Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-11-19

About 2 o'clock Tuesday morning, n
ID. Bolster, who lives In the next house
to the South Paris post Office, was avak
ened from sound sleep by what ne
thought was an explosion. Miss Gertit
Allen, who is employed at Mr.. Bolster's
and who occupies chamber In the story
above, was awakened by noise like
pounding, followed by an explosion
aud hastily dressed and came down
stairs. She was cautioned to put out her
light. and then the lockers from Mr..
Bolster's windows saw the form OF a
man walking down by the end OF Odd
Fellows Block, in which IL the post
Office. A second explosion quickly fol-
lowed the first, and dim fash OF light
In the post Office windows indicated It's
location positively.
WI. Farrar, the postmaster, lives in
the house next to Mr.. Bolster's, the
second house from the post Office. I'm
mediately on the second explosion, Mr..
Bolster went to his window and spoke TO
Mr.. Farrar. Mr.. Farrar Immediately an
swered, and while he was dressing there
was third explosion.
There was hasty consultation be-
tween Mr.. Farrar and Mr.. Bolster, and
they agreed that IL would hardly be pos
sible at that stage to capture the burg
lars, but that they must stop them II
possible from getting away with any
booty. No kind of shooting iron"
was Immediately available, and little
time was spent in rousing citizens and
looking for firearms; but when Mr.. Far
rar and others arrived at the post office.
not more than five minutes after the third
explosion, there was no one there. The
marauders had evidently posted watch,
and he had given the alarm.
Quite number OF tools were left,
some of which were afterwards found TO
have been taken from Benefits black
smith shop on Pleasant Street. The
three explosions had spoiled the safe,
but hadn't opened IL.
Perhaps the burglars knew, and per-
haps they didn't, how near they came to
making good haul. They had evidently
started TO drill In At the front side OF the
door, and broke their drill. Then they
smashed of the combination dial. and
put their powder In there. The explo-
sions destroyed the combination lock,
but they also blew of the connections
between the bolts and the handle, so the
handle wouldn't turn the bolts. When
the safe was afterward tipped down side
ways, the bolts dropped back OF their
own weight, and the safe was open.
Among the tools left in the Office was a
wire hook, which 1t was found could be
put through where the handle came out,
and would easily turn the bolts back. IL
the hook was intended for that purpose,
as very likely II was, the visitors were
just on the ragged edge OF getting into
the safe when they were scared away.
II the burglars had had n few minutes
more, they would undoubtedly have
made good thing, a there was in the
safe, In cash and stamps, nearly eight
hundred dollars. As II was, they secured
n few dollars worth Of stamps from the
stamp drawers, and dollar or two in
change.
The suspicion seems 10 be well found
cd that IL was the same gang which
operated at Bridgton Tuesday night.
Sunday and Monday nights series OF
were carried on, on Fore
Street In Oxford, In Norway village and
al Norway Lake, which appear more like
the work OF tramps than the South Paris |
break. On Fore Street sunday night
the houses of j. G.. Rowe, Ira Har-
riman and two or three others were en-
tered. Food was stolen, but nothing OF
great value.
Monday night the houses OF Mrs. +.
W. Howe, +. 7. Stone and c. 4. Pride,
In Norway village, were entered. No
body was awakened, though the burg !
lars seem TO have made themselves very |
much at home. Mrs. Howe lost a gold |
watch, which was very valuable not |
only of itself hut "a keepsake, and
three or four dollars In money. Nothing |
Of value was taken at any OF the other
places.