The
ghost was dressed in early 17th century style, strange flat-looking
hat with a feather in the top, tight pants buckled at the knees, and
wore a loose cloak.
Jim Curwin hurried past the ghost and
fell on the floor in the room where the men had been playing cards.
When he told them his tale, and Indian at the table dropped his cards
and said, "That’s the captain of the English pirate Brig. Every time
his ghost comes back, an Micmac dies."
The next day that very Micmac died while
overhauling his lobster traps.
Metford notes that both the Richibucto
and Aldouane River were a gathering place for pirates.
On a Richibucto road leading to the river
there is a warning sign that reads, "Indian Rock Cottages, Privet Property.
Keep - Off ". On the shore opposite these cottages can still be seen
the big rock on which the Micmac was executed. Here, too, on the shore
at Platt’s Point a battle between the Micmacs and the early Richibucto
settlers took place. That was about the year 1813.
Hostilities started when a John McAlom
killed a valuable dog belonging to an Micmac.
These particular Micmacs were then camped
at the Platt’s Point which at that time was part of the land owned by
McAlmon. The Micmacs in revenge came into McAlmon field where James
Ward was plowing with a team of oxen. They
killed both animals, and being unable to find McAlmon, they took Mr.
Ward as prisoner.
A brief war was started on account of
this affair. The townspeople in fear of their lives, urged the necessity
for the presence of extra solders at Richibucto. There were no roads
at that time only wide and narrow paths, and the soldiers in fear of
being ambushed by the Micmacs who were hidden in the woods, went to
Platt’s Point by boats. Some of the Micmac women and children had been
taken hostage in retaliation for Mr. Ward who was still held prisoner.
The terrible screams of the captured
women had the effect of bringing the Micmacs from the woods. They decided
to make peace when told extra soldiers had arrived from Halifax under
the command of Major Kolloch.
Only Peter Pierscoft, Chief of the tribe,
refused to surrender. Captain Powell rushed at the chief and subdued
him with the butt of a musket.
The Halifax Militia remained here for
some weeks until a real and lasting peace was made, they then returned
to Nova Scotia. This fight at Platt’s Point, of course, was only a local
affair caused by the killing of a dog and two oxen, and didn’t include
all the Micmacs along the Richibucto Coast.