The Republican journal., 1913-05-15
Annals of Belfast tor Halt a
Century.
BY AN OLD SETTLER
(Hon. VIM. G. Crosby.)
CHAPTER TX. (l810-11.)

y
hundred and seventy-four. The town
officers elected at the annual spring
meeting were Samuel Houston, Jr.,
John Merriam, Henry Goddard, Select
men; Jonathan Wilson, Clerk; John Will
son, Treasurer; three of them residing
on the east side of the river, two on the
west.
The nineteenth day of January was
long remembered as the "Cold Friday
in the almanacs and newspapers for sew
eral wears succeeding mention was made
of it by that name Williamson in his
History of Maine speaks OF it as the
coolest day known in this locality since
the cold winter of 1884; yet the mercury
in the thermometer stood at only Is deg.
or l6 deg. below zero. The day proceed
ing was unusually mild; so warm that
persons engaged in chopping wood, and
other manual labor in the open air, found
it uncomfortable to work with their coats
on. Just before night the wind began
to blow from the north with snow squalls
which increased in severity as the nlght
wore on. In the morning of the 18th,
and during that day. the cold was SO IN
tense that all outdoor work was sus-
pended; piling on wood In the old-fashloh-
ed fre-places furnished sufficient en-
ployment to keep all hands out OF idle
ness.
During the night preceding schooner
at anchor off Knowlton' cove In North
mort broke from her Toorings, was
driven across and stranded at place
then known as Grinnell's Point, on Long
Island. She was discovered IN the morn
;ne bv the islanders, who boarded her as
soon as they were able so to do and
found all the crew insensible, apparently
frozen to death; the captain was not on
board. They got them on shore, now
ever, as soon as possible, and to the
nearest house. One of them, who was
the best clad of them all, and who proved
70 he the mate. was laid aside as dead
beyond question. The others exhibiting
some signs of vitality messenger was
Immediately despatched to this place Tor
a physician, this being the nearest point
at which one could be found. Before ne
reached the Island the dead mate mad
come to life, and it is a singular fact
that he was the only one OF the NUMBER
who proved not to be frost-bltten IN any
of his limbs. The others were SO badly
frozen that amputation OF one or more
of their limbs became necessary TO save
their lives; one of them lost both legs.
AS soon as it could be done with safety
thew were brought across to Northport
where medical aid could be more readily
and conveniently afforded. Their suffer-
ing condition appealed loudly to the sym
pathy and charity of the good people OF
this place, and received prompt aid
most liberal response. Many years after
wards the sailor who losl both his legs
made his appearance here; ne did not
come, he said, to hunt up his legs, but to
see once more the people who were SO
kind to him when he LOST them.
This year the Belfast Academy was
built. A brief history of this institu-
ton, which has liveo nearly up to its
three-score years and Ten, may not be
out of place here. 1t was Incorporated
by the General Court CT Massachusetts
in February, 1905 The act of incorpora-
IF bo1f
ship of land six miles square in the coun-
ty of Washington, nov Aroostook, on
condition that within three years from
the passage of the act the sum of three
thousand do.lars should be raised for the
endowment of the academy and appro-
propriated to that use. The meeting OF
the Trustees for organization was held
on the thircieth day OF March following,
and before the twenty-seventh day of
July, then next, the amount required
was raised by subscription. The largest
portion o. the funds was raised here;
there were some liberal donations, how
ever, from non-residents owning lands in
the vicinity. The general depression in
business and various other causes COM
bined to delay active operations for a
while, ard it was not ur til this year that
the erection of the building was COM
pleted 1t was of about the same dimen-
sions ard model as the present brick
building with tasteful portico; it stood
nearer High street, the front of it being
but few feet westerly of the westerly
line of what is now Church street, which
was not located until many years after
wards; the approach to it was by an
avenue leading from High street. 1t
was the habit of the boys of those days
who attended the Academy to utilize
High street, when school was dismissed,
during the summer time, by playing
'1eap-frog' from in front of it to
Nesmith's Corner.
1t was formally dedicated on the eigh-
teenth Of May. A. D. 1911. The char
acter of the services on that occasion
may be gathered from the following
votes passed by the Trustees at meet
ing held on that day. "Voted, that the
thanks of the Trustees be presented to
Mr.. Porter for his elegant and apprO-