Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-09
STORY OF LOST CHILD
And HINDS=ROBBINS TRAG=
EDY ON MAGALL0WAY
(ColebroOk News)

(Colebrook News)
Where Diamond Stream courses
down to meet the quieter waters Of
Magalloway under the shadow of Mt.
Dustin, lies the old Robbins farm.
! Here a youth and farm hand. Dan
iel Robbins by name. in 1890 brought
bride from Bethel, Maine. the
daughter of one Stearns. by whom
the husband had been employed.
Although little is known. Robbins
was Industrious and capable, and In
early life gave no evidence OF the
heinous nature which eliminated in
a revolving crime.
Robbins and his wife lived, con-
tented and happy for several years
at his isolated Magalloway home,
the nearest inhabitants being at Enrol
Is miles away. He hunted otter, sa-
BILE and beaver, cleared some land
and erected a small two story house.
barn and Sheds
In 1924 or 1925 he went to Farming
ton and Phillips to sell his furs. On
his return passing through the settle
ment of Avon he came across a girl
and two year old boy in path near
the woods. The boy willingly went
with Robbins, and soon they came
upon a family of Indians from St.
Francis tribe. on the shore Of the lake.
Robbins said he had found the boy
in the woods and should cut him up
for sable bait. This excited their sym
pathy and one of the squaws bought
the boy for a beaver skin. They took
him to their home in Canada where
he grew up and married a pretty
young squaw.
Twenty years afterward visiting
with the Indians near the scene Of his
birth. it was discovered that he was
the long lost boy, James Wilbur by
name.
He and his wife lived with his faith
er for time, but, not liking the
pale faces returned to the old haunts,
Wilbur settled at Martha's Vineyard,
engaged in fishing and seaboard trade,
and became prosperous. These facts
were told by the parents of Mrs. Rob-
bins twenty years after her marriage.
In the meantime Robbins having
hunted the Magalloway, pushed out be-
yond Richardson Lake and Kenneba-
go River, to the shore Of Kennebago
Pond. Here he met two hunters nam
ed Kinds and Cloutman who had for
years hunted those waters and had a
camp.
Robbins induced them to go into CO.
partnership with him putting their
trades and equipment into one stock.
On their return after a successful
hunting season. Kinds and Cloutman
found the camp burned and no trace
of Robbins.
Finding certain articles Of iron gone
they were satisfied Robbins had burned
the camp and stolen the furs. Without
food they finally, with much hardship
got back to Rangeley, then in a few
days went back to Colebrook by way
of Enrol, to get an officer to arrest
Robbins. Gen. Lewis Loomis power
full man and fearless, was commits
stoned to apprehend Robbins. He with
Kinds repaired to Enrol and started on
the ice up the Magalloway about four
miles where they met Robbins and re-
turned with him to Enrol. Robbins
denied the crime, but man from
Pennington came in and identified
him as q man who had sold $500 worth
of fur there the week before. Rob-
bins then owned up and settled paying
Kinds and Cloutman $3.50 in money,
one yoke Of oxen, two cows. two 2
year-old heifers and gave his note for
$50 payable in one year.
After this Robbins made threats and
said Kinds would lift up his eyes in
hell for taking the last 5000; that if he
had done wrong Kinds ought not to
deprive him of his means Of living.
Hearing these threats Kinds and
Cloutman were deferred from going
after their traps for two years. Fin
ally Kinds decided to risk the venture
and taking with him his son lad of
II years started for the little Kenne-
bago Pond.
At their old camp on the shore Of
little Kennebago Pond, Kinds and his
son met Robbins, who seemed glad to
see them. He said he was sorry for
the wrong he had done and asked for
giveness, and said he meant to live a
Cody life thereafter. Robbins said he
had Just come from the head of Chan
diere river, where he had found two
families Of beaver,tand if Kinds would
take his traps, go with him and help
him catch them he should have one
half, and the other half should be APP
propriated to pay the $50 note which
was due. Robbins seeming goodness
induced Kinds to go. but he first went
to Rangeley to obtain provisions to
last the journey. While there he was
warned by Messrs. Rangeley. Tooth
aker, Hoar and others of his danger,
they having heard Robbins threats;
but being a resolute man. decided to
risk the enterprise.
A few days after, Robbins and Kinds
and his son left for Chandiere. Rob-
bins returned. home, but nothing was
heard Of Kinds and son. After three
weeks had passed. there was a suspi-
cion Of foul play, and the news spread
quickly to Enrol, Colebrook and Milan,
where Kinds lived. Investigation prov
ed that Robbins, a few days before had
sold on Dead River a rifle, powder
horn and hunting axe which belonged
to Kinds. Thereupon Kinds neigh
bors and townsmen raised funds and
sent one Ellingwood to Lancaster the
shire town to get authority to arrest
Robbins for murder.
A warrant was granted and Gen.
LOOMS made special deputy for the