Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-10
A STRANGE STORY
Brought by a Dog from Seven
Islands Plantation.
Note Tied to Collar Says People Are
Dying from Small Pox.
Expedition Fitting Out at Jackman to Invesii-
gale the Matte.

watervillc. May 9.-tspeciaD.-A story
comes to the Journal from far-away
northern Somerset. that. If founded upon
fact. is highly sensational. The story
has it that last Friday morning, when
Landlord Joshua Hilton of "Hilton's,'
near the Canada line, went to his front
door at an early hour. he found a half
starved dog lying on the piazza.
Attached to the dogs collar was piece
Of oiicloth such as is worn nowadays by
river drivers. This was rolled up and
tied to the leather strap about the dogs
neck Inside the ron of oicloth was
found piece of a paper bag. crumpled
and soiled with oil or grease. and on
which was rudely printed in ink. or
painted. the following:
''Sefen Hons is Al Din rs Folk is Six
Smallpox AL six Foloe Dog. Jony Wood
Landlord Hilton stood astounded, but
soon reused the house and all began to
study out the thing. The dog was not
recognized. but the named. evidently
that of johnny Wood" a half-breed
Indian, was recalled. the owner having
visited Hiltons on several occasions.
Mr.. Hilton figured ii out that the set
Element known as Seven Islands was
stricken with smallpox and that Johnny
Wood had written the message and sent
The dog out to some settlement.
When the Journals informant left
Iackman. Saturday. preparations were
being made To start an expedition from
Hilton's up the Canada road into Canada
As far north as Ashburton and then to
proceed east to Seven Islands in Aroos-
took county to relieve the settlement
Seven Islands settlement is properly
Township 10 of Range Is in western
ArOostook county, and about II miles
from the Canada line. The settlement
takes its name from a lake containing
seven islands and named Lake of Seven
Islands. The lake is but the broadening
Of the Wooiastook or st. John river, and
extends into Township 49, Range II.
The nearest settlement in Maine is
Winterville in Aroostook county. Go
niles distant. The next nearest is Sc
hoom0ok at the northern extremity of
Moosehcad lake. and in Somerset county.
o miles away AsEburton in Canada is
out 30 miles off. but Hlton's in Somerset
county. and on the Canada road" so
called is over so miles distant from Seven
Islands.
Around about that section and between
the points mentioned there is nothing
but the virgin forest. Tho country is cut
up by the tributaries of the St John and
the western feeders of the Allegash
rivers.
nat puzzles the writer who has Wis
tied that section. is why the dog should
have happened to go to Hilton's. II is
reasonable to suppose that the people of
Seven Islands have done all their busi-
ness With tle stores at ASnDurton IN III
NADIA. the nearest settlement by % miles.
and it is also reasonable to suppose that
the dog must have at some time visited
Ashburton.
Strange that, if such is the case. the
dog should have gone out to Hilton's
This feature of the case looks a bit
shady. and some believe that it is all a
Joke. If it is joke. the perpetrator is
a rare practical joker. for it will be no
fun for people to climb hills and wind
falls wade streams and swamps to reach
what they believe to be a characterization
settlement.
No one about Jackman knows of any
Continued on rage %