The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-03-09
DAILY PRESS,
THURSDAY, MARCH 0, 1871.
Mr. COx's African Trnis
PORTLAND.
SUPPLEMENTARY.

SUPPLEMENTARY.
10 ne Editor Of the Press.
Aour correspondent p. in to DAVIS PRESS
sNes some interesting items of the history of
'ne African trade, but is in error In his no,;ce
OF Mr.. Joseph Harrod. His age ia OF ,ns,oad
" 0'' MS residence is "Annandale,, Dutcbe.s
County, N. Y"
nave received several letters relatinc en-
MIR. Cox and bis African trade. An s,ea
gentleman, relative of Mr.. Cox, writes: rh.
early years of Mr.. Cox it appears you are NOT
familiar with. He was educated in the ID, y
Goods business in the store of P,erpont q
Lord, in Boston, (the late Rev. John Pier
pont) and commenced business in the same
line about the year 1914 in a store in old
Cornhill, Boston, with Elisha Vinton, bis
orotherin-law, who only survived him one
month. They afterward removed to Portland
anu dissolved their connection, when NJ
COX went into the grocery business and in all.
dltlon to his new business, arerward at The
suggestion of his brother-inlay in Boston.
commenced the African business. The Ro,.
ton firm soon failed taking Mr.. Cox with
them. By the favor of Mr.. Thos. r. Have.
OF Portland, with other papers, have tbs
written instructions" furnished his brother.
MIR. George Hayes, Jr, by Mr.. Cox, when be
sailedin 1926 as supercargo OF the brig Romp
Capt. Allen, for the African Coast. He was
then only II years old, and had been clerk
with MIR. C., who seems to expect him to take
the general supervision of his business while
on the coast. The schooner Aretas, Caot
Benz. Horner was there at the same time with
the Romp, and the brig Union, Capt. Clouzh,
was to follow Immediately. Mr.. c.. gives
young Hayes special instruction to learn nav
igation, and fit himself for I'd mate, aud says,
you are at a time of lire when all depends
on yourself whether you will be smart, ac.
tive man, or the reverse. Be pr1dent as to
your health and do all you can 10 prevent 9th.
ers getting sick. If any of your crew prove
bad men look after them and see that they do
not iniure themselves" Mr.. G. thought they
could sell the cargo and take in anotber, and
return in four months, if they did not have 10
go "down the ceast;' if they did he instrucls
him to take ivory, shell, palm-oil, gold dust
and hides. They sailed in Dec. 1926, and did
have to 60 down the coast, as see they were
at Grand Cape Monnt March 5, 1921, taking
in ivory. 1 see that the elephants teeth aver
age "a lbs. each. Among the outward cargo
was large invoice of hard ware, shipped by
Salem merchants to be sold on their account
zee by "P's" Communication that now, Salem
monopolizes the trade. The seaman's wages
were from $14 to $16 per month.
Many of your older citizens will recollect
Charles Codman, his landscapes and his mu.
scum of curiosities which was Largely mads
up Of African spears, clubs, idols, elephants
tusks, and other articles, presented by Mr..
Hayes, who, think, made several voyages to
the coast. These articles were afterwards
transferred to the old Portland museum Ia
"Haymarket Row." and finally destroyed by
fire. Mr.. Hayes was for several years after
wards Lieutenant in the revenve servics
and now resides in Eastport, and is the agent
for the international line of steames
Windhan,, Murch 3. w.