Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1924-09-24
UNION RIVER INDIANS.
Interesting Relics Found in Els
worth and Vicinity.
(By Walter P. Pio.)
# a hit more concerninp Indif

(By Walter p. Pio.)
Just bit more concerning Indian
history. Remnants of the Abnakis,
the term used by the French to
designate all the Indians between
Nova Scotia and the Connecticut
river, are to be found to-day in the
land of their fathers. Although the
aboriginal blood in their veins has
been mixed with both the French and
English, one frequently meets an in
dividual whose features show the
strongest Indian characteristics
Both the Old Town and Passama-
quoddy Indians were in the habit of
hunting trapping and fishing on
Union river and bay. Leyjock, a
Passamaquoddy, was well known in
Union River settlement. He came
during the Revolution, and several
years after was accidentally killed on
one branch of Union river, which
was later named for him.
Another Indian, Sabbattis, camped
near the settlement for years. This
Indian was one of the guides with
Benedict Arnold on his famous march
through the northern forests to cap
ture Quebec. He was also in the War
of 1912. Still another was
Socialism,, who lived to be very old,
and who sometimes muttered of the
great march" of his fathers
doubtless meaning the great move
ment of Indians from Canada to
northeastern United States centuries
ago. Near the banks of Union river
and also under the fowage in
Leonard lake are the corn mortars
in which they ground their corn.
About twenty-four years ago, two
professors from Harvard, accom-
panied by several students, came to
Ellsworth. About two miles south
of city proper, and not far from the
river, they discovered the burying
ground of the Red Paint Indians.
AS | mentioned in a previous arti-
Gle, they were worshipers of red
ochre. But little is known of this
strange race of Indians, which was
distinct from any of the other In
dian tribes that later inhabited this
region.
1t should be of great interest to the
people of Ellsworth, this Indian re-
search work which is being carried
on, and every assistance should be
given those who are slowly but sure
ly, piece by piece, bone by bone, get
ting together the history of this mys-
FERROUS race of human eating,
paint worshiping savages, who, long
before Verrazzano sailed up the Pc
n hn iyt ntIIr in
search of the magic city of Norum-
bega, more than two centuries before
Samoset welcomed the Pilgrims to
the new world, buried their dead,
scattered their campfires and de-
parted. Whence?
A few days ago l loaned a part of
my collection of relics to the Ellis
worth high school to assist in the
study of Indian history, which is be-
ing taken up. 1t seems to me that
the Ellsworth high school, in it's
splendid new home, should follow the
example of other city schools and
have museum for the instruction of
countless classes who will pass
through this building in time to
come.
If the citizens of this city who have
relics are public-spirited enough to
give them to this proposed museum
(provided the proper authorities ac
cept and furnish suitable room in
the high schooD l will gladly give
part or all of my small but priced col
lection of relics of the Red Paint In
dams.
l would like an opinion on this
mattr from Mayor Hadgkins, Princi-
pal Abernethy and Supt. Turner.