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Written by John Albee
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Page 2 of 2
Vintage News
Mount Agamenticus and Saint Aspinquid
From the Portsmouth Journal
October 13, 1877
This mountain, situated in the northeasterly part of York, Me., is a noted landmark for mariners, and is the first height seen by them from the sea on the coast northward and eastward of Portsmouth. Here the United States coast survey have erected a cairn or pile of rocks on which to place a temporary observatory from which to make astronomical observations. St. Aspinquid is the name of a Jesuit saint or hero who was held in profound veneration by the aboriginal inhabitants throughout Maine, who are known to have been Indians, both in the religious and warlike distinction. His sanctity was well established among them; yet, who he was, or why he deserveg these honors is not known. Indian tradition, transmitted from age to age, and from tribe to tribe, informs us this patron saint of theirs lived and died on Mount Agamenticus in 1682, and that his funeral was celebrated by the Indians with a sacrifice of six thousand five hundred and eleven wild animals.
Thanks to Richard Winslow for discovering this article
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