New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-14
PART II.
BLOWING Up DAMS.
Clashes Bet7ceen Lumbermen in the
Forests Of Maine.

r,77 berrl7en recalls tragic occurrence of wears
ago. when Americans and Canadians came into
violent collision from a similar cause For
sixty years the maintenance of dams on Cham
berlair and neighboring lakes has been bone
Of contention between American and Canadian
lun7bermen. Naturally, the waters Of these
lakes fow down the AHegash into the St John
bur by means Of dams it has been made TO flow
the ether way, down 10 the east branch Of the
PeuobsCOt the Americans thus getting the ben
eft of the water for their log drives. When
there IS d drouch and the ST. John logs are
in danger Of being hung up or stranded, the
Canadians become desperate, as occurred a few
days ago, and either raise the gates or blow up
the dam. The present difficulty at one time
threatened 10 lead TO bloodshed. but it is now in
fair way Of settlement in the courts. In oIden
times, however, there was less disposition 10
appeal 10 the courts. The Iumbermen had
way OF settling difficulties on the spot.
one Of these clashes is described by Tom Muir
ply. an oIdtime Iumberman. whose narrative is
given here:
Far Up in Northern Maine about sixty miles
from the state line which divides the Dominion
OF Canada from The State. is Chase Garry. the
sviftesr rapid along the Allegash River, the
dread Of sportsmen and guides who go into that
part Of the country for the shy deer and mon
scrous moose. Il has been d long time now
since 1TsI snUbbed q canoe through that rocky
gorge. but not until recently did learn that
those very same rocks and powders which have
proved fatal 10 many q SLanCh canvas were
Cuce the makeup Of large dam. the destruction
OF which forms one Of the most exciting chap
ters IN the history Of the early troubles between
the American and Canadian lumbermen. Joe
Izbre told the story over an evening pipe in his
cabin or Mud Pond. and I viii give il as I re
IN the fall OF 1865 Joe and his partner. Nc
Card. drifJed into the settlement at Suncook.
out Of money and looking for work Times were
not the same then as now when a man can
make 81 d day padding spOrtsmen from lake TO
lake, and summer time was q perlod OF enforced
1cleness- AbouJ Ihat time Two Iulloer prospect
tors named Corners, brothers, came down the
west branch OF the PenObscot picking up a crew
70 50 into the woods and cut logs at 81 a Gay
until snow few. Joe and MCCard jumped at the
chance. and q few days later were two Of the
crew Of thirty men polling their way up the
sluggish Cmbazookskus- bound for the head
waters Of the Auegash River
.T7lr77ner cut on the American soil north Of the
PenohsCoc al the time OF this story was, Of ne
cessiIy. run into Canadian markets by way Of
the Allegash and St John rivers To avoid
idea Of building large dam near the head OF
the ALegash. and, by flooding a number or
smaller lakes lying south OF chamberlain Lake
forming q continuous Watereourse 10 uds"aler
a. Bangor
The site Of the proposed dam was on an Ell
bow III the river four miles from Chant erlaln
Lake. The men found plenty Of suitable lull-
Der. and. favored by good weather, made rapid
progress 50 that when the first cold snap came
on the dam was well along toward completion.
s'O~a DAY Two visitors were in camp who had
come M from the lower settlements of Canada
occasioue1 by the dam ard had come up 10 ma
The cause. No words were passed. hut il was
evident from the looks and actions OF the men
that they were not pleased with the proceeding
which meant a POSSIBLE water famine on the
lower river and a. least 4 serious Interference
with log driving the following spring frequent
visits were made at this place by lower Cana
dian settlers # their presence did trouble the
CpnneTSeS, noLnlng was sala TO me men. ana
the work was pushed on as rapidly as possible
Winter came on. and the cold winds Of No
venbeT had already driven three feet Of snow
=
the men began 10 get ready to return 10 their
homes in the settlements. At this tine the con-
tractors approached Joe and his partner and
made them a liberal offer to remain in camp all
winter They explained that they feared no
trouble with the Canadians, but believed il best
n ne on the safe side.
The men had seen enough Of the country 10
convince them there was game and lots Of it.
% be had and. being comfortably housed, We're
willing 10 pass the winter there So when the
crew went back TO their homes McCard went
along with them, returning in week with sup
plies and q large number of traps.
1T was pleasant life the men lived for two
months Nothing was seen or heard from their
down river visitors. game was plenty. and coca
siCnaIly they would run Up 10 Churchill Lake
FOR days fishing. always returning with all
the trout they could carry Five feet OF snow
lay on a Level III the woods. and many a hunt
ing "trip they took to the neighboring mountains
The interior IF their cabin was filed with
skins and heads that meant q handsome sum
for them when they should 90 out in the spring
one evening vel along IN March McCard
returned from visit 10 the traps with q
troubled look on his face He had seen tracks
on the river q few rods below the dam. Drift
ing snow had made Il impossible 10 trace them
any distance. but he sure that they were
made by neither himself nor partner The men
were much disturbed. and stayed up late into
The night discussing the matter They we're sure
that passing trapper could not have failed 70
see The "a bins and hardly would have passed
without calling in They came 10 the conclusion
that. whoever made the visit II was not on
friendly Grand However, nothing further was
noticed and in q few days the affair was forgot
ten
ION The afternoon Of March L 4 violent snow
storm set in. accompanied by high winds that
ThirIeI and tossed the snow that il was i'm
possible 70 see rod away All that night and
the next daz- the snow fell. while the in the
cabin watched the drifts pile higher and higher
against the dark wall Of forest across the river.
Al noon the third day il cleared. and visit
was paid to the nearest trans. which were found
under three feet Of snow. Il was intensely cold
and the rrappers were glad 10 return to the
ahin 20 get warm before the open fire.
Being very tired the men turned IL early
taat night How long they slept is not known,
hur Il must have been near midnight when theV
were awakened by glare Of light on the ca BIN
walls Spraying from their hunks and looking
tOr the cause Of such light. they were surprised
20 find that the headwOTks OF the huge dam.
together with the novels. We're in flames ana
e. sight they could see crouching in the bushes
only few rods from the camp. two men. one
with rife in hand, and the other with lighted
torch
Before they could get their clothes on. fire
was bursting from q score Of places IN the
cam and q storm Of bullets began TldCIllS
through between the cracks Of the logs me
FIRE on the dry lumber Of the cabin spread 50
rapidly that Il was almost impossible 10 escape
Both men realized their situation. knowing Jhal
= they did escape ir would be run for lie.
They were also aware that the TWO men skuIh-
Ing in the bushes meant no good viii toward
them.
ION leaving the burning cabin McCard was
shot dead and Joe barely escaped with bullet
wound in his left shoulder. Half scared u
death and nearly exhausted from the loss OF
Tg.s4Er