Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-05-17

Hinsdale. Here, IL the wind IL not very
strong, we take In a few "swift- water-men"
for twelve miles, then on to Bellows Falls,
and the same over and over through
Queechee and White River locks up to
Wells River. This is a good weeks work,
but II has been done In less time. A days
work with the poles, however, would be
from Hartford to Windsor cks,-with
good south wind, from Hartford to Monta-
que canal. Between the last named places
but little polling has been done in the latter
more available.
The down trips of these boats were diff
ferent thing. A boat loaded with wood,
brooms, wooden-ware, hops and other
bulky articles, was not an easy thing to
handle in the wind. Pilots were necessary
over the falls at Enfield and Wilimansett.
At the latter, Harry Robinson held this re-
sponsible position many years, and Joseph
Ely was his successor. At Enfield the sig
nal strain of "pilot ahoy' was heard at
short intervals through each boating sea-
sou, either for boats or RATS. This call
brought out Jack Burbank, Alv Allen,
"Old Country" Allen and Capt. Burbank,
Sr., who would come aboard and draw cuts
for the chance. The boat was then put into
trim for "going over" oars and poles all
handy, rigging properly coiled and every
man ready for any emergency. The cham
mel Is as difficult TO run rs that in the st.
Lawrence from: Montreal TO Laprarie, but
the aforementioned pilots seldom touched
rock. This run of six miles was quickly
made, when the pilot would sometimes get
a chance TO ride, but generally walk or run
back for the next boat. His fee was $3.50
each trip, and his was laborious life. But
they have all gone "over the river" for the
last time, except Adna Allen, formerly for
q years pilot of the passenger boats run
ming between this city and Hartford, and
who now resides in this city.
1t was custom to "break in" the raw
hand on the passage of the freight boats
over Enfield Falls, by showing him the sill
yer mine at mad Tom" The initiate
must get down close on the bow-piec to
look for the silver, and when the boat
pitched into "Mad Tom and the water
rushed over him foot deep, he would gen.
orally retire aft and say he d "seen enough"
and it would require quite number of
gin-cocktails at.Hartford to dry him
Some Of the pleasantest days of my life
were spent at the helm of the old steamer
"Ariel Cooley in passing up and down be-
tween South Hadley and Greenfield-some-
times with four or six boats in tow, some
times with only two,-the down trip being
usually made without any, as we wound
around the placid Hockanum of former
days, before the impatient river, like many
a would-be reformer of the present day,
concluded to straighten things, and so cut
a channel through its narrow neck-that is,
cut its hroat,-with Mount Holyoke on
our right, looking majestically down upon
our boys who were quietly enjoying the
scene, as ifsaying to them, "Come up high
err" while the carpeted meadow of North
ampton seemed as urgently to invite their
attention to their own realm Of beauty.
This towing process was of great benefit
TO the men, as it gave them the leisure they
so much needed, 10 wash, TO mend, and to
refresh themselves, and prepare for the
hard work TO come, when the steamer had
taken them through. In this, as in other
vacations, some will be remembered by
their eccentricities, some by their reticence,
and others by their loquacity. I have lis
tened till "beyond the twal' to the anec-
dotes of Edmund Palmer and Bob Able.
I have known John Sanborn to go the
whole round trip from White River, VT,
without speaking,-and Dick Thorpe would
talk enough to make 1t up! Other nota-
bles were Capt Peck, who presided with
So much dignity over the passenger steam
ers from this city to Hartford, and who was
said to have been arrested for smuggling
This was line of small steamers first put
on by James Blanchard, then Of this city.
The first was the "Springfeld," a side
wheel steamer, then the "Vermont," O
wheeler, built by Blanchard the
massachusetts" the "Agawam" and the
"Phpnix." The Massachusetts," only
could come up over Enfield Falls, and ma.
ny of this day can remember the sturdy
form of the faithful pilot, AID Allen, who
so long guided these boats through storm
and shine. Capt. Increase Mosely, too
commanded one of these boats awhile, the
best singer on Connecticut river; Capt
David Hoyt another,-the complete story
teller.
Captain Jonathan KentfieId was also one
of the early workers on this river, and ran
line of boats on his own account for a
number Of years. His distinguishing char
acteristic was pomposity, but he was con-
sidered a trusty and competent boatmsn.
While he was in his best days. the body OF
a deceased member of Congress from Yer
mont was sent forward from Washington,
and came from to New York to Hartford
by steamboat directed to his friends in Yer
mont, to go by first boat up the Connecti-
cut river. None of the up-river compan-
les were willing to take it. Finally, one
who knew the ca 1tain's weak spot The was
called "Capt. Dont'') told him that the re-
mains of a Vermont member of Congress
had been forwarded to his special care to
go up by his boat. Every well" said Capt
Don't. "Boys, do you hear that? Drop
down the boat to the steamboat and take The
body aboard! How the people of the city
OF Washington knew that was an old and
experienced boatman, God only knows, /
don't!" The boatpen took it aboard, TAX
ing a sniff of something warm the while,
and when fairly under way by the side OF
the up-riyer steamboat, Capt Don't called
his men and said to them, "Come aft, men,
come aft, and take something to drink
dead bodies aboard-ten or fifteen, p'haps,
one sartain, and who knows but they died
of some d-n spontaneous disease? Drink
behind that hogshead, and don't for Gods
sake, let Gen. Culver see you p
Mr.. Blanchard sold out his interest in
these boats, after running them two or
three years, to Sargent Il Chaplin, who used
them in connection with their line of stag.
es. 1t was very pleasant mode of travel
unless the water was low, but many time
have the passengers been obliged to jumr
into the water and lift the "Phenix" and