The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-07-04
HISTORICAL ASSETS OF PENOBSCOT
BAY.

To THE EDITOR OF Tue JoURNAL:
Among the valuable assets of Pepcbscot
Bav are its Historical aSSOciations.' That
this ssunearned increment" in common with
other superb attractions, possesses no ire
sistible fascination during the winter months
is quite beyond question. But in the good
old sun mer tme-barring that of 1907
where on this slowly cooling planet is there
a more completely satisfying area?
While Castine, the town of noble patro-
uymcs and varied heirlooms, appears to
hold within her confines more imagination
stimulators to the acre than is to be found
elsewhere, few spots are without matters
of interest to those busily engaged in spong-
ing up fresh air and recreation with their
porous eyes.
Near Penobscot Park, the b. 4 A. play
ground at Kidder's Point station, there lies
an Indian shell heap, its location only dis
closed by the action of the sea. A foot OF
more below the level sward its edge may be
seen from the beach in the face of the erod-
ed bank, thick layer of broken clam shells.
On one occasion passing investigation with
sharpened stick brought to light an arrow
head, several sharp stone chips and bits OF
charred wood.
Across on the sand beach of Sears Island
near the farm house once lay the wreck OF
a small vessel, which during the war of ISL:
was bringing supplies to the bay garrisons
when upon being closely pursued by Brit
ish man-ofN al it slipped into "Cape Jellisor
Harbor'' and was fred and abandoned after
being beached on "Brigadier's Island"
The late Isaac II. Griffin when in a remi
niscent mood used to tell the story, and how
as a boy he used to see the burned wreck a
low tide. Several years ago it occurred t.
one Of his sons, Mr. G S. Griffin of King
mar, to look for the wreck. With frient
he made an early morning trip when thu
tide was very low and the water calm, ant
not only was successful in finding the def
mite outline of the bottom of the vessel il
several feet of water, but succeeded in Sc
curing piece of timber with spike attach
ed. Upon grasping the spike with the idet
of drawing it from the wood the young mel
were amazed to find that it would bent
easily as if of lead. After curlously play
ing with this peculiar property of iron TO
a time they laid the trophy in the bottom o
the loaf and started fer home. They wer
not slow to remark on the unexpected cir
cumstance to the first person they chancet
to meet, but upon attempting to exhibit TIN
phenomenon they found to their continued
surprise that the iron had resumed its nor
mai properties
To the writer, with a Smatterlng OF chem
istry and an abiding interest in things curl
GUS and unusual, this instance has been o
more than passing moment. No book or IL
dividual to which he has had access ha
CHANGED 10 be equal to Offering any like in
cident relative to the action of iron, but a
length he is interested to find the following
passages in Admiral Evans autobiography
ga Sailors Log" Concerning his expert
enceS as executive officer of the y. s.
ssCongress'' while cruising in the Mediter
ranean he says:
''After leaving Malta we called at Tripol
We had orders from Washington to collec
such articles as might prove of interest t
the Centennial Exposition to be opened j.
Philadelphia in the following year.
1.-The trigate philadelphia" had bee
burned in this harbor by Decatur afte
falling into the hands of the Moors and
knew d piece of the wreck would be COL
sdered of interest. therefore fitted launc
with proper grapnels and tackle and after
long search located the wreck and was fol
tunate enough to secure part of a petrife
timber which had been charred through
Many of the iron spikes by which the plank
ing had been secured still remained in tn
piece and it was curious to note the effel
of heat and their long immersion in sa
water. They were much softer than whe
first driveu-in fact were almost like sol
lead.
81 secured one of them and afterward ha
set of jewelry made from it for my wife b.
a jeweler in Geneva. The trinkets wer
beautifully finished and perfectly burnish
ed but no amount of care would proven
them from rusting; the moisture seemed t.
exude from the inside of the metal.
1.-THE piece of timber was boxed and sen
to the exposition where | afterwards saw
and it was regarded as an object of nue.
interest"
Stockton Springs, June 20, 1907.
Rurhans Testifies After FOur Years