The Somerset reporter., 1908-04-09
Along Arnold's Trail.
From Maine To Canada.
BY FRANK W. WEN.


NO. II.
A previous article left Arnold and
his army at famous Indian Old Point
in Norridgewock by the banks of the
beautiful Kennebec. What fascina-
ting romance or tragic story could be
written of this historic place, if one
could WELD the pen like Hawthorne,
or Sir Walter Scott. Here it was for
many years that Rev. Sebastian Rasle
taught the Indians the principles of
Christianity and also urged them to
abstain from strong drink. But the
poor Indians needed not the noble ad-
vice of Father Rasle, and gave way to
their strong passion for liquor, fur
nished by the hand of the white man,
and were cut down like ripe grain be-,
fore the reaper. To me one of the
sweetest thoughts i'll connection with
the life and works of this great priest
Is the fact that he was a total alb
sUainer, liquor or wine never passing
his lips. | think as citizens of the
State of Maine, famed in all parts of
the world for temperance work, that
we are prone to lose sight of the fact
that Father Rasle was not only the
first Christian martyr in Maine, but
also one of the first, if not the first,
Christian minister in our common
wealth to teach temperance among
the Indians. His sufferings and pri
yations were great. He often, it is
said, lived for days only on acorns
and nuts, and in rude huts. Far diff
ferent was his home life in sunny
France, but he bad left his native
land and those dear to him to carry
. L., -
races in the new world Here it was,
where Arnold and his army bivouac
ed, that he and his Indians were
massaered without mercy by the
English on a summer day in 1724.
Nearly two hundred years have
passed since this great tragedy oc
Cured, and the dew and rain long
since washed away the red stains on
the soft earth AS | stood on this
historic spot on a beautiful summer
day and looked at the monument
erected to the memory of this great
and noble man and thought of his sad
fate, although an alien to his faith, |
felt to say: NGod bless his memory
Long will it live, long will it stand
among the brightest stars as lover
of Christ, OF temperance and humani-
ty."
After leaving Norridgewock Gener-
al Arnold and his soldiers plunged in
to the deep forest which extended
from Indian Old Point to Canada.
Some idea of the hardships and diff
culties they encountered along the
march may be gathered from the fact
that six days after leaving Norridge
wock Arnold and his weary soldiers
found themselves on the 10th of DC
tober only at the great carrying place
or dividing ridge between the Kenne-
bee and Dead river. Many of his SOL
diers were i'll and suffering and SO Ar
mold encamped at this place for few
days to refresh his army. Not far
from the place where the army en-
camped are three beautiful lakes,
nesting among the mountains, which
are called Big Carry lake, Middle
Carry lake and East Carry lake.
There was nothing to greet the eyes
of Arnold and his army when they
marched through this region but the
wild scenery of rugged mountains and
hills and the waters of these lovely
lakes sparkling in the chilly October
sun. Today how different. One finds
fine camps along these lakes fitted up
with every luxury for summer tourists
who come here from the great cities.
to enjoy the fishing and to live in the
open air and glory in the sunshine.
few summers ago | visited this section
and on the second evening of my stay
as l sat chatting with a friend near
the shore of the lake we fell into CON
versation on Arnold's march through
this region. "What william that
man was" said my friend. ale ought
to have been hung with the British
spy, Andre" "Well, l guess you are
right, | said but then haven't you
anything to say of his good qualities"
81 never knew that he had any," said
my friend, and | laughed heartily at
his sharp retort,
ga traitor and his meanness should
ever be despised," said, "but our old
Continental Congress treated Arnold
a little unjustly. He was one of the
oldest brigadier generals in the Revo-
luton and had fought and bled for his
country and earnestly desired to be
promoted as a major general. Wash
ington, who trusted him then, strong
ly urged Congress to promote Arnold
to this rank in the military service,
but it was not to be. Some claim
that this great disappointment of his
ambition assisted very materially in
embittering his life"
"Well," said my friend, twas that
sufficient reason why he should later
betray his country" "No, sir, l re-
piled, 'tno true patriot would ever
turn traitor" but what mean is this,
that our early Congress should have
been more considerable of his personal
weakness, or temper, as was Wash
ington."
81 guess you are right there," said
my friend, and then we both fell into
silence for time as we looked at the
moonlit waters of the lake over which
this traitor led his army over $50
years ago. As we rose to return to
the camp for the night | said, "poor
Arnold, how he suffered for his great
wrong" ! learned during my last
trip to Europe, while in London, that
the last years of his life in that great
city were very unhappy. He was a
man without country, but his faith
full wife chung to him until the end
and bore him children who lived hon
orable and useful lives beyond the
sea.
In leaving the carrying place for
the Mt RipelOW House at Lower