The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-03-09

The North Church Guild will meet with Miss
Amy E. Stoddard next Monday evening.
The Hospital Aid Sewing Circle will meet at
the hospital Friday, March 10th, at p. m.
The Belfast Band will give a concert in con-
nection with the moving pictures at the Opera
House Wednesday evening, March 18th
Don't miss it.
The regular business meeting of the I'M
provement Society will be held with the sec
rotary, Mrs. Geo. E. Bracket, Monday, March
18th, at $50 p. m.
Its expected that Mrs. Rosie Reed of Stock
ton will be with the Spiritualist society on Sum-
day, March 18th. Mrs. Reed is pleasing and
convincing psychic. The public are invited.
The Women's Alliance of the First Parish
(Unitarian) church will meet at the home of
Miss Caroline E. White, Northport avenue
this, Thursday, afternoon at 230 o'clock The
subject of the paper will be "The Gambling
Evil
John Cochran Chapter, D. A. R., met with
the Misses CHM last Monday evening. Light
refreshments were served and the following
program, arranged by Mrs. F. s. Pitcher, was
rendered:
Paper, Patriotic Music
Mrs. G. W. Stoddard
Piano duet, American Fantasia
Mrs. H. L. Written and Miss CHM
Vocal solo, Song to Maine, words by Miss
Louise Coburn State Regent,
Mrs. E. P. Frost
Miss Amy E. Stoddard
Vocal duet, Drift my Bark,
Mrs. E. P. Frost and Mrs. E. S. Pitcher
THE E. R. PIERCE HOUSE DESTROYED BY
FIRE. The alarm of fire from box Is Tuesday
morning at ESQ o'clock was for fire in the E. r.
Pierce house on High street. Mrs Pierce was
awakened about $780, and smelling smoke got
up, at the same time calling to Mr. Pierce.
They went down stairs. There was some
smoke in the kitchen and when Mrs. Pierce
opened the shed door she found the interior in
flames. Mr.. Pierce used the telephone to give
the alarm and both shouted fire, which reused
the neighbors. The flames spread rapidly,
breaking through the southeast corner of the
shed first, and then running SO rapidly through
the chambers that Mr.. and Mrs. Pierce were
unable to save their Undertaking or their
best clothes, which were in their room. but
succeeded in reaching some of their common
clothes and garments. The neighbors rushed
to their assistance and with rapid work saved
the furnishings of the paror, sitting room and
studio, which included much of their antique
furniture, pictures and heirlooms of the Pierce
family. The house is in ruins, their library of
about 500 volumes, most of their iewelry.
watches, etc., their clothing, everything on the
second and third floors, and the dining room
furnishings, hand-painted china, silver, etc.,
were destroyed. Mr.. Pierce also lost many
valuable manuscripts, and much data for the
work on steam heating on which he has been
engaged for some time. They can conceive of
no theory as to the origin of the fire. The
shed was not used for ashes; gas range was
used in the kitchen and the room was lighted
by electricity. Mr.. and Mrs. Pierce had enter
tanned friends until about 10 o'clock the night
before and Mrs. Pierce had been awake sever
al times between their departure and the time
when she awoke and became conscious the re
was smoke In the house. During the fire
there was heavy explosion in front room
which blew out the windows, the drapery of
one landing in tree and of another on Pea ri
street, where Mrs. Pierce was walking at the
time, the force of the explosion knocking her
down. There was an open fire place in this
room and the explosion is thought to be due to
the air conditions. The minor explosions were
from sealed cans of paint on the first floor.
Castanus M. Smalley was very badly burned
about the face and arms in trying to save
some of the furniture. He was one of the
first on the spot and did good work. There
was some delay in giving the alarm and the
fire had spread SO rapidly that there was no
possibility of saving the house and the efforts
of the fire department were directed to pro-
tecting the adjacent houses. The house was
built in 1909 by Thomas Cunningham, and for
many years was known as the Pumpkin" OF
Sun Tavern. In 1926 it became the property
of James Miller and through him came to the
Pierces, and was long occupied by Mr.. Albion
X P. Pierce, the father of Mr.. E. R. Pierce
Since the property came i to the possession Of
the latter it has been greatly improved and
the grounds embellished with shrubs and
vlnes' making it one of the Handsomely places
in the city. and its destruction is public loss
The loss to Mr.. and Mrs. Pierce is irreparable
Deprived in few minutes time of Their
beautiful home, their personal belongings, in.
Guiding many valuable things, among them g
reference library on special subject that Mr.
| Pierce had been forty wears in COLLECTING, H.
extent of their misfortune is hard to realize
and they have the sympathy of the entire
community. They deeply feel the kindness Of
their neighbors and appreciate the many offer,
Of hospitality, but have taken rooms at the
Windsor Hotel for the present and have form.
ed no plans for the future. There was some
insurance on the property, but it covers only .
small part Of the loss.