Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-20
STATE HOUSE.
A Weird Tale Of Wild People in
Somerset County.
Arrangements for Second Annual
State House Excursion.
More vioIators Of the Game Laws
Rounded Up.

"A lcIIST has U66H ItCclNCu d. lIlc En-
ecutive department from out in South
Dakota inquiring concerning an alleged
settlement of wild people up in Somer-
set county. Along with the letter is
sent clipping, taken from the st. Paul
Daily News of the early part of the
present month, which describes at
length the condition of these people.
| In every way it is most readable and
entertaining article 1t shows how good
| a story can be written. 1t is dated at
Augusta, and, while it has familiar
| ring to newspaper men, who nave been
in the business for more than two years,
has some ideas new to all OF them.
| 1t is a charming story of what might
be, but, fortunately, doesn't exist.
| The story sets forth about the fol-
lowing things:
| Years ago, three families named
Brown, futile and Bubier, came down
into Maine from Massachusetts, or
some other place. Travelling over
wood roads and Indian paths until they
reached the northern part of Somerset
county where they settled. In settling
| they lost themselves to the world and
it's people. This part of the story re-
calls Opie Reads famous story, THE
Wives of the Prophet" but it isn't told
quite so entertaningly. neither does it
continue in the strain as did Reads
book. In the book mentioned the
book mentioned the strange and quaint
people of the Tennessee mountains
were God fearing and civilized, though
living a life which was different from
that of the rest of the world.
1 tn1 1,,,-
manly and they We're happy in the
thought that some day the son Of the
Savior would come and lead them forth
to Christianize the world.
Not so with the Bubiers, Tuttles and
Browns, who lost themselves in the
wilds of northern Somerset county,
State of Maine. They did not live the
holy life that did Reads people. They
married and intermarried until they
became a race of degenerates and
Idiots, scarcely fit to be called human.
But one day, not long ago. they were
discovered and one of them, called Jed
WAS taken to Norridgewock, where he
was placed in Jail. Unfortunately, the
STORY does not record whether it was
Jed Brown, or Bubier or Tuttle-simply
THAT it was Jed. Still it is important
to know that it is Jed and not John
Tor John or Bill, even though the rest
of the name has become lost in the
shuttle. OF course, it is not improb-
able that surnames have become lost
lin the general intermarrying spoken OF
and that the people of the community
simply have one name in order to save
wear and tear on words.
And then the story goes on and sets
forth that at the time of his capture
lied was almost entirely nude, was
lyoked up with a COW and at work drag
ging pillow. Jeds mother, relates the
story. had a little cart into which she
| used to hook Jed when she desired t.
go to town, so you see that even these
recluSes, who were unknown until dis
covered this spring. were in the habi
| of visiting town, get into it herself anc
then drive Jed into the settlement. ot
frightened was he though man grown
and 40 years OF age. of a woman tina
| it was necessary for her to hitch hin
when she entered a store SO that hi
Wouldn't run away.
But now, concludes the yarn, the ma
tional government has appropriated
$500. 900 to be used in fitting up al
\ island off the Maine coast where thes'
people shall be placed and an effor
: made to reclaim them.
It certainly Is a good story!
The gentleman who wrote to Main
wished to find out concerning the effor
to reclaim them.