The Republican journal., 1897-07-29
That Indians Head.

When The Journal published week or
| two ago modest local in relation to a
| shadow picture on the wall OF q building
| there were scoffers and doubters, and an
up-river contemporary assailed the quality
of the beverage sold here. As to that we do
not profess to be an authority, but no doubt
our Queen City contemporary can tell how
it compares with the liquid damnation dis
pensed in Bangor. The shadow picture is
however, reality, if the word may be used
with reference to anything so un-substan-
tlal; and may be seen on any dark night af-
ter the electric lights are on, from Moody's
corner. The New York Herald has given
the portrait the following write up:
The mystery of an extraordinary appari-
tion that is puzzling Belfast, Me-, bids fair
to remain mystery for some time, as all
attempts that have been made to solve it
during the last week have been fruitless.
A few evenings ago pedestrians on Main
street who happened to look aloft at the
brick end wall of Odd Fellows block noticed
peculiar spectacle. On the end of the
block W. c. Tuttle, a photographer, has
painted with white considerable area in
order to improve his studio light. At night
the electric arc lamps i'll the neighborhood
throw strong light on this white area. One
cNcuiuS ldsl week person VINO Was passing
down the street was astonished to observe
the outlines of a gigantic human head
squareiy IN the centre Of the white area on
the wall. In a short time a large throng
had collected TO view the apparition. The
outlines We're strongly marked, limned as
with lambent flame, and the wavering of
the electric light gave the features constant
~ varying expressions Now the lines were
dark, now light on them, as though a wiz
ard We're at work with magic brush: out
would flash yet more vivid portraiture of
mighty face.
The features We're markedly those of an
Indian. So plainly is the face shown that
the strong aboriginal ineaments can be dis
tlnctly traced. There are the high cheek
bones, the broad, straight mouth and the
square chm of the Micmac or Penobscot
tribe. Moreover, upon the head is shown
the repre- sentation of a feather dress, such
as local antiquarians declare the old time
chiefs of ancient Pentagoet wore into hattle
Especially fascinating is it to watch the
varying expressions that pass over these
strangely pictured features on the dead wall.
Now the huge Indian face smiles blandly,
now scowls with shuddering ferocity that
slowly transforms itself to frown, menac-
ing yet dlgnited. These are all human ex-
presslons that t1ittingly come and 60 on the
werdly limned face far above the heads of
the awed beholders. Night after night the
people collect on the street and gaze up
ward for hours at time.
The lights go out at midnight, and i'm,
mediatey the vail becomes dull and vacant,
only the faint wlliteness of the painted sur
face showing through the night. In the day
light also the wall is simply blank, white
area. The man who painted the bricks for
Mr. Tuttle says that was no peculiarity of
the surface that could in any way account
tor the apparition that now glowers forth
each night. Men who have been up on lad
ders and examined the surfaced within a
few days state that they can discover no
dlscoloration of the paint or any cracks in
the bricks. Therefore, no one up to date is
ready with any explanation. The face ap-
pears to avoid the camera for numerous at
tempts to make tiashlight photographs
have failed.
Joseph Sokkatean of Northport an Indian
whose family has perpetuated for many cen
turies in war club carvings the faces of the
Old chiefs, says that the pictured face on the
Belfast block closely resembles the visage
of the famous warrior chief of the lower
Penobscot, Passagasewaukeae The features
show nc signs of fading, but appear each
night with unvarying viyidness. just when
the face first appeared no one seems to
know, but it Was not noticed by any person
until about ten days ago.