The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-17
Providence Man Brings
Back Chicago Story.
Cider Effectually Used as a
Fire ExtinguiSher.
Liberty Tree Now in Hands OF New
port Historical Society.

Providence man who has just re-
tcrned from Chicago brings back with
him an entirely new incident OF the great
fire which swept that city a quarter OF
century ago. This story was told by Mr..
Scott Fergus of the Fergus Printing Com
pany to the Providencs man W no is also
engaged In tue printing business. Here
Is the way MIR. Fergus told tho tale:
SIN 1871 there was on Grant street, in
North Chicago, small frame dwelling
house. perhaps little farther removed
from its neighbors than they wore from
each other and set back from the street
about twenty feet. / do not know
whether 1t is still standing or not, nor do
! remem ber its mum ber, but it stood there
couple OF years ago, like the relic IL
was. On October Q the man who owned
the place his name have also forgotten
saw The fire was headed his way and
knew that the little home would soon,
like thousands Of others, be wrapped in
flames, From its comparative seclngiun
the thought entered his mind that there
might be lighting chance Of saving the
placs II only he bad a supply of wstsr.
He had resolved to remove his family as
the neia hbors all Ground him were doing,
aad 10 save what they could carry, when
hcrenem berco that in the cellar waa bar
rel Of cider, which they Ind purchased
for their regsiement, during the long
xFI IFf l.
Quickly removing the liquii from It's cool
storage place, he gave dippers and other
containers to the different mem bers OF tho
household and instruciec them to watch
for every little blaze. The resolute band
Ct little firemen and frewomen worked
and watched. and while every house for
blocks on every side became tns prey Of
the flames, this little house was saved
and that by q nero barrel Of cider"
Some months ago the Go5siper gave an
sccount of the planting OF liberty tree
near the residences OF Colonel OIncy at
the North End. This occurred many
years before the war of the Revolution
and the planting was the occasion OF
impressive and patriotic exercises. This
fact is recalled by the recent announce
ment In the American Historical Register
that H.Audlcy Clark, and Dumout Clarke,
heirs at law of the late Wiliam A. Clark
have transferred to the Newport Histor-
icsl Socisty the small triangle OF land at |
the nor, hsrn end OF Thames street, at I
the junction of Farewell street, inclosing
the Liberty tree, being the land hereto
fore conveyed py William Reed to William
ElIery, John Collins, Robert Crook and |
Samuel Fowler, and their successors, by
deed bearing date OF April IA, 1866. Will
trustee, In succession to the trust under
the deed.
The original deed recites that "tbe said
tree forever hereafter be known by the
pane of the Tree Of Liberty. and Do set
apart to and for the use of the sons of
and that the same stand as a
Of the spirited and noble op-
position made to the Stamp act. In the
year l766, by the Sons of Liberty in
Newport, Rhode Island, aud throughout
tna continent of North America; and be
considered as EN- mblematical of publ lib
srry, of her taking deep root in Englisu-
America. OF her strength and spreading
protection by her benign influences
refreshing her sons ia ell their Just
struggles against the attempts of
tyranny and oppression; and. futh-
,rmore, the said Tree of Liberty IL
destined and set apart for exposing TO pub
fc fgnomfny and repr0ach all offenders
lgainst the liberties OF their country and
lbettors and approvers Of such as would
'nslsve her, and that the same may he
'eraired to upon ell rejoicing OH account
Il the rescue and celiversnce Of liberty
rom any danger she may have been in of
'ein9 subverted and overthrown; and,
uyt hermore, that the said Tree OF Lib
rfy stand as q memorial OF the frm and
Inshaxen loyalty Of the American Sons
4 Liberty 10 His Msjesty. King George
nc Third, and Of their inviolable attach
nent TO the happy establishment OF the
'rptestant succession In the illustrious
ouss of Hanover; and, in general, said tree
, hereby conveyed 10, aud apart for such
thtr uses 81 they, the true born Sons OF
liberty. shall from time t. time, from
&c to ege, ana in all times and eges
orover he-esfter, npprehend, judge and
rsolvs may subsorve the glorious cause
I f.public liberty"