Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-10-09
NEAL DOW DEAD.
A Long, Honorable and Active
Career.
The Father OF PrOhibitiOn-Of Line
OfNOnOgenarians.


ofNOnOgenarians.
PORTLAND, Me-, Oct. 7--Gs n. Neal Dow,
Names grand old man, the apostle OF tenn
perance and father OF the Maine prohibitory
law, is dead, in his 94.h year. He was con.
scious most OF the time till WITHIN an hour Oh
his death, though his voice had failed him,
and only by his facial expression could he
show signs of recognition Of those who were
at his bedside. His son. Col. +. n. Dow, and
two daughters, Mrs. Emma NJ. Gou d and
Miss Corne Ia NJ. Dow, were In constant al
tendance upon him in his last illness. Prior
to September 25 Gen. Dow hau beeh
about the house daily. On the
morning Of that day he tainted while
attempting to dress, and from that moment
his family realized that the end was near.
He, too, fully realized it, though he that day
expressed the belief that he had sufficient
strength left to enable him to take one more
ride about town, In order that lie might see
the new church Just dedicated. A few days
later he remarked to his family ooh, am
80 tired, SO weary; long to be Free" On
the night before his death he said to the
nurse This is the end, and it is all right"
He made several suggestions to the
family in reference to the funeral al
he wanted to conduct the services.
Throughout his illness he was charac-
teristically solictous for the comfort o' those
about him. His death Is equivalent - the
removal of n Portland landmark. Tor he had
been closely and prominently identified with
the city's interests longer than any other
citizen whose name Is written in the pages
Of local history. 1t is doubtful il any other
man not In public life had wider asquant-
Gbh Htn thSn h hs feSceived messages Of
graduation from every country on the
oil,
two wears ago he made his first pubic
| tamna-an.a sraanh ~ namher OF an
| engine company, In successful EFFORT to In
| duce the organization to abandon the use OF
| liquor rs an auxiliary to It's anniversary
/ supper. Sixty-eight years later he delivered
| a powerful importance address to u large
/ outdoor gathering of his fellow citizens
who had assembled to listen to his reply to
an eminent jurist who had taken issue
! against him on certain points relating to the
question of prohibition. His life between
those two dates was filed with tlreless and
| faithful effort to enhance the cause of tenn
perance. Longevity has characterized the
| family Of Neal Dow, especially on the pa
| ternal side, for generations. Or eight
| OF his male progenitors in direct line,
but one failed to reach old age. His grand
father, Jedediah Dow, died at 81, his father,
Josiah, ut 95 and an own cousin at 81.
Josiah and Dorcas (Allen) Dow, the former
Il native OF SeabroOk. N. H., and the latter
| of West Falmouth, Me. He was very active
in his youth, fond of athletics, and while in
his early twenties he was elected chief engi-
neer OF the local volunteer fire department.
His first temperance address carried
his point at the fire company's ami
yersary celebration. A little later he
secured vote in the Mechanics nsso-
citation to dispense with wine at an
approaching festival. As member oil
that association he also secured an abandon
ment of the ringing Of the town bell at II
and 4 o'clock, which had long served as II
signal for mechanics to take their dram. He
took the initiative in the organization OF a
young mems total abstinence society. He
became an ardent supporter OF General
James Appleton, an early advocate of liquor
prohibition. In 1888 Mr.. Dow appeared be-
fore the Portland board OF aldermen oppos-
ing license. The board voted to submit the
question to the people. but the anti-license
endeavor failed by slight margin at the
polls. Four years ago Portland voted by
q majority Of 44O against license. In
1843, "A, AZ and '46 Mr.. Dow appeared
before the Maine Legislature as an ad.
vocate of state prohibition, in the last
mentioned year about 40 900 signatures
being obtained to petition for such meas.
ure That year the Maine prohibtory law
was passed. Three years later he appeared
before the Legislature with IL bill for addi.
tional temperance legislation. 1t passed both
branches. but was vetoed by the governor.
The next year similar bill passed the House
but was lost by tie In the Senate
He was the Wing candidate for mayor
OF Portland In 1851, and secured an cleo.
ton. in spite OF the vigorous anti-Pr
hibition sentiment against him. Tha
year he went before the legislators with
another bill. which was real ~ the orig
inal of the present prohibitory law. 1t was
passed by a big majority. While he was
mayor he vigorously prosecuted the rum
sellers His first victim was u prominent
wholesaler, who defled the police to modest
his stock in trade, but Mayor Dow put In an
appearance on the scene, and his order was
carried out. The next year he was renomi-
mated, but failed OF an election.
In 1855 the Republican party named him
as | $ mayoralty candidate, and elected him.
In that year. under the operation of what
was known as the Intensified Dow law" the
famous Portland riot took place at the old
city hall, in what is now Monument square.
The city government had bought $500
worth of liquor for the establishment OF n
city agency. When the liquor arrived the
opponents Of the law determined to make
use Of an ambiguity or defect OF the law t.
hold Mayor Dow legally responsible FOL
having this liquor for sale. They went tc
Judge Carter Of the municipal court, and
obtained u warrant with which to get pos
session OF the liquor. Judge Carter, beinl
in sympathy with the mayor. gave The
warrant to Deputy Marshall Ring, who, witt
q squad OF police. guarded the liquor. Il
was the evening OF June 2. A mob hat
gathered around the entrance and began t
stone the door. Mayor Dow and the count,
sheriff ordered the mob to dispense. but thu
order was not complied with. The police
fired round OF blank cartridges, which haC
| nj 10 inta ifx,t In rla "a
the mob. Then bullets were used, ant
John Robbins, the mate OF an Eastport yes
sci then in port, was killed. The appear
ance of the rifle guards dispersed the riot
but not till 10 or u rioters were wounded
Mayor BOWS enemies had him summoned
into court on charge OF liquor selling. His
counsel was the Hon. William Pitt Fessen-
Hon. Nathan Clifford, afterward justice o
OF the United States supreme court
Mayor Dow was acquitted. Prohibi
ton again became u state issue
the next year. and Samuel Wells, the
Democratic and anti-Prohibtion candidate
for governor was elected by 5000 majority
The state liquor law was repealed, but its re
peal was only temporary. In 1857 he visited
England and Scotland by invitation OF tn,
United Kingdom Alliance. The next yea
he was sent to the Legislature as u repre-
sentative from Portland, and was re-electet
in 1859. In 1861 he raised regiment Of vol
unteers and recruited a battery OF artillery
He was made colonel Of the 18th Main,
regiment and ordered to the depart
ment OF the gulf While on his wa,
there the Mississippi, the steamer il
which were Colonel Dow and q portion o.
his regiment. was wrecked of Frying Pal
shoals. He was shortly afterward commits
stoned brigadirr-genernl by President Lin
coin. and was in command OF Fort ST. Philip
IL n.. No..