Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-09-20
pULL-AND- BE-DAMNED POINT.
There Are Several of Them In Maine
and the Iu-sOunding Name
Means Something.


The Pilgrims and their descendants
who travelled over Maine in the early
DAYS of its settlement had great rep
ntation for piety in the parent col
ony, but when they got away from
home and beyond the hearing Of the
ministers some of them seem 10 have
acted and talked as wickedly as peo-
pie 90 nowadays. Maine is large
state, with a great number of noun
tains, lakes and rivers, so that many
exploring parties felt compelled TO
take good quantities of New England
rum along in order to help out their
vocabulary in giving appropriate
names to newly-discovered territory.
Tradition says that whenever the voy-
ayers got out of rum or ran short for
names they borrowed all sorts OF
words from the Indian language and
tackled them onto the map wherever
they seemed TO fit; but in spite OF
good intention and praiseworthy eff
fort not few places in Maine now
bear names that should make the PHI
grim of 200 years ago hold up his hands
In horror.
JuFt across the river from Bucks
port is high headland that has been
known as Pull-and-Be-Damned Point
for more than hundred years. After
the granite bastions of Fort Knox
were built upon the headland the truly
good people tried TO change the name
TO Fort Point, but as there was place
five miles below bearing that name IL
never held, and the ancient and IRE.
ligious title is still popular
The meaning OF the term is apparent
to everybody who has attempted TO
row a boat past the point at ebb tide.
The river, which is nearly a mile wide
opposite Bucksport. contracts TO
few RODS ksEs and PUSHES through
Penobscot Narrows like mlQraee,
At such times men who have tried TO
row or seull seaweed-laden boats past
the point have found that they could
do ss the name suggested and still
make no Roadway.
Down at the mouth OF the Kennebec,
near Squirrel island and east OF Cas-
tine, en- the Sedgwick shore. are points
which bear the same name. There is
another in Moosehead lake, and still
another in Schoodic lake. in Washing
ton county. In fact, II local tradition
can be trusted. there are dozens OF
places In Maine with titles indicative
Of their great resistance to the pro-
pulsive power of oars.
Up in sysladobsissis lake. in Lake
Vile plantation, is a small bay which
has been known as Hell-Before- Break
fast cove fer more than half a cen
fury. The name was born from a dra-
matte incident which took place there
when the big Princeton tannery was
started. Some men with scow loads OF
bark had landed on the shore for
breakfast, and while they were eating
one Of the boats went adrift. Sam
Hall, a young fellow Of the company.
plunged in 10 rescue the boat. When
the boss Of the crew told him 10 come
back and not make fool Of himself
he made answer that he would get that
boat before he came back or take his
breakfast in a region where drown
ing accidents are unknown. A min
ute later he sunk and never came TO
the surface again. Wishing TO record
the dramatic fitness Of things, his com
panions erected a rough wooden mon
ument at the edge Of the cove, which
still bears the name of the rash young
man and OF the place where he per
tshed--N. y. Sun.