Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-09-18
his father, Eben Fuller, Esq, who was in trade
here for more than half century. He went to

| his father, Eben Fuller, Esq, who was In uaoe
here for more than half century. He went to
Washington, D. c., and remained there several
years, returning to Angus after the great ire,
and eng aging with his father in tic enterprise Of
building the store they occupied as partners, until
the death of the venerable senior member of the
firm some two years since. Since the death Of
his father Mr.. F6lltr has continued the business
alone.
Mr.. Fuller's reputation druggist was first
class. lie could always be depended upon as re-
Table in every respect. Quiet and unostenta,ious
in his walk and conversation, he attentive to
and careful of the wants. feelings and opinions Of
Others and without any show or parade did his
life work well. His decease is sad loss to
family, friends and the business community. Mr.
Fuller leaves q wife and aged mother.
The Survivors OF our Lost Industry-Our
Sailors, sc. In two pas ts-Part Two.
Before we bid adieu to the subject, we would ask
where are those who made our commerce what it
was ; who carried our flag TO every part of the
world; so that Ilalowell or Gardiner ship was
known wherever she went. Where are those
whose money and skill fitted them out What has
commerce done for them Well, the commerce
that went to enrich the community did not do
much for them. Their hard earnings are pretty
much scattered. The merchants that lived to old
aye are all gone. The oldest and most entcrprs-
ing of them oil, died not long ago. 1t was spring
tine, he had been sick during the winter, but now
the ice was gone out, and as he was dying, the
first vessel Of the season was sailing up IN full
view Of his house. His attendant raised him up
and drew his attention to it. He seemed TO feast
bi, eyes on the sight, and exclaimed with his old
energy "'tis glorious It's glorious The owners
and mechanics who are left, are scattered every
sfaII mo
INTO early graves. The sun shines not where rest
MOI our Kennebcc mariners. On the burning
plains of India, by the mountain slopes OF China,
near the coffee plantations of Java and Samatra,
among the glaciers of the north, and the broad
savannas of the south, even where the icy cliffs ot
Terra del Fuego, pierce the Antartc, there they
lie. Their bones have whitencd on our shores,
from Cape Cod to Cape Hstteras and Florida, and
the mysterious sea rolls over more than we can
count.
Their history remains unwritten; but when it is
made up no page will shine fairer in the annals Of
the world, when their ships went down in the
whirl of the storm, when they starved to death IN
open boats, when the deadly pes,ilence carried
them off in foreign hospitals or when the shot OF
ths enemy tore them to pie es in battle, no one
could write coward there. But they died with
their faces set toward their native land, and their
mothers prayers upon their lips.
And those that are left do we realize the pre-
cious service they have done their country:
few remain upon whose skill and sagacity and
precision in navigation depended property untold,
and many, many precious lives. Altar off in mid
ocean, when the sun, moon and stars failed them,
and nothing but the compass was left to speak to,
they managed to pursue their way in safety.
Their eyes have lost their fire and light in gazing
into the darkness as they spent their midnight
vigils. Their feet have grown weary with the
midnight tramp Of years as they paced the ves-
sells deck. Tier once powerful arms have lost
their strength ia flinging the lead, manning the
clanking pumps or binding the tearing sail to the
yard. They have come back to us with the insd-
ous diseases Of the south and east twiDing round
their ytss, to spend the rest of their days in the
home of their youth Like old battered hnlks
with NO more sea service in them, they are tossed
up here on the beach to wait for the time when
that ''watch shall be called" that knows no end
ing. They ask no help, never word of COM
plant have they, but they ought to have the place
in Gods great family which they richly deserve.
There is one in Augusta, from the whaling ser
vice, whose history Is equal to any. There are
veterans there also from the merchant service
equal to any. There are number of both IN
Hallowe!l, some from Farmingdae-one who dates
his service back to the of 1872, when he serv-
ed as lieutenant on board "letter of marque' 10
China. There plenty left at Gardiner and
Pittston who Can tell of marvellous adventures and
lives of honorable and useful toll.
We call upon them all, before they go out Oh
the great unknown sea, to come together at some
convenient time and place. form an association
such as the marine Societies OF Boston and
Salem, tell their adventures, "sail the seas over"
again, renew their old acquaintanceships, form
new ones, and see if anything can be done to help
one another. There would be much that Is hui
morous, much that is pathetic to relate, and we
should hear in this way what the wild waves
have been saying to these sons of the oceah.
Something Of the Pickwick style might be intro
duced by inviting those still in active service to
join; they might be induced to correspond with
those at home, and send papers to be read at their
quarterly meetings. These would be found to be
very interes ing, and (which, when found, made
note of" as Captain Cutie said. Others in vari,
Gus walks of life do this. There are regimental
reunions all over the country. And not another
class of anywhere but have their societies for
mutual benefit and why should not these old sea
dogs have the same' Such movement is being
talked up in Gardiner and Farmingdale now, and
VIC hope the effort will succeed. II society is
formed-and we think it will-to be called the
"Kennebec Marine Society," to them we leave
what is left of our commercial history, hoping to
hear from them one of these days.
In another paper we hope to tell of our boats
and yachts, and then pass on to another important
branch OF industry connected with our river and