Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-11-27
GREAT DESTITUTI0N
SAID 10 Prevail on Some Of Our Sea
Shore Islands.
People Unable to Get Xak, and Actually in Z
sase'ire eondiiisn.

PORTLAND. Nov 2s.--At a Protestant
church ia III, city laat Sunday evening the
pastor called upon the people for aid to
help a worthy caa.e. He stated that on
one Of the islanis in cur own Casco bay
the suffering and destituton OF rs in-
h4bitaat, was alarming This fact he had
BAT very recently learned from parties who
hal visited the scene. There was no means
Of employ ment on the island; the fall had
arrived; the people were in Trrtched con-
dition ef affairs. Thu. state OF things had
so far advanced that among some there
y sFe no ci thes - wes-, and ii few, even,
couli ot ly fni s1u Old bfgs, in which
&c Zee had been carried, 10 wear. The
pastor closed By an appeal To the members
If his congregati,n - supply whatever
wesriag apparel they couN.
Many of the audit rs ia the congregation
we're surprised that there was such case
in the Vi unity of this city. Considerable
talk ~as made ard II vas for this purpose
that the reporter set OUT 10 Investigate.
Rev. Francis Southworth has for many
wears done missionary work in this CRY.
H has raid special attention - the -ea-
faring people, vi ho sre represented By 80
gr. at numbers at III port AMI along the
coast.
Capt. Lane of the small Schooner The
Ai.rt i also \ worker iu the missionary
field along the coast. He is veteran Of
the ssr and tor long time has carried to
the islanders clothing AMI other nee, ssary
artici,s.
The information that was given in the
uptown church on Sunday eveuiag was OBJ
taln2d from these tSo workers in the mis-
.ionary field.
Rev Mr.. Southworth arrived here Satur-
day. H. said
II have visited these islands down the
blv ard must say hsve found a terrible
condition of affairs sail the aged
missionqrv. The stands are some
30 miles down the harbor, in
the near vicinity OF Ifarp.wel!. Great isl.
ana, r Curiy's harbor, and the Yarmouth
islands are the ones whose iqhstiiants are
very destitute" Mr. Southworth says that
there i. great deal of need of the articles
of life he public at large have no idea
of the condition of affairs among these peo-
pie There are a f-w schools but there IS
much Iliteracy prevalent.
II think that these men aui women have
been growing poorer and poorer every year
for the past %, continued Mr.. Southworth.
Years ago the people along the coast of
Maiae used to make the most ships and do
the greatest business in that line Of any
State in the Urion; in fact more than all
the other states put together. In the time
of the var tbi, was especially the case, snh
the ship carpenters of that period,
many of them, became rich from
the profits. Then there was the in
meusl West India trade in shook
and molasses which gave employment to
very large number of these people, There
was more molasses shipped iato this port
than any other town On the whole coast
net excepting exen New York. f4u know
how this business has decreased each year,
and this of course has wrought havoc With
the trade an means of support of so many.
Il seems to me however, thst the tide must
soon turn aud better times follow.
The men and boys car fad any work
and the condition is not ei gEeratei at ALL
The oil Ter ones are unable 10 read and when
strangers visit the islands the people be-
come suspicious, and are prcjudiced against
outsiders. Some however, are inter sted
in religion. matters, and Mt. Sou'hwor!h
sail that he had an Interested c ngregstion
among them.
Mr. Souiheorth SAYS that there ls one
thing which he considers does more harm
than good to these i,laud'r RS These are TIE
summer visitors that come to the vicinity
of the placc N the summer. The iahsli-
tants are looked down upon ard learn bad
WAYS 90 that many tf them get u be indo-
lent and viii impose upon = opie who try
to relieve their condition. There iss hoy
who g,as hv Christian nlmr onlF. No
onp know : hi4 last name, and nothing il
known OF his history. Mr.. Southrorth
SAYS that the publ should at once realize
the condition 0f these unfortnuatas.
Not only i, this the s'atr of saAirs near
Harp.welt, but the sans extends al a'on2
the coa,t aud b yoad the kennebee river