Year: 1879




1t sometimes happens that brothers quar-
rel but it docs not always follow that they are
willing to go quite so far as two men bearing
this fraternal relation took occasion to do on
Thursday. About mile below the city and
living on either side of the kennebec are
two brothers named Thomas, one called
Charles having home on the east side, and
the other whose Christian name is Augustus
dwelling in the locality, on the west side OF
the river, which is designated by the name
of Britt's Gully. They are old enough to
know better than to quarrel, but forty years
of experience in this world of ours hasn't
softencd their tempers or taught them the
beauties of living in peace with all men,
least of all with those of their own flesh and
blood.


Early in the morning of the day named
above, the man who lives on the west side
rowed across the waters of the quiet flowing
Kennebec to where his brother was choppiny
wood on the eastern shore. There had long
been a standing quarrel between them it is
understood, and there might have been some
recent occurrence which had excited their ire.
They had no sooner come face to face than
words Immediately followed, and began to
wax hotter and hotter, till tempest might be
his chopping, said he had stood his brothers
slang long enough, and slapped him across
the face with his hand adding, as he struck
his axe into the sand, that if he wanted to
fight the thing out, now was his time. The
sudden blow and the challenge to do battle
excited to madness the temper of Augustus,
and selling the axe from the shore he levelled
a solid blow at his brother, who was not able
to avoid it and the blade of the axe descended
and inflicted an awful cash on the right side
of his head, just above the temple bone. The
wound was three inches long, extending clear
to the skull, and had it not glanced would
have penetrated the brain.


Charles was laid low, but was not over
come by the severity of the punishment
which had fallen upon him. Rising from the
ground he obtained possession of the mutual
friend or mutual enemy-the axe-and rushed
upon the brother, who was unable to escape
and received the full might of "A powerful
blow, the sharp weapon sinking deep into his
back, Just below the left shoulder. The blow
laid the flesh wide open, the direction of the
wound being across the shoulder. The house
elevation overlooking the awful scene, and he
witnessed the heavily descending blows of
the glittering blade which brother was using
against brother. He and perhaps others
hastened to the place of contest and separated
the bleeding men. The place where the men
fought was CORY with blood, and torn by their
exertions. The one who lived across the
river was taken there in a boat, and word
was sent to Dr. Bolan to hasten to the spot.
After attending to the case Of Augustus, he
was taken over in a boat and dressed the
wounds of the brother Charles In addition
to the bad cut in the head, Charles received
a confused wound upon the shoulder so that
he was unable to raise his hand. Augustus
in addition to the deep wound in the back
had wound on the left side, apparently
made by the back of the axe.


Those who saw the savage afiray say il
was an awful sight to behold the powerful
men, for the frames of both are said to be
heavy and muscular, as each swung the sharp
instrument and let it fall upon the unpro-
tected body of his opponent The men are
said to have worked for many years along
the river yarding and asserting logs, md are
also well to do and have families. The affair
was kept very quiet through Thursday, and
the officers did not know of it until that night