Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-22
Gales ano Skettbes.
THE HERO OF A NANTUCKET STORM.

| the coast OF MASSACHUSETTS,. ana one OF inc
oldest settlements in America. The place
is rich in resident whalers." and their
"reminiscences are better than any story
that ever came from the fascinating. able
pen Of Jules Verne. OF course You know
it was the headquarters for the whaling
trade, and that 80 wears ago the wharves
were alive with people ccming from or
starting off around the world. Ships of
every size crowdedthe harbor. The Nan
tuckeicrs had built vessels and established
a business which from a small beginning
had grown TO gigantic proportions. and
made the name oi their island familiar
through the world. Those were golden
DAYS The streets We're lined with fac
TORIES. and resounded TO the noise OF
..ealkinr irons" or the rhythmical time of
the cooper's hammer as it tripped around
the barrel. Every one was busy. Ships
were fitted out Tor five years voyage,
or being repaired after their weary sail.
There were candle factories, whale-bono
houses and shops in which the skilled nm
gers of clever artisans wrought into
hundred curious forms the ivory teeth ct the
whale Now all that busy scene has
changed, and Nantucket, as an important
bus mess place, is 1ead-killed by hre--
the California fever" and the late civil
war. But her future rs Il summer water
ing place is very bright. The air from
the ocean sweeps the island from end to
end. and the town is wealthy in resources
The fishing is uncquallcd, the people in
telligent and cultivated. and the old houses
crowded with bric-a-brac of every kind
so rare and so beautiful that an enthusiast
would go wild over the collection.
AM hat IN hpepnn
of my Nantucket. story-I am coming to
it-but thought it important Tor me to
say few words of the place honored by
having as n resident my hero. Yes there
is hero, but no heroine; and he was
neither tall. erect, nor handsome he had
no marble brow. no raven rnglets-Oh!
yes. he had raven ringlets, but he did not
''sing divincly." or "orate dramatically
his voice was husky. and he walked on
four legs. He was-a dOg--a great. big,
black. silky Newfoundland, and his name
was Rough. He belonged to Mr., Smith.
and was much respected member of the
household. The children fairly adored
him. When they went to school he trot-
ted with them until the door was reached,
| then would nod his head, bark as If to say
rood-morning, and then run home, where
he cheerully did his allotted share of the
chores.
Like a faithful sentinel he would sit by
the cradle of the sleeping baby, and when
its slumbers grew restless he would grave
" raise his paw, place it on the rocker,
soothe with the swaying motion the little
one TO quiet forgetiuness of pain or
hunger. When the MONDAY bell changed
its iron tongue. Rough would trot off to
meet the children, bring them to dinner.
and then escort them back to their books.
The same performance was gone through
with at 4 O'Clock. when he would feel his
! responsibilities lifted for the day, and
stretch himself for rest. In summer he
would lie at the door. and in winter by
the stove. During the vacations, when
the children went to the beach. Rough
walked along carrying the bundle of tow
els and bathing suits.
In the summer Of 1874, Rough was
coming towards the beach with the Smith
children, and when near the small light
house. cries of distress came borne on the
air from the shores, and people were seen
running to and fro, wildly wringng their
hands.
Run, Rough, run" cried Tom Smith.
| The sagatious animal needed no second
order He dropped the bundle. and with
| long. even bounds soon reached the spot.
No one knew the dog, and no directions
were given him. He ran up and down
the beach, whining piteously, and looking
in the face OF first one and then the other
of these aogitated summer visitors. For
tunately the keeper Of the lighthouse had
caught the cry OF agony, and as he ran
towards the water had glimpse of a red
bathing suit of from the shore. As he
cam in haste he shouted:
"Off, Rough. of, fetch in that woman"
| The animal listened, the spectators
grasped the suggestion, and pointed to
the dress in the water. In an instant he
was swimming toward the exhausted
baiher He fastened his teeth in her skirts
and swan to dry land. Il all occupied
but few minutes. hut the act required no
time to create the dog hero. The res
cued lady on her return to New York,
sent narrow gold collar, and on it in
raised letters she had placed the name
b"Rough Hero and so ever after he was
called.
| In Nantucket many old customs are
lclung To with a tenacity and fidelity beau
Il ful to see in these DAYS of change. Ring
ling curfew each evening a. Q O'Clock is
the most noticeable. You know the word
is from conrrcfcu, and means cover fire. y
The practice was instituted in England, /,
by William the Conquerer, and was to
guard against the possible midnight as
sembliDg OF those inimical to his interest
Up to within decade Of years Nantucket
has roundsmen. who. after the ringing OF
.curfew. passed through the town. STOP
ping at each door inside of which they
saw a light. Now, although the signif
scance of curfew is lost in a dead past. the
bell-ringer, far on the down side of 80.
pulls the rope as earnestly as in the good
old DAYS when then the sound conveyed
an arbitrary order. lie jerks it in metri-
cal time and even strangers can catch tho
words it chants.
Lights out-fres in-good night
When Rough Hero would hear this
warning from the tower, he would get up
from his evening nap walA gravely to the
door, raise the latch with his paw to as.
sure himself that the fastenings were Sc
cure. and solemnly go to bed, which ir
winter was under the steps, in summer or
an upper porch.
Do you know, my dear readers, what /
1 TCouf;ouoI fo,rv<y, r.<xo