The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-06-07
Trial Trip of the New May Queen.

Friday June LIST was selected as the date OF the
trial trip of the new steamer May Queen" The
day proved on shore to be the hottest of tho sea
son, but on the bay the temperature was at the
point of absolute comfort; the water was smooth,
and the haze which wrapped the outlying islands,
as silken veil, gave them vague and beautiful
enveoped in calm and green reposc. With the
single exception of the representative of the Jour
nal, the passengers this trial trip were owners
in the steamer: they were the following gentle
men,-W. B. Swan, Calvin Hervey, Austin Carter,
Henry L. Lord Alden D. Chase, Thomas W.
Pitcher, o. G. White, Stephen J. Bicknell, Oscar
Pitcher, A. p. Mansfield, Chas. H. Bray, |. IL.
Rhodes, D. Scammon Jacob Y. Cottrcll, Geo. 0.
Parkman Horny Dixie. AS a stock company is to
be formed, it may be interesting to have on record
here the balance Of the names of the original
owners: Charles B. Hazeltine, Oak Hill Granite
Company, Edward Sibley, Cutter Sibley, B. NJ
Newcomb, Chas. Gilmore, Capt Fred Gilmore H.
H. Carter W E. Marsh, A. s. Davis f. W Pratt
Dr. Lombard, VIM. Fl. Hall, Louis Uner of Rock
land, Capt VIM. WATSON of Brooksve, Capt
Robert Tapley of Brooksvlle The steamer is
manned as follows 80
Capt. Fred Gilmore Mate, Chas. Gilmore; En-
The May Queen is a remarkably strong boat, built
by Carter and Co., upon tug-boat model; her
material is hard pine and hacmetack. The Jour
nal has before published description of the new
steamer, but her dimensions are again here given ;
she is "a it. inches long l6i it. wide, it deep
and is about "a tons carpenters measure. She has
a seating capacity of 200 persons. Her cost was
$4,000. She began her labors Friday morning by
towing schooner NJ. W. Drew (bound for Jackson
ville) down the harbor, to below a point opposite
Cottrell's ship-yard, in exactly eleven minutes
After which she returned to Swans wharf and
made start, with Castine objective
point. We cannot give here the details of the
whole trip, on account of lack of space The
May Queen behaved splendidly; no accident
marred the success of the trial excursion, and all
on board expressed entire satisfaction with the
new steamer. She easily make ten knots an
hour, and can be forced to twelve thirteen
knots This is fast enough for all purposes, and
when we take into consideration her staunch and
solid construction cannot fail to arrive at the
conclusion that the new steamer will exactly meet
all tho requirements for which she was built She
is fast and safe, and could probably straddlc a
ledge without Il strain. With 50 lbs. Of steam her
propeller made l02 revolutions i'll one minute, and
with b lbs. u revolutions. She is amply pro
yided with fepreservers, life boat, fire buckets
hose and ali the requirements of safety.
At Castine Il long enough stay was made to en-
able the excursionists to visit some Of the places
. A. l. IL
The Acadian Hotel was visited and found to be an
excellent house, kept on the plan of the best wa
terng- place hotels 1t has new landlord now,
Mr. Z. B. Greenhalgh, formerly of the Thorndike
House, Rockland, gentleman of wide experience
in his business, and eminently fitted to run the
Acadian i'll first class style. This house occupies
a commanding position above a series of green
terraces which rise from the wharvcs and in front
there stands a light and graceful pavilion for mu
sic and promenading. 1t is well to remember that
we have within about hours sail from Belfast
| an admirable watering place, where the very poet
ry of life may be enjoyed Rare old Castne is the
most interesting town, BY reason OF its history,
that there is in New England, while the natural
beauties of its surroundings are hardly anywhere
surpassed. Here the strangey romantic history
of Castine cannot be even summarized. sweet
peace has come to the old town, after two hundred
and fifty years of life. The present writer has be
fore said i'll another article Many famous spot
on the tabled Rhine has less of the charm of ad
venture hanging about it, though the castles by
the old world river boast Of a deeper antq
uity Certain it is that none Of the romantic
tales of the Rhine ought to be of more interest to
Americans than the truths which form the story
of Castine, And when we speak of antiquity, We
know that it is only relative term, for measured
by the standard Of the geologist when he surveys
| the testimony Of the rocks telling Of oons past,
the sum of all the Years of human life on earth is
but a breath-'the momentary appearance OF man
kind as says the great scientist of our day. BY
| that vast scale the account of mans work cannot
be reckoned.'
From Castine the May Queen steamed to Brooks
vile, where the Passengers called on Capt Robert
Tapley, at his pleasant residence The old captain
has been a voyager on all the seas Of the world,
and his house is full Of trophies gathered durl ns
his foreign journeyings. In the garden ancient
cannon from the Mississippi River ogled the visit
| ors, while above their heads strange collection
OF flags OF different nations ana meanings waved a
welcome in the breeze. While the steamer lay at
the wharf here, Mr. Conant served excellent fish
chowdcr and coffee to the hungry crowd. Then
steamed back to Castne and took on beard Dr.
Lewis Pendleton of Belfast, who had the evening
before delivered his lecture about odd Folks be
fore the pupils of the Normal School.
Next the May Queen crossed to Ryders Cove
an interesting place where there is good hotel
for summer visitors. Here Captain Ryder is build
ing large hall for dancing, with sleeping rooms
| in the upper story for regular boarders. He is
also going to build ut once large out of door fire
place, which excursion parties can use gratis for
their cooking. The salmon nets set along the
shore were objects of interest and some of the
epicures of the party delighted at the sight
of freshly caught salmon weighing over twenty
one pounds At last we were homcward bound,
Near the mouth of the Cove an island ledge was
observed covered with sea gulls, who sat gravely
watching a sportive seal. After a run of an hour
| and halt-without any pressing on the part of
the engneer-the steamer reached the wharf at
Belfast, and the excursionists wake to their
homes in time for supper, well pleased with the
boat and with the successful trial trip.