Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-16
NAMES oFMAINE ISLANDS.
Origin Of Some of the Unusual Des'g
nations Given Them.

nations Given Inem.-
Summer visitors to Maine often mar
vel at the peculiar names of the ISLANDS
that are scattered along the coast, anu
are curious as to the origin ana mean
ing of many of the appelations. Nhile
seemingly strange, these names are III
nearly every instance altogether appro-
pirate and often graphically descrlp-
tive.
Rutherfords island was named for
the first minister who established
parish in Bristol and to whom the
town gave the island in payment or
arrears i'll salary. Heron island was
| until recent years, the home of vast
numbers of these birds, which came
annually and made their nests i'll the
| tall pines and spruces along the shores
Ram island was once the home OF Il
| fighting buck, which disputed the right
of anyone to land there. Fish HAWK
| island WAS once the favorlte resting
place of those keen-eyed foraSers OF
| the SEA.
Devils Limb, DEVILS Rock and
Devils Elbow are 50 named because Oh
atoms. Hog island was once inhabited
| by many swine, which ran wild ana
lived on mice and snakes, which were
| then plentiful there. Mouse island was
| infested by countless numbers OF these
| little rodents-a woods species. origin
| unknown, found on islands lying lar
off the coast. This species of mice
never enter Il human habitation.
Squirrel island was once the summer
| home of Il large colony OF grey SOUR
| relS, which annually i'll June came
| down from the inland woods to the Sed-
coast just as human beings now do.
| Red squirrels are found OH most of the
islands, and are Il great bother to visi-
| tors, as they prefer to build their nests
in cottages rather than in trees.
Haddock island was 50 named be-
| cause of great catches of haddock i'll
| the surrounding waters. The Old Man
and The Old Woman were named by
| fishermen who fancicd that in these
| two rocky islets they saw Il rcscm-
| blance to an aged couple i'll loving
| companionShip. Harpoon island is 50
| called from the fact that an ancient
| harpOOn was once umcarthcd on its
shore. killick-stone island gets its
| name from the fact that its beach is
| streWn with stones of the right weight
| and shape for fishermen'S anchors.
| Hungry island is IL very barren place,
and Gull island was the nesting place
| of great tocks of beautiful sea gullS
| The gulls were killed i'm thousands and
their eggs gathered for food until the
| United States government put IL stop
to it. High island is very lofty; Cow
| island was formerly used as Il pastur-
| ing place, the cattle being carried to
and from the mainland in scows. Thief
| island is so-called because Il famous
| rObber WAS captured there.
| Various derivations are given for the
name of Monhegah but the coast pcu-
pie are satisfied that it comes from the
| observation of an Indian chief who.
| upon finding that some early voyaSers
who had landed upon the island had
| left, exclaimed: "Man-he- gone" Two
| Bush island got its name from two
bushes that for many years were dis
| tinctly visible from the sea; Old Hump
| from its resemblance to Il humpback
| whale; The Hypoarites from their de-
| ceivinS lodges. Ratchet island from Il
| stone axe found, there; Fort island
| from 4 rcdOubt that was built there hy
| white settlers as Il refuge from
Indians; Gangway island from Il ro,.ty
| formation upon it's shore resembling
| the Sangway of Il ship.
The name of Seguin island, off the
mouth of the kennebec is said to have
| originated FROM an observation of
| MoSg chief of the Canibas tribe Of In
dians, who, DISCOVERING that thZ white
| inhabitants were trying to escape by
sccretng themselves III Il cave. OK
| claimed: "Sce-go-in." Beaver island is
named for British man-of-war that
| anchored behind it and shcled the fort
at Pemaquid. The White islands are
so named from their high bluffs OF
feedspar that glstcns in the sun. Som"
rocky isles off Boothbay are called The
| Motions because. in any weather. ut I'LL
| stages of the tide. they seem to be
ngitatcd. and actually in motion. The
| WaShhowl is Il great sea rock rcScm-
bling in its formation an Indispensable
toilet article. FishermenS island has
always been Il favOrite resort for lob
! stermen. ON Hencacllle island many
| chickens We're once raised. Needles
| Eye is the outermost of a line of rocks
| known as the Thread of Life-tre3cher-
Gus lodges whereon many vessels have
been wrecked. Negro, more commonly
| known as Niger island, off Camden,
is said to have been the refuge Of some
| runaway slaves. Skunks' Misery is
said to have derived it's fragrant name
from the painful experiences of some
visitors who came in close contact with
the pcrf,Imed puadrupeds that former
~ abounded there.