May 2011 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 23. Maritime History THE STORY OF THE GREAT CHAIN LAKE SNAKE By Amos Boyd
The Chain Lakes are a series of small- connected lakes located in Wesley about 25 miles from Calais. The location of the Chain Lake Snake is more difficult to identify since it has been since 1881. There are those of course, who say the monster never came at all. The creature himself (or herself) was vari- ously described as a huge snake, a sea “ser- pent” or monster about 90’ in length and about as thick as a barrel at its thinnest section. A creature of that size would seem difficult to overlook, wherever it was. At this date, however, it is difficult to know just where the truth lies.
The story told of the appearance of the Chain Lake Snake was a bit fuzzy and lacked detail from the very beginning. The deep woods have their own mystery, even to those who know them well. In the woods far from habitation, wet mosses absorb sound, light filter down from trees overhead, sight is re- stricted by long fallen and struggling growth, and walking becomes difficult. In such a place one is much alone; and many Maine woods- men have had the eerie feeling of being watched or followed by “something” they could neither see nor hear – an unseen pres- ence; a silence louder than sound. Who knows what can be lurking in such a place?
The story of the snake is almost forgotten except for the old newspaper accounts of 1881 and 1882 from the Machias Union, the Eastport Sentinel and the Calais Times. The story was picked up late in December when nothing worthy of comment seemed to be happening and news columns were difficult to fill.
Even newspaper editors were intrigued by the possibility of a monster Down East snake in the woods, and in a spirit of fun they printed the story in detail. Washington
County people, avid readers, alert to the humor of the situation, immediately began to argue about the interesting possibilities, and to take sides for and against belief in the story.
The fall of 1881 had unseasonably warm weather that continued into November. Some folks reveled in the unexpected warmth, while others regarded it as an evil portent of disas- ter to come. The bright leaves of October faded late in the month, but did not dry and drift downward until November when they floated lightly on waters of swamps and ponds.
November days were dark, but sharp win- ter cold still did not come. No ice formed in the shallows, and marshes and bogs stayed soft and soggy. A hard freeze was necessary before the logging crews could take their heavy horse and ox teams safely onto frozen ponds and bogs. Men grew irritable and restless while they waited to cut timber for the mills.
There were others who waited. Work in the shipyards in East Machias and Machias was about “suspended”, and master carpen- ters were anxious to get their crews into the woods to cut vessel frames, but the weather stayed mild, and the lakes and streams re- mained open.
The story began with Eb Hall and his friend Mr. Libby, who went fishing above the Third Chain Lake. While they were on the shore, they heard from across the water the sound of men working on the dam above. Soon after, they could see in the distance, what Hall at first thought were men in a long bateau, the high bow and stern of which rose above the lake. Hall then decided it wasn’t a boat men, but a “serpent” with a girth at its narrowest point, larger than a pork barrel. Hall and Libby watched the creature as it glided from the water and moved to a far
CASEY YACHT ENTERPRISES
Advertiser Alexseal
M C N A D V E R T I S E R S Journey’s End Marina
Page 2
Allied Boat Works A. W. Pettegrow, Inc. Bamforth Marine
Bath Industrial Sales Bayview Rigging
Billings Diesel & Marine Bluejacket
Boothbay Boat
• Fiberglass & Composite Repairs • Awlgrip Painting
• Bottom Paint Systems • Woodworking & Varnishing
Freeport, Maine (207) 865-4948
www.caseyyacht.com
Support Maritime Research & Computerization
DONATE YOUR BOAT Good quality boats are wanted to raise funds for the
International Maritime Library. IML is computerizing maritime information for easy online access.
For More Information contact: The library at: PO Box 710, Winterport, ME 04496 207-223-8846
igmatats@aol.com
Boothbay Region BY Bowden Marine C & C Machine
C. Stickney, Boatbuilder Casco Bay Yacht Sales Casey Yacht Enterprises Chase, Leavitt Co. Coastal Forces
Custom Float Services Dark Harbor Boat Yard
Eric Dow Boatshop Farrin’s Boat Shop
Finest Kind Boat Yard French & Webb
Great Harbor Boatworks Great Island BY H&H Marine Hallett Sails
Hamilton Marine Hamlin's Marina Handy Boat
Hansen Marine
Harding's Book Shop Heritage Panelgraphics Hodgdon Yachts Holland Boat Shop IMP Group Infab
Jackson's Marine
John Williams Boat Co. Jonesport Shipyard
16
16/27 18
23/29 3 3 7
27 19 15 7 2
31 22 9
28 31 11
DownEast Lobsterman's Assoc.13 Epifanes
15 12 16
2/25 17 21 5
17 14 32 2
19 6
28 13 28 17 11 28 10 17
5/27
distant point covered with giant granite boul- ders and then disappeared near the outlet. At first, Hall, fearing ridicule, did not dis- cuss this remarkable event, but could not keep it to himself and eventually confided in a few trusted friends, who confided in a few of their trusted friends. The story spread, increasing the number of believers. Hall was overwhelmed with attention and questions; there were doubters and disbelievers, but everyone wanted to hear the story from him.
Hall was a red-headed man of strong convic- tions, which once planted, rarely changed, and every time he told the story of the great snake, his belief in what he had seen grew stronger.
Hall’s story received support from Sewall Quimby who reported that the track of the great snaked had been seen by Mr. Hunnewell of Alexander and two men from
Continued on Page 24.
Kittery Point Boatbuilders 17 Kittery Point Yacht Yard Kustom Steel Landing School Lash Boat Yard LocalNet
3/17 3
11 Lowell Brothers Maine Coast Lumber
25/29 16 6 3
Maine Maritime Academy 9/25 Maine Sailing Partners Maine Yacht Center Marine Learning Center Marine Parts Express Moose Island Marine Morris Yachts Nautilus Marine
New England Fiberglass New Meadows Marina Ocean Pursuits
Ocean Point Marina
Paul Luke, Inc. Pen Bay YMCA Petit Manan Boat
Portland Yacht Services Robinhood Marine Rockport Marine Rollins Boat Shop
Royal River Boat Yard Rumery's Boatyard Russell's Marine S. W. Boatworks Sail Maine
Seal Cove Boat Yard Smithwick & Mariners South Shore Boats Spartan Marine Strouts Point
The Boat School
Yacht Sales Network Yarmouth Boat Yard
21 2
19 20 13 7
28 14 3
8/26 16 30
Owl's Head Transp. Museum 11 Padebco
17 21 10 17
2/25 18 15 28 3
16 13 16 19 9 3 7
28 12 8
31 18/30
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32