Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1903-08-06
Two Centuries -
Old Crypts.
Last vsstigs Of An Old Graveyard
Of the Pioneers Of tie BAY at
Chebssgus.
Only Jagged Fragments Remain to
Mark the Spot Near Beautiful
Chambers Cove.
ALFRED EASTMAN LUNr.
An nshts r.ssosd By c..oo s.y sr,..,

ALFRED EASTMAN LUNT.
All rights ressvsd ~ Cssco Bay Brsess.
When old David Chandler of Che.
0eague, standing, perhaps, a hundred
years ago and more. on the green crest
overlooking the beautiful cove which
bears his name, looked out over the
Day with its evergreen islands stand
ing out SO boldly from the blue waters.
ne little thought of the tremendous
change which another century would
bring forth on the island of his choice.
stretching almost as far as the. gaze
could reach, his broad farm compass
ing many hundred. acres, filed his eye
wlm satisfaction, while to his alert
ear came the dash of the restless surge
on the beach below. Then, as today,
Chebeague, matchless Chebeague, was
a source OF Joy and pride to its inhabi-
tants. Such, certainly was the
thought of the Breeze man, as he
sauntered raptly along the beautiful,
winding roads leading to Chandler's
Cove. Almost without realizing Il
ne was standing upon the plateau Of
the chandler place, much as old David
$1,000 century agone, and, perhaps,
WIN very similar sensations. All
about him was the glamour of summer.
Soft breezes cooled the air, the birds
sang, and afar, the waters glittered.
throwing back in playful defiance the
warm embraces Of the sun. On the
lett, sunken and crumbling, lay the
ruins or the old Chandler home. and
All about were evidences of the early
settlers life. Here, on the remains of
yonder stump, generations ago. sat
the sturdy pioneer after his days
work among the pristine growth of
the settlement, for. In those DAYS,
heavy timber characterized almost the
entire island. On the stout fioorine
that one might now imagine above the
empty blackness Of this old cellar, the
untiring wife and mother hurried with
Dusy steps preparing the wholesome
food for her hungry ones, who. with
appetites born Of the wilderness
thronged about the rough-hewn table.
IL was with such thoughts as these
Inat the Breeze man, reluctantly
leaving the spot, moved further down
toward the Cove upon the errand
which had brought him. Passing over
the grassy plateau, part Of the farm.
which, after the Chambers regime. be-
came the property Of Dr.. Durgin. and
which Tor thirty years has been owned
by Portland syndicate, he found him.
SELF fafrly entangled in the masses of
alder and bayberry which thrust their
aspiring branches In a perfect maze Of
-bewilderment. Surely. here could
not be the object Of his search. Yet.
In position and detail. It answered all
the definitions Of the kind doctor (note
.one) who had directed him. And now
ne stood on the very brink Of this
matted Knoll, and under his feet,
scarce fifty feet away, the tumbiine
beating waves Of old ocean tossed up.
on the sandy shore. Here could be
seen the full beauty of the Cove.
Long green wooded parallel Jaws of
land 5utted out a half mile apart.
-curving towards their bases, and meet
ing in the most beautiful crescent OF
white sandy beach which contrasted
wildly with the rugged. rocky arms
OF the promontory which forms the
Jaws aforesaid. The joy of the Sea
as formed its union with the Earth.
typihed by the beautiful white quartz
sand, and with the Air, as the yellow
brightness of the Sun mingled them
all together, sang to the rhythm of the
leaping waves. All was Natures
own.
Again awakening as from a dream
the writer once more began his search.
Tramping through the alders, peerinS
here and there, OF a sudden he nearly
stumbled. and looking down beheld the
object OF his quest. It was only a
crumbled slab, but, oh, the Significance
OF 1t. For in that gray emblem of
decay was engraved the history of the
past. II, and its silent companions.
which further search soon pryed from
their hidden haunts. expressed the sor-
rows and the hopes OF generations
1t was tombstone of the first settler
OF Chebeague, full two centuries old.
Shattered and disintegrated, dis
mantled and hardly distinzuishable
with their edges rotted and crumblin2
at the touch, but a short time sufficed
TO md over two score of these eyi.
dences OF bygone civilization, with
the ready probability Of there being
hundreds more sleeping with the ashes
OF those forms they once covered, I'M
aer the dropping boughs Of the alders.
the ever encroaching sea washing
each year nearer and nearer this hal
lowed spot. rutblessly--not long since,
! am jnformed-thrust It's watery arms
INTO the old graveyard. and when the
tide turned there was grave less. It
Is doubtful II twenty people today are
aware OF the existence of this ancient
sepulchre. Only close observation
and accurate directions would enable
anyone TO find the spot. II Is truly a
buried city Of the dead. In his search
the writer. after happening upon one
OF the slaty stones. would cast about
in vain for the corresponding slab at
the foot OF the grave. An original
though doubtless morbid idea came 10
his aid, and himself reclining success
lively In one direction and another.
thus securing the average length OF
the pit, the foot almost In
variably In these groupings
would strike some slight,
hard surface. which upon close In.
vestigation disclosed as Its cause the
NoTyf We desire 20 thank mo-, h~.xtu~