14th Wind Dead a head we beat up the river got to the town
of Machias at 5 oclok after spending a few moments on shore
I went to the wharf & went on board of a 5 ton schooner John Eldridge capt & owner we started for Beaver Harbor
in Penfield we had a good run & breeze all night distance
from Machias port to the Town 7 miles And vary crooked 7 m
~ Sunday
15 Sunday we arived in beaver Harbor at 8 oclok distance 60 m
I slept on board of the little craft I spent the day with Mr Eldridge I wrote A letter to Mrs Woodruff
~ Monday
16th I left Mr Eldridge & sho^o^ld shouldered my travelling bag & walked
and walked 7 miles to MCCorrells & waited 3 Hours for the stage to go
to St Johns when it came along it was loaded down & could not
take me. Here I was 42 miles from St Johns on foot & no
conveyance with a Heavy travelling bag with A vast burning
forest to go through I did not stop to meditate or complain
of my situation but swung my carpet bag over my shoulder
again & started on my journey on foot, in good spirits most
of the road was through dens forest rocky & poor soil many parts
of the forest was inhabited by bears & wolves. After travelling
a few miles I overtook an Irishman on foot we walked
together several miles A man came in a waggon & took
my bag & carried it 5 miles for me to Mr McGowins which
was great relief to me. On my Arivals at McGowens I
found my bag safe & got a chance to send [it] on 15 miles further
to Mr Tiltons, & was glad to get rid of the load if I had to
walk myself I took dinner here the Irishman left I saw
no more of him. I had now walked about 20 miles
at 1 oclok besides waiting 3 Hours for the stage I had 15 m
more to walk before I could stop for the night I found
the whole forest as I came along laid waste by the late fires
which swept fences, dwellings, barns, Mills, lumber yard
& evry thing els in its march & but few dwellings rema-
ining. Although I began to be vary weary & lame yet I
entered the dark forest before me And I found my last
15 miles A sore dreary road indeed And it seemed as though
I could not get through And when I did arive at Mr
Tiltons I was so lame I could scearcely walk at all & was
under the Necessity of going to bed without my supper I
washed myself in cold water from Head to foot to take
the soreness out of my cords & limbs & went to bed but
was to weary to sleep much I had walked this day 35 m
A thing I had not done before in 10 years
~ Tuesday
17 I arose this morning vary lame from yesterdays walk
I have 15 miles to reach St Johns I walked one mile & found
A Merchant Mr Beaty who gave me a ride with him into the
city of St Johns which I considerd A great Blessings. I
found St John to be A plesant business place esspecially for
Mills & Lumber. The whole face of the Earth that I saw
from Fox Islands to St Johns was vary rocky barren & rough, timber
mostly spruice & ceder. A few days before I arived at St Johns the
Orange men of that city had a walk were attacked by the Catho-
licks A fight ensued 20 or so were killed & many wounded I
went onto the scene of Action saw the ball & shot Holes in the
~ Saturday
14th Wind Dead a head we beat up the river got to the town
of Machias at 5 oclok after spending a few moments on shore
I went to the wharf & went on board of a 5 ton schooner
John Eldridge capt & owner we started for Beaver Harbor
in Penfield we had a good run & breeze all night distance
from Machias port to the Town 7 miles And vary crooked 7 m
~ Sunday
15 Sunday we arived in beaver Harbor at 8 oclok distance 60 m
I slept on board of the little craft I spent the day with Mr Eldridge
[FIGURE] I wrote A letter to Mrs Woodruff
~ Monday
16 shouldered my travelling bag & walked
and walked 7 miles to MCCorrells & waited 3 Hours for the stage to go
to St Johns when it came along it was loaded down & could not
take me. Here I was 42 miles from St Johns on foot & no
conveyance with A Heavy travelling bag with A vast burning
forest to go through I did not stop to meditate or complain
of my situation but swung my carpet bag over my shoulder
again & started on my journey on foot, in good spirits most
of the road was through dens forest rocky & poor soil many parts
of the forest was inhabited by bears & wolves. After travelling
a few miles I overtook an Irishman on foot we walked
together several miles A man came in a waggon & took
my bag & carried it 5 miles for me to Mr McGowins which
was great relief to me. On my Arivalat McGowens I
found my bag safe & got a chance to send it on 15 miles further
to Mr Tiltons, & was glad to get rid of the load if I had to
walk myself I took dinner here the Irishman left I saw
no more of him. I had now walked about 20 miles
at 1 oclok besides waiting 3 Hours for the stage I had 15 m
more to walk before I could stop for the night. I found
the whole forest as I came along laid waste by the late fires
which swept fences, dwellings, barns, Mills, lumber yard
& evry thing els in its march & but few dwellings remaining. Although I began to be vary weary & lame yet I
entered the dark forest before me And I found my last
15 miles A sore dreary road indeed And it seemed as though
I could not get through And when I did arive at Mr
Tiltons I was so lame I could scearcely walk at all & was
under the Necessity of going to bed without my supper I
washed myself in cold water from Head to foot to take
the soreness out of my cords & limbs & went to bed but
was to weary to sleep much I had walked this day 35 m
A thing I had not done before in 10 years
~ Tuesday
17 I arose this morning vary lame from yesterdays walk
I have 15 miles to reach St Johns I walked one mile & found
A Merchant Mr Beaty who gave me a ride with him into the
city of St Johns which I considerd A great Blessings. I
found St John to be A plesant business place esspecially for
Mills & Lumber. The whole face of the Earth that I saw
from Fox Islands to St Johns was vary rocky barren & rough, timber
mostly spruice & ceder. A few days before I arived at St Johns the
Orange men of that City had a walk were attacked by the Catholicks A fight ensued 20 or so were killed & many wounded I
went onto the scene of Action saw the ball & shot Holes in the
"Journal (January 1, 1847 – December 31, 1853)," July 14, 1849 - July 17, 1849, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed November 30, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/1wqG