The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-11-06
Annals of Belfast tor Half a
Century.
BY AN OLD SETTLER
(Hon. VIM. G. Crosby
CHAPTER XXXIX. (lS44. J

heavy that our mails were two and three
days behind time, and the mercury
twelve degrees below zero. On the
principle that misery loves company"
we found great comfort in the fact that
the inclement weather extended over all
the northern States. The harbor of
New York City was frozen over for a
distance of twelve or fifteen miles from
the city; Boston harbor was frozen up as
far down as the Light, and a canal was
to enable steamers to go to sea. Our
own harbor was so frozen that sleighs
passed between Islesborough and the
man. The ice extended as far as Owls
Head. There was good skating from
East Thomaston to the Fox Islands; an
event which had not occurred for fifty
wears; at which time, it was said, foxes,
which We're very numerous on the
islands, came off to the main. We were
brought in contact with open water on
the 9th of March by cutting canal
through the ice as far out as the Monu-
ment.
For the first time in this locality the
amusement of riding on ''ice-bc ats, up
and down our river was introduced. The
ice-embargo on this Port was so effectual
and of such duration that, according to
an estimate made on the 9TH OF April,
there were then at the least ten thou
sand cords of wood and bark piled on the
wharves at the village and at the Po:nt,
then called RUSS, NOW City Point, await
ing shipment. The river ABOVE the up
per Bridge was, even on that day, block
AIDED by ice. 1t was predicted at the
time that "the young men OF our village
would have gray hair on their heads be-
fore this harbor would be so thoroughly
closed by ice again. The prediction
has been fulfilled; for the heads of many
of those young men have been for many
years whitened with the blossoms OF
the grave" and similar state of facts
has never since occurred.
The Fire Engine, for the purchase OF
which an appropriation was made as
stated in a previous chapter. arrived
here early in January. II was built by
W. C. Zimmerman and c., of Boston,
and cost including nose, hose-carriage
and appendages, s10l7.50. 1t was nam
ed the Hydrant. A new fire company
was forthwi h organized under the name
of Hydrant Engine Company, No. 2, and
the following officers were chosen;
Stephen B. Day, Foreman, Curtis b.
Merrill, assistant, John w. White,
Joseph Bean, I'd, Benjamin Griffin, Di-
rectors, Matthew C. Hazeltine, Clerk,
Nathaniel Merrill, Foreman of Leading
hose, Joseph bennett, Assistant, Joseph
Ames, Jr., Foreman Suction Hose,
Charles Giles, Assistant. Josiah Hall,
Jr.. and John S. Caldwell, Hoseman,
William Beckett and Daniel Murch, Pole
men. Alden D. Chase, Torchman. The
old engine, Vigilance, was thoroughly
repaired and James P Furber was chosen
Foreman and Amos R. Boynton, Assist
ant.
There was strong feeling OF hostility
to the purchase of the new engine pre-
vailing in the eastern part OF the town,
and at public, or "Anti-engine" meet
ing held by the residents in tt at section,
a resolution was adopted to resist the
payment Of any tax assessed for the pay
ment of its cost. Wiser counsels pre-
vailed, however, and the feeling of hos
tility gradually died out.
On the first day of March the first
number of a newspaper called the Peo-
pies Advocate and Independent Demo
crat made its appearance. As its title
Indicated 1t was Of Democratic procliv-
tiles; it was printed and published by
Lewis Richardson 1t professed to be
the organ of the true Democracy, sup
ported the regularly nominated Demo-
cratic candidates, State and national,
but opposed the local nominations of its
party The publication of it was sus-
pended before it reached the close of
its second year.
Mr.. Richardson was practical printer
but had been engaged in trade for some
years in this place. He was of nervous
temperament, honest in his convictions,
by nature antagonistic to all chicanery
and demagogisrn, and not the man for
the place Which by the force OF circum-
stances he was called for while to fill.
After he left this place he was joint pub
Usher, 1867, with Mr.. John Porter, of
the LIMERICK Gazette, now the Rockland
Gazette, at East Thomaston, now Rock
land. He afterwards went to California,
but returned to Rockland, where he died
in 1867.
On the morning of Sunday, the 10th
of March, the first fire of the season oc-
Cured. 1t broke out in the second story
of brick block on Main street, owned
by the late Rufus B. Allyne, Esq. which
covered the site Of the stores now occu-
pied by Albert c. Burgess, A. B. Mat
thews and John B. Wadlin. On the
ground floor were three stores; one occu-
pied by the late Benjamin Hazeltine, an
other by our fellow citizen A. N. Noyes;