scheme First. For
one day make Skowhegan the great rail
rosd centre of the state; this think may
be done by interesting the management
of the Boston ~ Maine and Maine Cen
trail Railroads In the movement. These
managers are always ready for business
when convinced that there is dollar in
ii, anything that Will advertise their road,
or any special location along It's line, will
Immediately attract their attention. and
by bringing proper Influences to bear up
on them they can be induced to give Us
abundant railroad accommodations for
the day.
We want trains running grom Bar llar-
Dor, Bangor and Greenvile for the &C
communication Of Mount kineo people
from Portland over both upper and lower
divisions, Phillips via Pennington, from
R1ckland via Bath to accommodate the
people at the seashOte and from every
point where tourist may be found, for
we want to gather together on that day,
not the mob and rsbblc which follow the
circus or Flremeu's Muster. but peopl,
who have come from every state in the
union, men of all walks in fe, manufsct-
urers, merchants, bankers, men OF letters
and men of art, people Of leisure. and
those who, by their great abundance of
this worlds goods, are seeking place
to rest.
We want to bring Skowhegsn t o the
notice of people outside of Maine we
want to show these people what We have
for summer resort; we want them to
breath for one day our cool and invigor
atipg air.
Second. would suggest that the Ii
brary building be made an exhibition
! building where relies of the past or that
have any bearing upon the events which
have already mentioned shall be on eX-
/ hibition.
Third. l should issue special invita-
tons to the prominent men of the coun-
try to be present at that time. James
q. Blaine who would represent the gov
er, ment President Elliott of Harvard.
who would represent the institutions of
Educ alton; Rev. De Witt Talmage Rev,
/ Inllllps BroOks ana otneT ulFlnes Wnolu
the committee who have it in charge NAV
select; also the Governor and his stan
who will represent the civil and military
of the State, Commander Miller and his
staff, Commander of the State Depart
ment G. A. X. &c. &C.
Fourth. would give banquet to all
of these invited guests. and such ban.
quet as only Skowhegan can give, not of
thu modern sort hut tables loaded iDWp
with yisnds of ye olden times.