Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Mount Desert Island.

In 1613 Samuel Argall, a sort of freebooter from Virginia, visited the coast of Maine, ostensibly for fishing; but his vessel carried several pieces of artillery. Hearing that

Mount Desert Island from Blue Hill Bay.

[307] French Jesuits were on Pemetig or Mount Desert Island, he went there and attacked a French vessel that lay at anchor, which, after firing one gun, was compelled to surrender. Du Thet, who discharged the gun, was mortally wounded. The other Jesuits there remonstrated with Argall when he landed and began to search the tents. He broke open the desk of the Jesuit leader, took out and destroyed his commission, and then, pretending that they were within English jurisdiction, without authority, he turned more than a dozen of the little colony loose upon the ocean in an open boat, to seek Port Royal, in Acadia. Two fishing vessels picked them up and carried them to France. The remainder were carried to Virginia, and there lodged in prison and badly treated. Argall's conduct was approved in Virginia, and he was sent back to destroy ail the settlements in Acadia. See Acadia, and Argall, Samuel.