Item
Chief John Nicholas
Pilot
June 3/1880
Fire at railway yard. Two Indians, John Nicholas and Newell Soctoma, especially helpful in combating the blaze.
Beacon
July 24/1890
A Hooped Seal
John Nicholas, one of the Indians living at the Point, was out porpoise shooting the other day, and when in the neighborhood of Wilson’s Beach was fortunate enough to draw a bead on an immense seal. When John secured his prize he was astonished to find a hoop around the seal’s neck. The animal had evidently been wearing this peculiar necklace for a long time, as the hide beneath it was completely worn away, and it was embedded deep into the flesh.
Beacon
Jan 5, 1893
John Nicholas, patriarch of the Indian camp at Indian Point, Sa, thinks Mr. Beverly, of Saint John , a “very bad injun.” John took a bundle of fancy baskets to Saint John Christmas time to sell, and was doing a nice trade, when he says Mr. Beverly told the police authorities he was an “Eastport injun,” and he was bounced out of the market. A licence fee of $20 was demanded from him, but instead of paying it John visited his friend, Sir Leonard Tilley who promptly vouched for him as a Canadian thoroughbred. He succeeded in getting restored to his former status in the city market, but he lost a good day’s sale. His loss was Mr Beverley’s gain, and that’s what makes the latter such a “bad injun” in John’s eyes.
Beacon
Aug 1/1895
Two pelts decorate the hunting lodge of John Nicholas, of Indian Point. One belongs to mink and the other was the property of a skunk until Monday morning last. John discovered the two in deadly combat just behind his camp that morning, and as they were both pretty well used up when he caught sight of them, he let them hammer away while he smoked. At last they fell down exhausted and were unable to fight any more. Then John stepped into the ring and stripped off their mutilate coats. He now exhibits them as trophies of war.
Beacon
May 9/1901
Indians’ Narrow Escape
Canoe Capsizes in the Angry Sea—Two Men Battle Bravely for Life
John Nicholas, the genial old chief of the Indian camp at St. Andrews, and his son, William, had desperate battle for life in the angry seas off the entrance of Letete passage, on Sunday last.
The Monday before, John and his son in one canoe and the Horaces in another, set out from St. Andrews to hunt seals and porpoises in the Bay. They went up as far as Lepreaux, but, having poor luck, decided to come home on Sunday. Soon after leaving Point Lepreaux, the wind came out from the eastward and blew a perfect gale, with showers of rain. Nicholas saw schooner craft hading for the harbors and he concluded that there was going to be a bad storm. A big three master ran into Beaver Harbor for shelter, but the Indian felt so secure in his little canoe that he pressed on towards home. With a full spread of canvas on and the sheet made fast to one of the thwarts, the canoe skimmed over the seas like a bird. Two hours from Point Lepreaux the little craft was off Green Point, Letete entrance. By this time the seas were running like race-horss, so that even the stout-hearted Indian quailed as he glanced around on the great waves. Light-keeper Helms also saw the predicament the men were in, and fearing disaster, made ready to hasten to the rescue, if the need should arise.
When about mid-way between he White Horse and Green Point the canoe ran under in the boiling sea and when she arose she was bottom up and the two Indians were fighting for their lives in the surf. The younger Indian could not swim a stroke, but the father was a good swimmer and never lost his head. He helped his son on the upturned craft, while with the tips of his fingers he worked around the canoe until he got hold of the end, where he could support himself without endangering his companion. The mast and sail projecting straight downward also helped to keep the upturned canoe steady.
The Horaces in the second canoe, who were following after, saw the accident, and ran for the drowning men. After some manoeuvring, both were picked dup. The addition of the two men to the already heavily laden canoe brought her gunwales almost to the water’s edge.
Though a boat could scarcely live in the sea that was running, the light-keeper, George Helms, and his assistant, Sidney Dines, bravely pushed off to the rescue. They reached the upturned craft just as the two Indians had clambered into the other canoe. The Indians wanted to try to save some of the floating wreckage, but, fearing they would forfeit the lives of all four in the attempt, Helms told them to go ashore and he would try to sae the canoe for them. The boatmen succeeded in making last to the canoe, and after a desperate pull, towed it ashore. Meanwhile, the four Indians, with their canoe almost full of water, had also effected a safe landing;
Nicholas says that in forty years experience with canoeing in the Bay of Fundy and around the Penobscot he was never out in such a storm and never had such a close call for his life. He was in the water over half an hour before he was rescued. He lost his gun, 600 cartridges, his tent, camp outfit and everything else that was in the canoe. He says $60 would not pay for the loss he sustained. He says that but for Mr. Helms and his assistant they might all have been drowned.
Beacon
Jan 11/1912
Recent Deaths
Henry Osburn
London, Jan. 4—Henry Osburn, a railway manager, formerly of SA, NB, toed today. [the above, taken from the Montreal Herald, was the first intimation that the people of St. Andrews received of the death of a man who was once a prominent figure in this town, and who is still kindly remembered by many friends. Mrs. Osburn, who was an Englishman by birth, came to NB about the year 1860 to assume the management of the NB and C. Railway, succeeding Mr. Julius Thompson. He remained in control here until the management of the NB Railway was taken over by Mr. F. W. Cram, his place of residence, with the exception of a year or two at SS, being the present Inn, belonging to the CPR. He married a daughter of the late George D. Street, a prominent barrister, and a large family was boron to them. His widow, two sons and two daughters now survive. Mr. Osburn returned to England to make his home about the year 1888. He has paid one visit here since. The deceased was 82 years old. He was a large stockholder of the NB railway and a president and director of the company for many years. He was a great lover of the forest and was a keen sportsman. Only a few weeks ago, he wrote to John Nicholas, who has been his Indian guide on many a hunting excursion, that he had given away his guns and fishing tackle as he felt he would never use them again. He did not forget to send his usual Christmas remembrance to Chief Nicholas and family, a practice which he had been keeping up for 33 years without a break.
St. Croix Courier
July 12/1923
Friday July 8 proclaimed public holiday to celebrate visit of Lord Byng of Vimy, GG of Canada. Put up at Algonquin. Stayed Thursday night; Friday morning met at Station by Mayor Worrell and Band, Scouts, etc. Visited Cottage Craft, etc. Stayed at Hotel until 3:00, when left to St. George. “Lord Byng chatted for some time with old John Nicholas, an Indian guide.”
St. Croix Courier
July 8/1926
Death of John Nicholas at Indian Point.
St. Croix Courier
August 17, 1944
Shiretown items
Charlie
The many friends here of Motosuku Akagi, more familiarly known here as “Charlie the Jap” or “Motorcycle Charlie” have learned with thregret of his serious accident at Camp Utopia in which he was badly burned about the face and neck. He was using a blow torch and some gasoline near at hand caught fire. In trying to extinguish he blaze Charlie’s clothing caught and before the flame could be smothered by those who rushed to his assistance he became badly burned. Charlie is Canadian born and is one of the few good Japs. He had lived in St. Andrews for quite a number of years previous to the war, working as a motor mechanic at which trade he has few if any superiors, and jointed up at the beginning of the war. He spent a year at Camp Sussex and then went overseas where he stayed until about a year ago. Since that time he has been in service at Camp Utopia. He married a local girl, Mona Homan, and has two children. Mrs. Akagi is the granddaughter of the well known and well remembered Passamquoddy Indian, John Nicholas—hunter, trapper, guide and romancer.