Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 5.djvu/242

 214 THE GRANITE MONTHLY.

to this country when in very early life. He acquired a good English education, and was fortunate in being the heir to a large estate, which was managed by a trustee, or guardian, named White, of Salem, Mass. He came to this town, accompanied by Major Dudley, a teacher of military tactics. They selected a spot, and built a camp of pine boughs, having a large stone fire-place. The camp was but little higher than the ground around it. It was quickly supplied with all kinds of the choicest liquors, and with all proper food and utensils suitable for pioneer life. Thus equipped, he with Major Dudley and other boon companions were ready for fishing at Mitchell's Pond, and for the pursuit of the wild game with which the woods abounded on both sides of the brook, which runs from Mitchell's Pond. Then commenced the frolic, the gayety, and their dissipation. The woods resounded with the sharp report of guns and the yell of swift running hounds, which made music for that portion of the town. The novelty of the place, the strange occupants, and the odor of rum, induced many to visit Bissel's Camp.

Evidently it was not Bissell's intention to be more than a temporary occu- pant, when he first settled at the Camp ; but the notoriety he had acquired, the throng of visitors by whom he was generally surrounded, the attractiveness of the place, and the abundance of game, caused a change to come " over the spirit of his dream." So he made a change from what was almost a savage mode of life to one a few steps nearer civilization. The brush camp was torn away, a log house erected in its place. The latter contained two rooms with a hall across the west end. The house was finished in the most elaborate and elegant manner, the walls painted with East Indian scenes, and the tall palm tree was emblazoned in native colors. The outside of his abode was left in the roughest possible manner. A stable was built and equipped with fine horses and carriages. Money was of no account with Bissell, and it was scattered freely. He took a five dollar note to light his pipe, according to report. Numerous anecdotes are told of this tame wild-man. Once, while riding out, he saw a large flock of geese near the road, and raising his shot-gun he blazed into the flock, killing several and wounding others. He then ordered his driver to stop, and, having found the owner, he told him what he had done, and asked him his price for the shot. The price (not a small one) was paid, and Bissell went on his way rejoicing.

One day one of his men went for a pail of water, he heard the sharp crack of a gun, and looking around he saw Bissell at the door of his camp just lower- ing his gun from his shoulder. He was an excellent shot, and he had merely put a bullet through the man's hat, as he stood several rods away.

Bissell had erected summer-houses, made an artificial fish pond, put a fine latticed house over his well, and had made of his abode a sort of a fairy land. He was a good penman, and embellished his writing by using instead of black sand what was apparently gold dust. So he lived for some four years. But his days of glory, wealth, license, and pride, were fast drawing to a close. His money was exhausted, or withheld by his guardian. He contracted many debts, and his creditors were not slow in taking possession of his possessions by due process of law, and his financial trouble caused his sudden departure from the town.

He went to Vermont and his subsequent history is unknown. The beauty and attractiveness of the place quickly faded after the departure of its founder. The log cabin was demolished about 1865. The summer-houses are gone, but the latticed, circular well-house still exists ; the artificial pond is still there ; and there are other ruinous evidences of the places where his buildings stood ; but the pomp and circumstance of its early state and beauty are gone forever.

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