Squandro
Encyclopedia
Squandro was sachem
of the Sokokis tribe in 1675, an American Indian
tribe that lived near the Saco River
at Saco
in Maine
. Squandro gained respect among whites because his tribe lived in peace with white settlers for about 50 years. Legend dictates that Squandro returned a white girl who had been captured in a previous raid and reared by his tribe. Dignified and solemn, Squandro was believed to have powers of sorcery and magic. Due to white settlers killing his son and perhaps his mate, Squandro uttered the "Saco Curse" and carried out the first blow in King Philip's War
.
. The three sailors attacked the two Native Americans, throwing Squandro's infant son into the Saco River in front of the child's mother. The infant sank and the mother dove in and retrieved him. However, the infant soon died due to the incident. Another version of the legend states that both the pregnant mother and child died. Chief Squandro mourned for three days, then in a fit of rage he cursed the river, saying that the river would "claim three lives a year
until all white men fled its banks" to replace the lives of the three lost that day. This also ignited violence between the tribe and white settlers and led to the first blow in King Philip's War
when Squandro influenced a band of Androscoggins
to attack white Saco settlers.
As recently as 1947, residents of the area hesitated to go near the Saco River's waters for fear of the curse of Squandro until after at least three people had drown each summer. During that time, a year passed with no drownings, and the Maine Sunday Telegram
proclaimed that the curse was broken with the headline "Saco River Outlives Curse of Indian Chief." However, local belief holds strong to this day. The history of the incident
and its involvement in the
war is rarely disputed, but many view the curse with skepticism. It is conceivable that over the span of the river from its beginning in New Hampshire, at least three lives were lost each year since the curse. Though the story began in the 17th century, there is no existing record of the curse until the late 1880s during the Colonial Revival Movement
.
Sachem
A sachem[p] or sagamore is a paramount chief among the Algonquians or other northeast American tribes. The two words are anglicizations of cognate terms from different Eastern Algonquian languages...
of the Sokokis tribe in 1675, an American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribe that lived near the Saco River
Saco River
The Saco River is a river in northeastern New Hampshire and southwestern Maine in the United States. It drains a rural area of of forests and farmlands west and southwest of Portland, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at Saco Bay, from its source. It supplies drinking water to roughly 250,000...
at Saco
Saco
- Place names :Angola* Sacomar, Angola - marshalling yardsUnited States* Saco, California* Saco, Maine** Saco Bay ** The Saco River in Maine and New Hampshire* Saco, Missouri* Saco, MontanaMozambique* Saco Bay...
in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. Squandro gained respect among whites because his tribe lived in peace with white settlers for about 50 years. Legend dictates that Squandro returned a white girl who had been captured in a previous raid and reared by his tribe. Dignified and solemn, Squandro was believed to have powers of sorcery and magic. Due to white settlers killing his son and perhaps his mate, Squandro uttered the "Saco Curse" and carried out the first blow in King Philip's War
King Philip's War
King Philip's War, sometimes called Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, or Metacom's Rebellion, was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English colonists and their Native American allies in 1675–76. The war is named after the main leader of the...
.
Saco Curse
In the summer of 1675, three sailors from an English ship that was anchored at the mouth of the Saco River departed by rowboat, approaching the Indians retreat at Factory Island. When the sailors saw Squandro's pregnant mate and infant son Menewee, they decided to test the European belief that an Indian baby can dog paddle upon birth as do animals. The belief stemmed from the natives' dog paddle style as opposed to the European breaststrokeBreaststroke
The breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on his or her chest and the torso does not rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to its stability and the ability to keep the head out of the water a large portion of the time. In most swimming classes, beginners learn...
. The three sailors attacked the two Native Americans, throwing Squandro's infant son into the Saco River in front of the child's mother. The infant sank and the mother dove in and retrieved him. However, the infant soon died due to the incident. Another version of the legend states that both the pregnant mother and child died. Chief Squandro mourned for three days, then in a fit of rage he cursed the river, saying that the river would "claim three lives a year
until all white men fled its banks" to replace the lives of the three lost that day. This also ignited violence between the tribe and white settlers and led to the first blow in King Philip's War
King Philip's War
King Philip's War, sometimes called Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, or Metacom's Rebellion, was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English colonists and their Native American allies in 1675–76. The war is named after the main leader of the...
when Squandro influenced a band of Androscoggins
Androscoggin (tribe)
The Androscoggin were a tribe of the Abenaki nation who lived in what now are Maine and New Hampshire. It is assumed that by the 18th century, they had been absorbed by neighboring tribes.- Name :...
to attack white Saco settlers.
As recently as 1947, residents of the area hesitated to go near the Saco River's waters for fear of the curse of Squandro until after at least three people had drown each summer. During that time, a year passed with no drownings, and the Maine Sunday Telegram
Portland Press Herald
The Portland Press Herald publish daily newspapers in Portland, Maine, USA...
proclaimed that the curse was broken with the headline "Saco River Outlives Curse of Indian Chief." However, local belief holds strong to this day. The history of the incident
and its involvement in the
war is rarely disputed, but many view the curse with skepticism. It is conceivable that over the span of the river from its beginning in New Hampshire, at least three lives were lost each year since the curse. Though the story began in the 17th century, there is no existing record of the curse until the late 1880s during the Colonial Revival Movement
Colonial Revival Movement
The Colonial Revival movement was a national expression of early North American culture, primarily the built and artistic environments of the east coast colonies. The Colonial Revival is generally associated with the eighteenth-century provincial fashion for the Georgian and Neoclassical styles...
.