The New York herald., 1878-10-20

"What's the hrst thing you do In destroying ves-
sel?" said moving up 20 his side.
1--WE TOW her into port and beach her," He moved
of rnres steps.
1--WE lake out her mscbinery, decks, joinsrs' work,
spars and everything" He stopped short and hard:
again and turned his back To
1 went up bohud ana sald mildly and oonndsnualiy
over his shoulder. "what do you do nextY"
Ho turned around some astonishm ment and re-
plied, with shade more suavity, I'VE break up her
mach nery into pieces that can be handled; II heavy
snsIains IS 10 be broken we use n'ro-gS esrins"
"No.n he saia, moving of again and closing tho
porthole aiter discharge oil tobacco juice.
"Well then 2"
ave tow her up high as she will float on tho
beach aud SCI her on hre Then, when she's burned
out, sne's lighter and we tow her up higher again
and put more kerosene and set her on Are.
Alter a while all her bolts and metal are let bare
and we eau get al them and pick them up"
.sWhat do you get out of hsr that pays tor the
work ?"
ship lot OF copper, such as bolts and fittings and
sheet copper oG tho bottom. ne iron isn't worth
"What is done With tho stura"
srhe paint works BUY some OF the copper and grind
II up Tor paint; aud tho loundrtcs melt IT,"
show long does II take 10 destroy steamerF"
81 dont know"
"Weil, guess"
"That dspe pds: some q month, others two"
elbow mauy ships have you broken up here2"
"In the last tour years we've burnt the Goriah
Albany, Nevada, Rising Star, Macsaoninn, 81. Law.
renee, Potomac, aud now the Henry Cnsuncey. She
was Just as rotten dirt Look AZ thatl The paDk-
ing or u,nbled under his heel.
.Wnat DO you pay Tor old shpsf"
-. don't know that; any wnero from S.. 900 up
10 $4,000. During the war, wh,n copper and iron
Were a,s ,as,s ysss,s
walked up the gang plank 10 look into the hull OF
tho Henry cnaancey. y was great black shell o.
braces. Whom l returned 70 tho Allegro ths man
was examining her IN silence, but he was evidently
soitsned by her graces Tor no very kindly anu
derly helped me carry her down 10 tho tide But ne
said never word as padded away.
OLD CAPTAIN BAxTER's GUN.
Port Washington quaint ntiie village a hill
overlooking ITS hay filled with hshlng smacks and
along m,llpond OF pure spring wafer Il IL entirely
gwen the pursuit Of the oyster. IL Is place
OF quiet ways and modest appearance The houses
are neat little cottages with honcysuckies ana
climbing in an orderly over the porcncs and
paraens are properly LAID in ge0mstric patterns
with brick walks covered with green moss. The fish,
crmen are almost all INDUSTRIOUS and thrifty, very
many have maae q competence anG some have gath
cred quite considerable sums. twenty-five years ago
there we're not dozen houses IN the place lnat had
scarcely moved Tor u hundred years. But during the
last war profits Of the oyster Trade built up quite
village although Is W thout either railroad
CON m un ication with New YORK. But this isolation
gave quaint ami rural air not common so near the
CITY, early history OF the place. then called Cow
Bay has some interesting episodes connected with
the wnalsboatmen. Israel Baxter kept his sloops in
the little bay since made into the milipond. Tns
landln ny on the point on the east shore Of the
pond, now built up with stone wall HIS vessels
were sn exposed marauders; yet he often saved
his sioops by Ingenious device and spirited do
ience Oae night Tho pirates came In iorce. The
lids was high, SO that they entered the cove with
their boats and boarded the sioop. No one
was on guard; they silently slipped the
cable and com enced TO tow her out. She
,clme q certain distance and then stopped. They
pulled the to get her of, but At that moment
they were surprised by the discharge Vt swivel INTO
their midst IRON the oank overlooking the cove. See
ing 1t in possible free soop tney landed cap
ture their ASSISTANTS and the gun. Captain Baxter
SAID they came within lew ieet Of hun. But they
soon retired boats and lett tho without
discovering either tho gun mounted on a stump, or
the captain, or knowing that The sloop was moored
Ly chain fastened low tide 10 her keel rudder
Tho Oldest house ln The town still stands further
up tho pond, though Il has very nearly succumbed
10 It's 200 winters / met there young man 0 the
town quite given historic matters, quite impres.
sye with his sense responsibility the last scion
OF his race. He showed me old family Bible re-
cordIng the hrst birth IN the old house IN 1890.
Twelve hessians occupied one end OF H. The
charming spot the place is hne spring jost below
tue house, undor old beech. century ago tho
top oi the tree was Kept closely cut to permit a
view Of the cove from the house whom
II was necessary 10 Keep q guard
watch. The side limbs grew thick and
long and spread all The spring, brook and the
clean. sodded banks clear 10 the edge OF the pond.
The children from school swung ON lis low branches;
the villagers often gathered there 10 cnat over ther
pals pitchers or await the return oil tne hsher-
men. Many ide hands nave cut their initials in Its
BARK. Among other designs Is nowerpot with Two
stI stake growing up and the letters ST. d., 1907"
on It's sue Tue old tree ts wsrd with gnarled knees
and strong arms, broodlng low over the spring and
brook IL seems bowed with It's loads-its secrets OF
moonlight nights aud the many human experiences
told or let under iss sncuer.