The Portland gazette., 1818-08-04
Distressing Fire in Freeport, Maine.

ABOUT nine O'CLOCK, coal tell from the
dome of the Steeple on which man was en-
ployed soldering the tin. Some sbayiugs be
low Instantly kindled. Immediate exertions
were made to extinguish the fame, but it was
too late. In two minutes, no hope OF saving
the building remained. The flames ascended
the front Of the edifce and the steeple al
most with the rapidity of lightning. The
workmen upon the dome had scarcely time to
descend with safety, So rapid was the con
fagration that the frame fe! in about 20 min
utes.
The carpenters shop belonging TO Capt
Dillingham;, with most OF its contents, was like
wise consumed, Mr. Nye's store considerably
damaged. The wind at n. W. soon became
fresh, and drove the FIRE upon the buildings
on the south east side of the s,reet--Severai
dwelling houses and other buildings seemed
menaced with inevitable Destruction. Many
circumstances combined TO increase the gen
ersl distress. Such was the elevated situa-
tion of the Meeting house, exhibiting one vast
column of fame, the height the burning
steeple, the quantity OF combustlble materials
on FIRE, the proximity and drIness OF numerous
buildings; and such the inadequate means
for subdung the raging element afforded by
the village, that divine power only could res
train its violence. For shcrt period the
scene was awfuly terrific. But he who COM
mands the winds and the waves and they
obey him, set bounds TO the desolation. His
merciful Providence was conspicuous. Sew
eral buildings were On fire at the same time
The roof, OF The large stable belonging to Mr.
Holbrook, contiguous to which are several val
liable buildings was burnt through and the
hay in the lott took FIRE but by the judicious
and spirited exertions OF the citIzens, all were
preserved except those above mentioned.
The loss OF private property is principally
sustained by Messrs. Dillingham; and Nye.
The cost of The Meeting house cannot now be
estimated. 1t was raised in May, and was
expected to be completed IN September
The materials for finishing had been chiefly
collected and were consumed with the build
ing.
BY this dispensaton of Providence, the
church and society are placed in distressing
state. The old meeting house was taken
down in the spring for the purpose ofincor-
porating some of the materials with the new
building. They had anticipated with much
satisfaction commodious place of worship
ready for their reception early the ensuing
autumn. How changed the scene In one
disasterous moment their hope is perished
They are left TO adopt with MUCH feeling the
,plaintive strain Of the Prophet, " Our holy and
our beautiful house is burned up with fire
and all our pleasant things are laid waste"
They claim the sympathy OF sister churches,
and generous public. In their affiiction
they direct their eyes 10 them for that aid
which will reanimate their hopes and permit
them with undiminished confidence, once
more 10 seek habhation for their God
Much praise is due for the prompt and ef
fective exertions rendered by the inhabitants
of different parts of the town. The ladies of
the neighbsurbood, honorably distinguished
themselves by their active and essential aid.
Freeport, July 29, 1918.
GEN. PuTEAM-It will be recolIected that
not long since we declined republishing the nu-
merous essays designed to vindicate the well
earned fame Of the man whose courage and pat
riotism continued throughout the whole revolu-
tionary struggle, like Caesars wife, Nnot only
pure but llsssuspectsd." The reasons we assign
ed were, that we could find none amongst us who
appeared to credit in the smallest degree the
base and unfounded calumnies of Putnanl's ira
ducer-as his name and courage had so long been
coupled together that they have become of near
~ Synonymous import. But some of our sub
scribers who have seen the scandal promulgated
IN the Argus appear to think the writers at least,
IN that paper, believe what they have written,
and Therefore request US to rebut those state
ments by yrepublishing the food of testimony con-
tanned in the numbers lately inserted in the Cen
tinel. Although we still adhere to our former
opinion on this subject, yet as the paper is de-
signed to crafty and anuse our patrons, we shall
far yield to their solicitations as to give place
to as much of the testimony contained in those
numbers as viii convince the most skeptical,
and afford data for the rising generation torepel
similar SANDER, In case any one should rise up
base enough to propagate it,
The MASSACHUSETTS EvANGELIcAL MIS-
srosARY Society was originally established in
the counties Of Worcester and Middlesex, in 1907,
for the purpose of supplying the destitute inhabi-
tants of our own country with the means of Chris
tian instruction and moral Improvement. Its Mis-
sionaries were directed to con6ne their abours 10
certain districts of moderate compass measure
we'll adapted TO furnish the people with expert
mental evidence of the peculiar advantages of sta
ted religious instruction. They were authorized
to.promise assistance from the society to those
trations of the gospel IL was also made one i'm
80 sha.r r<r.x- tt,asr - sh.