The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-24
Bottom of the Punch Bowl
Rescued.
Safes Will Be Pulled From
the Debris Today.
A Watchman Suggested to Guard
Stray Treasure at the Dump.

"The hrs safe we get out, will you
treat?" asked Contractor Horton Of John
Heathcote, as they were watching the
Masonic Temple ruins this morning. John
said he would, and the contractor added,
"You needn't be surprised to see one
out before noon."
This seemed impossible, becauge every
toiy concluded it would take another day
to r, ach the safes. Mr.. Horton had seen
one near the top of the ruins, however,
and gave his men instructions to get It
out at once and he promised to have it
out before ~ o'clock. This was great
news, but not half so interesting to Fire
Marshal Ira Winsor, as the finding OF the
bottom of "Father" William II. Magee's
famous mammoth punch bowl. which
had done duty at all of the Royal Arch
Chapter State occasions since Jan. /. 1900,
when it was presented to the chapter by
tie late worthy brother. The inscription
on the bottom is intact with the ex-
ception of the year. Captain Xinsor is
Keeping his eye peeled for the other piece
OF that bowl. ~
John Heathcote has some valuable re-
minders OF good old times also, promi-
nent among them being the old case con-
tanning the set of china mugs which went
with the punch bowl. Nine of the mugs
look hale ana hearty, but the other three
went to pieces. Some OF the pieces were
found, however, Mr.. Heathcote also has
small glass beer mug which was OBJ
tanned at a Newport "racket" once upon
time. Attached to the mug by q red
satin ribbon is card bearing the follow
ing inscriptions:
'.The property Of Newport Chapter No.
2 Forrest says: Boys, Come in.' Ques-
tion: Who took it? Decision: Gone, but
not forgotten. Newport, X. l.. January
81, 1883 NJ. NJ, b. M, M. K. M"
William q. Heath a. Company's stoi /,
begins TO look like museum, too. They
have found the famous sword Of Bunk er
Hill, the kind our forefathers had the
strength to WELD, and swords belonging
to Frank M. Tucker, Henry Banding.
Herbert L. Hemenwny, +. Tandy anc
Thomas l.. Phillips. They have also the
once bright-colored Stars and Stripes
which so proudly ficated over the build
ing. The flag looks as II it had been
though fire and water, as we'll II might,
but 1t Is not burned very much. AS fest
as the bricks are carted off they go to
Robert IL. Little's yard and the refuse 10
taken to the city dumps. AS there may
be relics of some value dumped II Is su0-
gested that man be placed there to
watch out for them.
This afternoon case OF shoes was
found in the ruins and large crowd OF
on-lookers Immediately surrounded IL to
see II mates in good condiiiop could be
found.
p. w. Baxter, the safe expert, was on
hand and gave it as his opinion that all
the safes would be ( und intact because
the construction of the building and its
burning were such tnat the heat had lit
tie effect on the stee'.
HE KEPT HIS WORD.
Contractor Horton kept his word, for
about IL o'clock one of Allen q Jonas
sohn's safes was hauled from the ruins.
It was not one or the large safes in which
the jewellers kept their stock, OF which
they claim 10 have $50, coo worth, but 1t
held the books. The safe was opened and
everything found TO be intact, much to
the, e,relief OF the owners, because IL gave
rise TO strong, hopes that all the other
safes ere whole
Relic hunters, mem rers of the con-
mandories, found bonanzaion tho Eddy
street side of the ruins this noon and pick
axe and shovel were brought into play.
Several swords, cards, books, spoons,
forks, p'rts Of uniforms, cushions, reg :
las and c thor property, hardly recogniz-
able, were recovered.
The corners Of the ruins were successful
ly pulled down today also.