The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-08-04

now SOdDQS tu6 Hit ICSlttCiiCts VI OdpUclll
AS one would expect, and in harmony
with those days, few rods away in a
field by the roadside.
"The rude forefathers of the hamlet
sleep"
This is solemn yet, interesting spot.
and we enter the little gate with careful
and reverent steps. The grass reaches
above the low, very old-fashioned slate
gravestones embellished with the conven-
tional skull and cross bones of the seven
teenth century, followed by Here lies ye
body" We bend down the grass and
with much difficulty make out some of
the Inscriptions and dates: Deacon Jo-
seph Whitehall, died 173s; Captain Peter
Ware in 1743; James Parker in 1872; Con-
tent Ware in 1887: Dear John White in
1747; Sylvanul White. son OF Deacon
John White, in 1745.
On the double stone of Peter ana DaV1d
Ware are the following lines, the only
snecinen of verse or motto in the GEM
etery:
Behold and see as you pass by
AS YOU are now so once were we
Prenare to meet what we have past
Then YOU may dwell with us at last.
YARMOUTH'S NOTED SCOUT,
"Jo Wyer," so-called, (although his
name was Ware undou btedly, and related
to Peter, David and Content Ware) is
said to be buried here. A diligent seal oh
reveals grave decorated by the G. A. K.
this year with a wreath, containing q
card on which was written, Joseph
Ware, the Scout The headstone to this
grave is broken and the lettering oblIt-
Grated, so it is impossible to determine
who..was inferred here. His history Is
mostly lengendary He no doubt did
eminent service in Indian warfare and
however, to believe the attenuated yarn
that he caught six Indians in log he
was splitting for rails, by knocking
out the wedge, letting it Shut on their
hands after he had cajoled them into
putting their fingers into the crack to
pull the log apart. We gather a wild
rose from the grave of the hero OF Wes-
custego, and regret that a fitting and en-
during tablet has not been erected to his
memory.
The river just below the lower falls
widens into commodious roadstead for
about one and one-half miles before it
looses it's identity in Casco bay. About
mile below the falls on the west side
near the river on high ground stands the
remains Of the garrison house, built prob
ably in 1714 when war broke out affesh
between France and England and the
allies of the former, the Indians--put on
warpaint and sharpened the tomahawk.
In Rev. Mr.. Smiths journal these words
occur:
MAY I'd, 1774, people are at work at
North Yarmouth and this town (Fal-
Not very full meeting, people fearing
to Gomez 1t is two-story frame build
ing strong timbered, substantially in
appearance to the garrison house at
York built about 1915. Its once mann
moth chimney has fallen with large
part of the roof, windows and doors are
gone, floors broken up, ruin past recov-
ery: it will soon be entirely gone. Its
too bad the town has let such land
mark in it's history perish.
There is story that there was secret
underground passage leading from the
cellar to the river. Certainly the condl-
lions for such tunnel are apparent at
glance, the house being but few
rods from the river whose bank here
is very high To make such a subter-
%anian way wouldnot involve great labor
and in the event of the inmates not being
able to defend themselves against an
attack, it would afford the means of es-
cape to a,boat. By crossing the river they
might have reached the upper garrison
on the east side, mile above. | like to
believe the way is there, because there
might have circumvented the Indians as
a last resort.
At little distance, two long rows of
majestic elms line what was one the
highway leading to Falmouth, not a
trace of which now is seen, neither any
other road in the vicinity. Their mann
moth branches interlock and embower
the one-time way and could they speak
would say, we're a entury old. They,
like the old cr11lnbling garrison house
standing solitary ..and alone near the
mouth Of picturesque Wescustego, are
reminders of the dreadful perils our
forefathers passed through, and the dan
gers braved that their children might
have home and a country. The old
garrison has witnessed the setting sun of
the redman, who once had for a posses
sion all of beautiful Wescustego. He
could not abide the intelligence that in
vaded his primeval forest home. The
survival of the fttest obtains Poca-
hontas, who in the legend averted from
the head of the white man the blow
which, rebounding, swpet away her father
and all his tribe. WIWURNA.