The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-09-03
The Late Cant. Walden.

Capt. Oreen Waiden VINO uled on SUNDAY. at
the age of 70 years, was deserving of more than
passing notice, from his long and active SER
vice in the revenue cutters on this station.
John Walden, the father. came from Salem at
about the commencement of the present CEN
fury, and purchased House Island The son
Green was then small boy; there were OTHER
sons, and the whole family were engaged in
farming and fishing in Casco Bay. By this
employment Geen became familiar with eyery
rock aud shoal in the bay. This kind OF edu-
cation emnently fitted him for the service of
enforcing the revenue laws and assisting mer-
chantmen engaged in legitimate trade here.
In 1903 the government purchased of Mr.
Walden the southern part of the island, and
commenced the building effort Scanned and
it is yet unfinished.
The first public service of him whose death
calls for this notice, was as coxwain of guard
boat in the harbor during the wal of 1872, for
which he drew pension. After the close of
the war he was employed in the coasting trade
several years. In March 1880, he received the
appointment of Second Lieutenant in the reve-
nue. service and in December of the same
year he was promoted to be First Lieutenant.
And finally in 1888, while his friend of John
Anderson was Collector of Customs, he was
made Captain, and was ordered to the com
mand of the Morris at this station, in which he
bad served as Lieutenant. On the commence
ment of hostilities by Mexico on the Rio
Grande, the Morris was ordered to the gulf
Some of the officers of the schooner resigned.
but Capt. Walden promptly fitted his vessel
and sailed as ordered The, Morris was en-
gagged with the "Musquito fleet" in the shoal
waters of the gulf during the war, and re-
turned to Portland, and was finally blown up
b. the rebel pirates during the war of the re-
bellion.
Capt. Walden retired from active service in
1857, and bought farm in Cape Elizabeth
overlooking "Maiden Cove and the entrance
to the harbor, where he watched the coming
and going of the many vessels; and kept can
non on his lawn to salute any that he recog-
nzed, and many a flag was dipped in ac-
acknowledgement of the compliment. To show
the promptless with which he perfo rmed his
duty in all weather, will give an instance 10
point from recollection. The cutter was living
in the harbor during severe northeast blow
in October-a storm was hourly expected.
The coasters and fishing vessels like frightened
doves were seeking shelter from the coming
storm 1t was Sunday aud large crowd was
standing on "Lazy Hip opposite the custom
house on Fore street, wa tching the vessels as
they came in, showing only one sail and that
reefed. Capt. Moody was at his post in the OBJ
servatory and soon hoisted pennant at half
staff as signal that a vessel was among the
breakers outside. There was well under
stood code of signals agreed upon by Capt.
Moody and Lieut.. Walden. As soon as the
signal was seen all eyes were turned to the
cutter, as she only could render assistance, and
she was but sailing schooner. Lieut.. Walden
did rot wait for orders from Capt. Howard, the
commander of the cutter, who was on shore,
he manned his capstan and "hove short
the sails were cut loose and the rakish little
schooner tripped her anchor and under double
reefed mainsail and jib, began to creep sea-
ward, almost in the winds eye" When she
had nearly reached Stanford's LEDGE where the
breakwater now is, the sea was breaking
white on it, and the commander found
that he could not weather the buoy, and
the vessel had nearly lost her Roadway. He
could not tack for the passing inward bound
'SoSS1o1
the topsail was cut loose, hosted up, sheeted
home, the sail filled, the creaking mast sprung
like whip, but it stood the strain, and the
little black craft almost showed her keel as sbe
gathered Roadway. The spar buoy came out
insight under her stern showing that the dan
ger was passed, wild shout went up from the
multitude on the hill and the brave Lieutenant
bore away on his Grand of mercy.
Before steam tugs came into use the cutte
was moored below during very cold weather to
prevent being frozen in; but on one occasion
she was eau hit in the ice in the inner harbor
A vessel was signalized as needing assistance,
and Lieut.. Walden dragged his boats over the
ice to the open water, launched them, and
went to the relief of the disabled vessel. An
other act, well remembered, showing the Cap
tains kindness of heart, was performed in 1884,
The ship Astracan, Capt Webster, from Havre
with her flag at half mast came in and achored
near the cutter. A Portlandi sea captain, a
passenger, and relative to the writer. had died
two days before the arrival of the ship. On
learning the circumstances Capt Walden sent
his barge to the ship in charge of Lieut.. with
his compliments, rendering to Capt Webster
and the relatives of the diseased, the use of his
boats, which were thankfully accepted and
Capt. Walden personally superintendent the
transfer Of the coffin from the ship to the
wharf.
Such was the character of the man; he was
always seeking an opportunity to assist some
one. Capt. Walden leaves a widow and two
children. A daughter who is the wife of
George w. Boyd Esq of New York, and son
George, who is Lieutenant in the revenue
service. W G.