The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-08-06
Steamer John Brooks.

kind has taken place.
Steamer john Brooks.
To the Editor of the Press:
Having occasion to visit Boston few weeks
| since concluded to go by steamer-gain time
and save hotel bill which is no small item in
these days,
On going on board at o'clock I found the
steamer was the John Brooks which had been
altered and refitted since my last voyage in her.
Twas surprised at the elegance of her sa-
LOOMS state-rooms and cabins, all lighted with
gas, of which supply for thirty-six hours is
|, contained in sheet iron tanks on the upper
deck. The lofty, dome-shaped saloon remind
ed me of the famous steaIuer st, John on the
Hudson. The state-rooms are nearly as large
as the sleeping rooms in some of the hotels with
much better air.
On looking into the engine-room to see the
moving power, found the energetic commo-
dore of the line there listening to the heavy
breathing of the engine as it tugged at the
crank.
GAS DER the past his memory strayed."
He was probably thinking of the little INC
Donough' in which as engineer he made his first
ces and marine engines have somewhat changed
since then, but then he was the same straight
forward business man that he is now, only his
orbit was more circumscrbed.
On enquiry, he told me that the diameter of
the cylinder of the Brooks was Sc inches and
the length of the stroke IL feet, which
seems large to u.s., who recOllect the first boats
on the line, with their rattling fly wheels and
four or five feet stroke. To see with what ease
the engineer gives apparent life to the slumber-
ing engine with his starting bar and moves the
Archmides that she could move the world if he
had place to rest his lever" supposed that
the name of the steamer was intended to
honor DIR. John Brooks of Medford, who was
colonel, and was afterwards Governor Of Mass.
FROM 1916 to 1928 or his son John, who was
lieutenant in the navy and fell in the battle of
Lake Erie. in 1913. But not so; she was SO
named for her first owner John Brooks an old
steamboat captain of Bridgeport, Conn.,, aft r
wards mayor of that city-she does Indeed
honor them all. She was built in New
York to run to Bridgeport, but was
taken by the government at the commence
ment of the rebellion for the transper-
her present owners in 1866, and her top
works all built over in the most approved
style, in Portland, by John W.. SWEET.
In addition to the usual s'hog frame" she is
iron SJTdpp6u Gtle WIOle l6uStQ, WHICH prevents
the common creaking of timbers and planking
in long steamer and makes her very steady
A landsman, if he is nervous can sleep in
such vessel, who could not in one of the bask-
ct kind with the parts continually working and
complaining. The boats of this company are
not insured which makes it safe to go in them
when they will risk the boats-in fact in the
whole fifty years next August in which steam
ers have run to Boston constantly Except in
winter previous to 1912, J. there has not been a
life lost from an accident to the boats.
On leaving the haTbor we had daylight to
view the Islands and shores of toe cape-I
missed the picturesque old bockhonse that has
for 65 years surmolnted Fort Scanned l sup
pose it was of no for defence but its outlines
were certainly ornamental.
On rounding the Cape the lighthouses began
to show their lights-some red, some white,
and some flashing at intervals like giant fire.
flies Now the steamer began TO lift forward
and acknowledge the power Of old ocean in
graceful obedience; bat
what matter, what matter?
can ride and Sleep
On looking out u the morning we found the
steamer was pursuing her devious way up Bos
ton harbor and soon we stepped on shore re-
freshed, with long day before us, and good
stateroom and bed ready to rest our weary
limbs while steaming home at night.
WINDHAM August LIST, 1873