The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-07-09
The Fourth in Belfast.

He fOuTtH III 6eiIdSt.
The National Holiday passed off very
quietly in Belfast. There was no general
celebration here and large number of our
citizens spent the day elsewhere. The
weather the day before looked threatening,
but rain did not begin until about o'clock
Saturday morning. Rain fell at intervals
during the day and at times it poured
hard. The storm continued through the
night and next day. Business places were
generally closed during the day.
The might before the Fourth was a
noisy one, though little mischief was done.
The police gave the boys permission to ring
the bells and fire their crackers, guns and
fireworks all they pleased, but cautioned
them against destroying property Every
church in the city in which there is bell had
the Vestibule lighted and man in charge,
with instructions to let the boys ring but
not allow them to injure any property. At
the North church the request was made that
the bell be not rung on account of lady who
was dangerously i'll across the street. This
was respected aud the bell was not sounded
during the night.
The only damage was the burning of two
or three Old out-buildings on bon-tires near
the foot of Main street. There came near
being a serious calamity in connection with
this, however. There is a building in the
rear OF Phoenix Row, which is used for the
storage of gasolene, and the crowd, think
ing it to be an ordinary tool house, started it
4 la -
planned to them they left it suddenly, and
the only damage was moving it from its
foundation The building contained about
90 gallons of gasolene in cans and barrel
and had this been fired the results would
have been serious.
The nearest approach to a row was to-
wards morning when the police arrested
sailor who had been drinking and was be-
coming Troublesome The crowd closed in
around the officers and prisoner and forced
a conference, and the police yielded up the
man on condition that he would go home
and cause no more trouble. He Went away,
but little later was again on the street
leading a crowd lookin, for mischief This
time he was arrested and taken to jail, and
the crowd dispersed About noon when the
turnkey carried him his dinner the man
made a sudden bolt for the door and got out
of Jail. Two citizens who We're nearby as
sisted and the man was returned to the iail.
Capt. Peter F. Welch with a crew of men
went to Augusta with the new Hydrant en-
gine and took part in the trial of engines.
Hydrant was placed among the first-class
tubs and is the smallest in her class, having
9-inch cylinder, while the others range
from L. to II inches Her play was 1876
feet, 3 inches. She won no money. Niagara
of Brunswick played 225 feet, 1-2 inches. The
engine was sent over by the freight train Fri
day and returned Monday forenoon. The
tiremen and few others went to Augusta
by the regular NOR ming train Saturday, and
returned.by a,special tr ain from Burnham,
arriving here about o'clock Sunday morn
ing
Aside from the Augusta excursion there
was no large number to any one place. A
few attended the races at Unity, some went
to Pittsheld, some to Rockland, and others
to Northport Camp Ground and other near
by points.
Hon. Seth L. Milliken delivered the ad-
dress at Pittstield, and the Belfast Band on
its return from Bar Harbor stopped there a
short time and gave an out-of-doors' concert.
The Belfast Band arrived from Bar Har-
Dor by the Saturday night train. Its.engage-
ment at Northport Hotel was cancelled on
account Of the small number who came from
Bangor.
Prof. Stevens played for the ball at the
Town Hail. Islesboro, and Prof. Whitten for
a ball at Albion Corner.
On account of the storm the clam bake of
Seaside Grange was adjourned to the Grange
Hall. There was large attendance and two
bushels of CLANS We're disposed CT. The
dance in the evening was largely attended
and an enjoyable affair.
Mr.. A. C. Sibley sent flags, tin horns, etc,
to the Girls Home that the little ones might
celebrate the 4th, and invited them to his
home that evening to witness a display of
fireworks. The rain, however, compelled
the postponement of that part of the pro-
gram.
The celebration has continued over into
ohls "eeh. AS 1uo Wedtner peIIlltteu tilere
have been fireworks and other explosions
due on the 4th or the night before 1t is
hard to dampen the enthusiasm of Young
America.
Three small boys created a smile and did
something which they thought was pretty
naughty. A fisherman had left some samples
of corned fish on a box and placard read
ing: "Corned fish cents per pound, at the
vessel in Puddle Dock" The boys built
a fire in the box and roasted the fish, and
then changed the sign to read: Cooked fish,
25 cents per pound. For sale here
Among the portraits of members of the
Medal of Honor Legion, published in the
Boston Journal, June u, we notice two
Twentieth Maine veterans, Gen. Adelbert
Ames and Capt. A. E. Fernald. This Or