CHAPTER V

CUSHING'S ISLAND

One of our next stops should include this island of Casco Bay. It is located just across the channel from Willard Beach, South Portland; in an easterly direction from Willard Beach.

First of all, why do we wish to treasure hunt here? A little history at this point might help the modern hunter, just a bit. We will go back in history to the year 1632. The first pirate ever heard of in the annals of piracy, was called; "Dixie Bull". This pirate was believed to be of English descent. He robbed and sacked Pemaquid, Maine, in 1632; then set sail for Richmonds Island, which was next on his list to be robbed.

However, as the story goes, a storm came up with very high winds, this pirate galleon was just entering the channel between South Portland and Cushing's Island, so "Dixie Bull" decided to put into a cove on Cushing's to wait out the storm.

It is said that he put ashore and buried some of the loot taken from Pemaquid. There are several coves facing the channel. Which one was the exact location of his landing?

Your guess is as good as mine, but I most certainly would go over these coves, beaches, and bankings very carefully. If anything was located here, you can bet it will be a real find.

The year 1632 was a long time ago, and any artifact uncovered here would be worth its weight in gold, not only as an antique but as a real historical piece.

Any article found here and checked as to relationship to "Dixie Bull" and proved authentic; would be priceless.

The history of Cushing's Island dates back to the year 1623, when Captain Levett came over from the old country. He was looking for a likely spot to settle and Cushing's Island turned out to be that spot.

Captain Levett was the first white man to settle in Casco Bay. He traded with the Indians and did not try to cheat them. He traded cheap jewelry for beaver and otter skins and got along famously with the whole tribe. Levett built his house near Cellar Point.

The Island of Cushing's has had many names, among these being Andrews, Portland, Fort Island and Bangs Island. Ezekiel Cushing took the island over in 1762 and it has been called Cushing's Island ever since.

If any of you readers are skin diving enthusiasts, you might try a few dives in and around the channel between Cushing's Island and Willard Beach, South Portland, as a number of cannon were dumped overboard during the War of 1812, and are probably still lying on the bottom of this channel.

All sides of the island should receive a good going-over with your detector, as this island is steeped in history of the bygone era of sails.