The Portland daily press., 1868-02-12
A Tcpshnm Relic.

The following record of an incident con.
nected with the burning of Falmouth in: I77g
was read at the late meeting of the Maine
Historical Society by the Secretary, Dr. Bal
lard. 1t is from the pen of DR.. McKeen Of
Brunswick:
In the town OF Topsham there is house
near the bank of the Androscoggin river. and
at some distance below the village, in which
the several doors are hung with hinges OF
about as many varying patterns as there are
places to which they have been applied. The
origin of this popularity is traced back TO the
time of the first confagration of Portland,
then Falmouth, occasioned by Mowatt's fleet
in IT'S.
A generous prompting Of patriotism, that
selected an unfortunate method for its dis
play, urged Brigadier Thompson of Topsham
to decide upon the capture of Capt. Mowatt,
in one of his daily walks to the nertherly
side of Mupjoy's Hill. For this purpose he
collected such party of men as he could in
huence By his personal persuasion, or per-
haps authority. In the number gathered for
the enterprise was one Sam Potter, who was
then engaged in building a house. The par
ty assembled at the lower part of New Mead
ows River, at the place known as Cundy's
Harbor, and each with branch CT spruce in
his hat by way OF feather, proceeded in long
boats on their successful undertaking. On
their arrival at the place proposed, they con-
cealed themselves beneath the srowth of
pines on the hillside, and when Mowatt ap-
peared on his customary walk, (April 81
they sprang forth from their hiding place
and made him their captive, with two of his
friends.
The Brigadier then retreated with his pr;s.
oner to the main land on the present Fal-
month SiGa Of hack NaEofi a+io tnl-
lowed for his release, which was eventually
granted, By reason of the general d!saproba-
| ton Ct the arrest by the people cf the town.
| Mowatt afterwards sailed to Boston, where
| his narration OF his treatment, gained az Or
! der from the British Admira. tor the destruc.
tien of the town by fire. The order was
| obeyed on the 18th Of October, and the queen
| town, as its successor is the queen city OF the
East, was laid ia ashes.
Alter the desolation was completed, Potter
| thought OF his unfinished work, ana his want
of fixtures to perfect its convenience. AS
| soon as practicable, lie left home to visit The
ruins, and in rummagng amidst the ashes
he picked up box full OF hinges, thumb
| latches and other matters suited to his wish.
es. On his return home, he applied his treas.
ures TO the benefit OF his future dwelling
The variety OF these materials, still visible or
the doors, testify to the iniudicious stratagem
of the Brigadier, and the cruel order of thu
Admiral, are among the few relies of It's exc
cution in scenes OF disaster, rum and woe.
A Boston paper estimates that there are
25OOO men out OF employment in and around
that city, AID that including all New England
there are 117,000 men seeking work and find
ing none. The New York papers estimate
their army of unemployed at 10000. Thus il
different parts ofthe country thousands of mer
who rely solely upon their labor for their sup
port are deprived of the means of subsistence
But there is no need of actual suffering. Their,
Is means enough for the support Of all, and i
anywhere in New England any portion Of th
people are in distress tor food or clothing
somebody is to blame,