Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-01-18


meet your gaze. We were favored with =
glimpse Of the White Mountains, distan
80 miles In dir line. The moment was
happily chosen.
Mt. Washington had its head wrapped
in . dark thunder turban, which gradually
swept down it's broad sides, like mourn
ing veil. We could see the herce storm
breaking in waves against its jutting peaks.
At the left rose Kearsage, almost as lof-
ty, on whose apex wc could see with the
glass, the hotel which affords rest and com.
fort to the weary traveller. The other
peaks rose emulously around, but in a mo-
mcnt more the black storm cloud driftcd
down into the valley, and Mt. Washing.
ton, peerless and grand, lifted his proud
summit heavenward, as in conscious supc-
riority afove them all.
We were told that there we-e many liy.
ing in Portland, who have never been up.
on this Observatory.
Precisely at midnight, the strong, swift
and beautiful steamer. City Of Richmond y
cast off her moorings and proudly swept
down the harbor, bearing goodly compa-
ny towards the northeastern coast 0f Maine
The moon on her last quarter, was hang
ing over the sea aud sending her simmer
ing column Of rays across tile crinkling
wavelets. In fifteen minutes we struck
the ground-swell. and by singular coin
cidence, ABOUT the same time, we all be-
came CONSCIENTIOUS about late hours, and
retired to our berth. Morning came.
crystalline in beauty, All was quiet. The
steamer was Wheeling along as motionless
as if in the Hudson. Going upon deck,
found We had entered Pcnobscot Bay and
Were about to make landing at Rocklaud.
The water was rs smooth and as blue as
the sky. The Camden hills loomed north.
ward, azurc and peaceful islands dappletl
the bay. each an oasis Of vcrdure. In the
waste Of waters. A haze like that of In
dian summer, lent witching veil of en-
ciantment to the distance. Strips OF sea
fog clung to the base of the hills as if the
foam Of waves from some former tempest
had been crystallized upon the verdant
slopes. 1t was the bridal of morning upon
the mountains. 2
We touched at Castine, a rural town Of
considerable beauty and historic interest.
founded by the Baron de Cas.ine In 1867.
The ruins Of an old fortress still remain.
Thence We bore Eastward through 4 chan
mel thickly interspersed With islands, FREE
quently opening in long vistas sesward,
presenting at every mile some new scene
Of beauty. This channel is called '.Egge-
moggin Reach" and is navigablc for the
largest vessels. Several other landings
were made, until we rounded at length in
to Union River Bay, and at II o'clock
formed a junction with the little steamboat
which was to take us to tile village Of Els
worth, some twenty miles to the north.
ward. Passengers were here exchanged
an! VIC badc goodbye to the "City Of Rich.
mond," whose destination is the Eastern
harbors of Mt. Desert Island and of Maine.
We were now on board queer little
craft, somewhat resembling wheel-bar-
row, drawn, not pushed. with an honest,
ruddy faced pilot, who understood his bus
mess, aud a cook who gave about twenty
hungry individuals meal which sepmed
truly royal. There was boiled haddock,
previously little corned, but which did
not communicate that popularity to the
eater.-the vegetables also, of the season,
and then-shade Of Epicurus What q
clam chowder Let Delmonco retire from
the business forever!
Now we are in Ellsworth, upon Union
River. two miles from the head of Union
River Bay. 1t has population Of about
5000. 1t is one Of the busiest and thrift
est villages in tho State Of Maine. 1t
stands upon a gentle slope from Union
River, overhanging which at some points,
are wild rocky cliffs, down which not even
chamois could walk. Its principal busi-
mess interests are lumber and shipping
Great numbers of mills line the river banks
for here is found one of the finest water
powers in the State. Acres Of logs lie in
the ponds aud acres more Of lumber, ready
for shipment, cover the banks. 1t was Of
special interest to me to observe the gang
saws. sometimes twenty in number. walk
ing through an entire log, two feet In di-
ameter anil thirty feet in length. The
newly invented shingle machine, which
has turned out as maiiy as 4O.Ot)0 perfect
shingles per day, fully repaid visit. The
manufacture of shocks. or boards eawed
aud matched tire exact sise for sugar box
es, ID prominent business. The shooAs
are shipped to Cuba, filed with sugar aud
returned to the United States. Some of
them have made their way back again 20
Ellsworth. in the circle of trade. Two or
three hundred thousand Of these shocks
are yearly made and shipped.
Many vessels are built and launched at
Ellsworth, some Of heavy tonnage. Stand
ing on Turner's Point,one evening.I count
ed upwards Of twenty sloops and sch"on-
ers lying at the wharves, or upon the
stocks. An extensive sail-loft supplies
these birds Of ocean passage with their
wings.