Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-12-19
ARO0ST00K WAR,
"reminiscences &C Of the Famous
B'ood'ess Fray.
Inc Story of Gen. Scott's Visit to
Augusta.
maine Was Ready TO Spend Blood and Treasure
in the Cause.

up the st. John river and made y s4t
tenent * Madawaska. near the
northern boundary of Maine. This
was in l.5G
AS they grew in numbers they
spread out along both banks Of the
river and IN after years the fertile soil
and valuable timher land; within
their reach became desirable prize
for both Maine and New Brunswick.
Hoping To obtain this country.
Canada took advantage Of fans iii
'h" treaty of l7S3 This treaty.
specified that tie boundary should be
gin al the mouth of the st. Croix
river. pass up that yiver to its < .llce.
then due north To the northwest angle
of Nova Scotia. and thence along the
highlands dividing the ST. Lawrence
basin from the rivers flowing south
into the Atlantic Ia the source of the
Connecticut. AS to where this north
vest angle of Nova Scotia wns.''
caused the dispute.
Maine claimed it was where the line
due north from the source OF the st.
CroiN net the Highlands Canada
claimed it WAS near Mars Hill noun
tain. ana the line ran westward
along the divide separating The St.
Jonn river basin from III" rivers far
thcr south. thus claiming nearly all If
northern Maine.
In lS23 the matter was referred to
MEliamI of Holland. rs an arb.ter.
Hc attempted to settle the mattef Is
GIvidng the disputed territory equal
~, but Maine refused 10 abide by this
decision ANA was sustained by tho t.
s Senate.
In order to maintain ;hcir claims the
United States established a military
r..:j AZ Houltun ana canada placed
one At Fredericton. Maine believed
that MadawaSka was III her territory
ana il was orga anized as a plantation
7 ana given \ preventative in the
legislature.
In 1897 the government sent . COM
ms Sioner there to take a census nf
the people ana give them their share
Cf the surplus which had collected in
tho L.. s. treasury. t'pnn hearing "f
this. Governor Harvey Of Now
Brunswick thinking the money was Il
blihc - induce the French people to
take sides With Maine. Sent troops
there who imprisoned The commits
sinnrr ana broke UP All meetings 0f
th- French.
The Canadians. determined to have
all III. value Of doubt. carried on *
torsive numbering operations in tha
disputed territory and floated millions
Of fec Of pine timber down tn" st
John river to Fredericton ana st. John
. The land agent Of Maine attempted 10
sop these deprcdations. hut, With hi%
mon. Was captured ana thrown into
Jail at Fredericton.
This act caused the peopl,. of Maine
70 become greatly excited, AMI tht
legislature met ana voted 1o.oGo men
and $500. 900 for defence and thc
militia was called out by Governor
Fairfield and sent to the scene q the
trouble. Names act was approved by
Congress. which voted 3t,Go0 men and
SO coo. zoe. ana sent Cen. Winfield
scott to direct the operations.
General Scott came 70 Augusta and
at once began negotiations with Gov
ernor Harvey To decide the matter by
al filtration In the meantime troops
had been hurried to IIoulton and
| places beyond. Fort Fairfield. named
for the governor, was built t" guard
the Aroostook river and Keep the
Canadians from driving lumber from
il into the st. John, and fort Kent
named for Ex-Governor Kent, t. over
awe the French should they desire 70
icin the English. and t" guard th'
headwaters Of the st. John
lookout was built at Castle Hill,
block houses at fort Kent ana "ther
pIaces and military roads were con-
.t1ucted from fort Kent and fort Fair
field to Houiton. The soldiers re-
rnained there al winter and never saw
,..arceIv one member of the opposing
forces.
+, 1872 the United states referred
this dispute to Daniel Webster ana
Lord Ashburton. as aFpittfs. me!
decided upon the present boundary
ana the dispute was settled Without
d,on of blood being shed. Maine lost
~ this decision ana Congress paid her
xI5o 600 which has always been
.I.imcd was to pay the expense oi the
war. and not for the territory she
lost.
The late Mai. William Dickey,
,,nu.r .s the duke of Fort Kent,
,yas 4 member of the legislature AZ the
time that the treaty was decided upon
webster did not come to Maine al
tb,t time. but sent Hon. Peleg Sprague
~ HalIowoI. to represent him Ihe
sessions were held behind hoiteo
ooors, ami in the commit!ee room
r.ben Mr.. Sprague appeared Mayor
Eiokey approached him.
WHY. Mr.. Sprague. said inc
ara -or. where is Mr.. Webster?
HE did not come" replied MI.
onraruc. his politics do not quite
agree with the kind you have down
| hcrc.
We'll Peleg." replied the major L
o,,ess they agree we'll as yours do'
mich was a very keen shot. TOT
Cnrarue had but recently resigned
from, Congress because he did not iike
The instructions given him oy MS con-
siituents. In those days when rep
,asantative. found his own ponies op-
,nsed by his constituency ne at once
resigned.
Con. Scott was heralded in Augusta
vim great pomr. Mai. Dickey mace
hot Of sl with a pretty girl IN the
! q ,nt,J6