Friday, April 29, 2016

THE PORTLAND TRANSCRIPT, September 21, 1861

              
                                       MATTERS IN MAINE

          Election Returns. Returns from 339 towns and planation's give Washburn,
     51,850; Jameson, 19,111; Dana, 17,182. The Senate will probably stand 26
     Republicans and 5 Union Democrats. Returns for representatives show the
     elections of 113 Republicans, 24 Union Democrats, and 3 Dana Democrats-
     leaving more to be heard from.
         Mr. Paul C. Tebbets, Lisbon, Me., going to the barn to feed his horse, and
     not returning, was found lying on the ground in an apoplectic fit, and died
     next morning. He was nearly 80 years old.
          Brother Drew, while of the Gospel Banner, in the course of his travels
     recently paid a visit to "Purgatory," a place we always suppose he did not
     believe in. He say however there is not the least smell of brimstone" there.
          Rev. Mr. Whittlesey, of Bath has been appointed to give instruction in
     rhetoric and oratory in Bowdoin College for the present year.
          Brother Gilman, of the Bath Time and Brother Dingley, of the Lewiston
     Journal have been both appointed to the Legislature. The business of
     legislating is getting to be quite respectable!
          The Kennebec editor are loud in praise of Togus Spring and Mr. Beals'
     improvements. If we are to believe them he is making that wild rough spot
     a paradise of beauty and fertility. We know he is just the man to carry through
     any enterprise he commences.
          The new house  and barn of Reuben Small, in Cornish village, were entirely
     consumed by children playing with matches in the stable. No insurance.
           Mr. Isarel Record, of Harrison committed suicide in that town on Saturday
     last, by hanging. Rumors assign as the cause of the deed, his implication in an
     unhappy transaction with a neighbor.
          Henry Tibbets, of Fairfield, while out gunning on Monday, week, in getting
     over a fence, accidentally discharged his gun and received the shot in his leg,
     causing a bad flesh wound.
          Elder Jacob Golder of Lewiston, has raised and sold $75 worth of cucumbers
     this season from vines in his garden. He has also sold from the hills of squash
     vines, $6.35 worth of squashes.
           Major Henry G. Staples has been elected Colonel of the 3rd Maine Regiment,
     vice-Howard promoted Brigadier General, Lieutenant Colonel Tucker declined the
     position.
           Colonel Berry, of the 4th Marine Regiment, has been compelled to resign by
     pressure of his private affairs, and Major Nickerson is to be appointed Colonel.
           General Jameson was recalled to Washington last week by a dispatch from
     headquarters.
          Mr. Elliott, of Freedom, is said to have been arrested in consequence of letters
     compromising him found at Cape Hatteras.
          Mr. Norton, of Hallowell, has recently lost the ninth child out of a family of
     eleven children-only two being left.
    
         

          
    

Sunday, April 3, 2016

THE PORTLAND TRANSCRIPT, May 22, 1869


                                               LOCAL NOTES
          Messrs. Cram & Co., of the  United States Hotel,  served up to a number of
     invited guest on Thursday week, the first salmon of the season. With green peas
     and other delicacies of the season, the dinner was pronounced a great success by
     all present. But this is nothing new at the United States. Mr. Cram is making it
     one of the most popular hotels in the state., and often  has on his hands more guest
     than he can accommodate. A pleasant landlord, a good table and reasonable prices
     are always appreciated by the public.
          The Chadwick house, which was so sadly shattered by the gas explosion of last
     Saturday evening, is one of the oldest mansions in town. It was built in 1765 by
     Rev. Samuel Deane, then associate pastor of the First Parish Church, and was one
     of the few houses that survived the destruction of the town by Mowatt in 1775.
     The lot originally contained three acres, extending from Congress Street to Back
     Cove, and was purchased by Mr. Deane of Enoch Moody and Arthur Howard (sic)
     for 60 English pounds. The house was originally two stories high, with a hipped
     roof, The alteration made after the doctor's death greatly changed its appearance.
     It was long owned and occupied by the late Samuel Chadwick, and was recently
     sold by his heirs to Mr. Ira P. Farring for $25,000. Mr. Barnum, who occupied it
     at the time of the accident, had fitted it up for a boarding house.
          A fearful and disastrous explosion of gas took place on Saturday evening last,
     is the  Chadwick mansion, on Congress Street, occupied by Captain Isaac Barnum.
     Workman had taken off a gas bracket in a third story chamber, and neglected to
     plug up the pipe. The gas leaking out, Mr. Barnum lighted the gas below, went up to
     discover the cause, and no sooner opened the door than a terrific explosion took
     place, raising the roof, blowing out the wall, and making a complete wreck of the
     upper part of the house. Mr. Barnum was thrown down and so fearfully burned that
     he was unconscious most of the day Sunday, but in the evening was comparatively
     comfortable. Mrs. Barnum was somewhat burned in tearing the burning clothes
     from her husband. The explosion was very loud and caused a great sensation in
     the neighborhood. Crowds surrounded the house on Sunday.  The accident was very
     severe to Capt. Barnum, causing much loss as well as suffering, and we cannot doubt
     there will be a generous response to Mayor Putnam's call in his behalf, for pecuniary
      aid.
             Mr. C. S. Robbins, of Winthrop, writes us that in taking down the frame of an old
     house in which he and his father before him were born-the latter now nearly 80 years
     old-he found the timbers sound, and among them picked up a old copper coin which he
     sends us. It is one of the Nova Constellatio coppers, which appeared in immense
     quantities in 1783, and were probably struck in England. During the Revolutionary
     War no coins were issued,  and at it close there was a loud and  imperative demand
     for them, which was answered in all directions. There are five varieties of this copper.
     The one before us has an eye with stars around in on one side, with the word Nova
     Constellatio; on the other Libertus Justitia, in 1783, with U. S. in the center,
     surrounded by a wreath.