Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-09-03
The Survivors OF our Lost 1ndustry-Onr
sailors, &c, In tsvo pas ts-Part First

sailors, &c, In two Pasts-T 10"
We have tried in q couple Of papers to write
something about our old time commerce, ship
building &C., and given some sketches concerning
sb;ps bult in this vicinity. We ought perhaps to
leave the subject with our last paper, though we
might have written little more that would have
been of interest Some have wanted to know
why we did not tell Of the vessels built for the
BYadstreets and Others in early days, as well as
the Grants, &c. In the first place we meant pIin-
cipally to write of the old yard at Bowman's Pt,
near Farmingdale; but we will add that in 1871,
Mas er William Drew, then q noted builder, had
built the Hannah" and was engaged on the Ia
nous packet "Mentor", and the following year
built the schooner 1.-TWO Brothers for Messrs. Jo-
seph and Simon Bradstreet. The late VIM.
Bradstreet, Esq, was young man in their en-
ploy and the vessels were built on the spot where
the FIRE light depot at Gardiner now stands. One
of their vessels was knocked Oft the stocks by an
ice freshet and nearly destroyed. Master Drew
went on building for the Tarboxes and Brad
streets for long time, and died at the residence
OF his at about ninety years of age.
We might add that in 1881 and 80, Master Pierce
built the ships IF florence" and Marshall Ney,
commanded by Captains King and Saml Smith
of IIallowell, on the east side of the river, now
Chelsea at the "iutcrvale." Such quiet, retired
place, one would hardly think could have been
so much hustle and activity, yet great many
vessels were built there and since we can remem-
thirty men have been recruited from this rural
town. The last vessel built there was the clipper
whaling schooner Lively owned and commanded
by Capt. jon Pierce ofChelsea. Her tragic end is
well remembered. Returning home from voyage
in Oct. 1852 she caps lied in white squall off Ber
muda, and all on board perished; her crew were
all from Hallowell, Chelsea, Farmingdale and VI
cinty. The heart yearnings, the hopes deferred,
and then the despair of the mothers and wives OF
those who went down in that Inflated bark are
lpau M,
Mould lose our commerce, II 1t must be kept at
such a fearful price as this.
Coming down still later in the years that follow,
we m ight tell when Augusta ran her two lines OF
packets to Boston, comprising some eli ght vessels,
mostly built there. When Hallowell had line,
and three or four outside steamers, and Gardiner
and Ptston-why there was no end to their vessels.
We remember one fall of seeing three crack ships,
the "Sabatts" the James n. Cooper, and the
'Rainbow" all loading for the south at one time.
OF the three captains we only know one survivor,
Capt. Smith Cox, of the Sabatts, who lives at ian
advanced age at Hallowell. We would not leave
this till we mention the picturesque and useful
craft that used to ply on the whole length of the
river; the sailing gondoas or as they were nick
named, the "Waterve Briggs" This was before
the railroad was built. They are we'll remember
ed at the present day. They were scow shaped,
long and narrow, some were dccked and some
were not, but each carried nice little house for
a cabin for their crew. They had one mast with
hinge so it could be lowered for going under the
Augusta bridge, and on the mast, which was very
tall, they had number Of square sails, sort of
six topsaI Al arrangement, that could be instantly
taken in ore after another. They spread cloud
of canvass and felt the breeze aloft long before
felt the water, and eftentimes in hot sultry
day we could hear the water rushing under their
bows and see them coming when no wind was to
be found below. They were mostly employed in
carrying produce from Waterville down the river
as far as Bath, and we cannot forget the tremen-
dous cargoes of pressed hay they took; and we
would also bring TO mind once more the tow boats
we used to have There was the maiden" own
ed in Augusta, commanded by Godfrey, the
"Boston" from Pittston, Bailey master and the
rockingham" from Bath, all peacefully ply ing
their vocation. They were old ferry boats, from
Botson and vicinity, and rather primitive in style;
now, powerful company backed by immense
wealth with fleet OF six boats, scour the river,
and it is hard for single boat to try and hold its
own here. OF all the vessels owned in Augusta,
once, perhaps there are now half dozen, owned
by the great Kennebec Land and Lumber Co.
Hallowell has about half ship, Farmingdale
whole one, with schooner or two. Gardiner and
Pittston have quite respectable feet of golfers
and lumber droughers. besides what ships the
Brsdsireets own, bnt not "hee bite" TO what she
used to have, and, that's all. ID.