Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-08


might be but the half wasn't pre-
dicted. Press onward is our motto"
The male contingent of the Maine
Journalistic fraternity will naturally
be equal to the occasion.
PeriIs for Portland.
Bangor Nevs.)
despatch published i'll a late issue
of the New York sun conveys to US
| things of another menace to Portland.
| this time no less than deadly and
| commerce-destroying bomb. floating on
the still waters of the harbor, and
among the beautiful islands where the
good people 80 to get sober after hav-
ing taken too much of the liquid re-
freahments with which Portland
abounds. 1t appears that during the
Spanish war in 1895 the Portland board
of trade, desiring to protect the city
from invasion by d hostile fleet. had II
number of contact mines moored in the
hhrbor and let them remain there in
the hope that some indiScreet Spanish
snip might come along and hit the eX-
plooive and send the enemy sky high
The war ran its bloody course Bar
l1arbor and Boston heard the firing of
heavy guns in the fog off shore. the
summer visitors fled far inland to avoid
sudden annihildtion. and the brave lads
who had been sent to the front rushed
up Sln Juan hill behind Eoose Welt, and
before We knew that war was under
way the naughty dons had sued for
peace and the war WAS at an end.
But Portland, being slow. was not
sure the war was over until months
later, and kept a few of the mines out
i'll the wet as Il menace to any one who
came along without Il permit. Then :,
big storm arose. and when the en-
ginecrs went to look for the contact
mines, several of them had become
anxious over the long delay and gone
looking for Spaniards on their own
hook. a few of the explosive contriv-
anceS were discovered and put out of
use by approved methods, but two
mines could not be found. Men with
boats searched for days, but the mines
continued undiscovered. Since then
Portland has been on Uneasy street.
Every time Il thunder shower came up,
the inhabitants went and hid in their
cellars and if a lOosened single tapped
and wealthy residents procured paper
ana pens and proceeded to make their
Wills. Not few citizens died from
heijrt failure, and many men and
women in middle life turned prema-
turrly gray and aged. This state of
fright continued for more than six
years. Last week the strained feelings
of the people were relieved just 80 per
cent. Iy the discovery of one of the
contact mines. floating in the harbor
Tug boats were sent out by night to
pfihS IL IN, after which the pOpulace
filled up on beer and caught Il few
WinkS of sleep.
l'ut the danger is not past by any
means. There is still one contact mine
TIC be accounted for Somewhere in the
harbor this death-dealine instrument is
i!ir'S in wait, ready 10 pounce upon the
town when il is least expected. Every
hlsht when the citizens go to bel they
look III Inc dark closets and behind
tue NocdhoN. expecting to find Il con-
ceaied contact mine. If a rusty nail
snaps IN the frost, they leap out Of bed,
IKE jumping Frenchmen. and though
hild helehhors have striyen to alleviate
the distress. assurances of safety have
10 effect. Every time Colonel Dill of
the Portland Press starts for Augusta
10 witness the performance of the legis
awe Snow. committee of the best
ci'Eens follow him to the train and be-
eeeNH mn 10 come back soon. for they
40 not EnoW when they may need him.
ne condition o! the city is most pitt
iu'' mere can be no rest for anybody