The Republican journal., 1883-03-15

THE HUMORs AND ADVENTURES OF THEIR
BUSINESS.
from the Mt Desert Herald

Cape Elizabeth, not unlike many other
\ projections Of the New England coast.
terminates in broad and bold promon-
tory The end of the cape presents a
straight coast line about three -tourths Of
a mile long, running northeast and
4 southwest ; the western headland of
i which is called Overs Head and the
] eastern one. for very obvious reasons. is
i designated as Lighthouse Hill. From
any part of this height the ocean view is
4 a superb one, especially in stormy wealth
! er, when the Gordon OF reefs and shoals
/ that make it hazardous for shipping to
approach the cape. add grandeur to the
/ scene by their mad contests with the
! surging main. In keeping with the natu-
raj fitness Of things, the highest part Of
the headland is surmounted 10y the cee-
bratcd lighthouses n twin giants - that
rear their lofty heads one hundred and
fifty feet above the sea level.
Within stones toss Of the eastern
light. and at the most eastern extremity
OF the height Of land named, with only a
low rocky spur intervening between it
and the open Atlantic. nestleS little
/ basin-like indenture known for the past
/ halt century as Lighthouse Cove The
contour Of the shore at this point is such
that the cove is not diStingushable to
passing vessels. Yet it has sufficient
depth and capacity to afford safe Ell
trance and anchorage tor either Of the
several Government steamers that from
time to time bring supplies for the light
station.
To the initiated, the little haven iseasy
and safe Of egress and in-ress at all times,
save in easterl! storms when, not only is
its entrance barred by continuous break
ers, but the entire body of water within
the cove. is agitated to a seething foam
from top to bottom by the surging under
tow of the contiguous ocean. Al such
/ times it seems incredible that a steamer
ot upward Of two hundred tons burden
has many times lain safely moored there
IN, or that the boats OF the hardy cape
fishermen frequently seek shelter IN the
now boiling caliron. OF that 1t is the ta-
/ Volite retreat and rendezvous Of the Port
/ land pilots and steyedoreS iii pursuit Of
their hazardous though fascinating yocd-
ton.
1t is this latter class Of men, and their
peculiar business, that designed making
the subject Of this sketch. and have
thought proper to Introduce in this cir
cuitous manner.
In times past the exclusive business Of
/ plotting was Il remuneratlVe one to con
siderable number Of our men at our more
1 important scapOrtS but the later practice
OF tug-b boats going out TO sea to intercept
/ inward bound vessels and thus supplying
both pilotage and steam power, has had
the effect, except at these ports where
pilotage is compulsory, Of inducing these
men to combine with their chosen calling
| that Of steyedore and wrecker.
such IS particularly the case at this
! port, { Portland J, where neither the
branch nor compulsory system has
ever obtained. The loss Of the English
mail steamship Bohemian, Feb %. 1868,
within mile Of this spot, together with
her valuable cargo OF merchandise which
for weeks bestrewed the shores Of the
cape, proved a rich bonanza to many
| backWoods deniZens, as we'll as l0ngshore
folks and steyedores.
But to pursue my theme more closely
The landing place, at the head Of the
cove, is a gently sloping, shingle beach
and affords d fine chance for hauling out
the trim little boats employed IN the bus
mess These boats are all cIinker- built,
and are all of the famous Whitehall
model, and one needs to be nicely skill
I ed in boat craft to detect any difference
! in them save IN the method of painting.
| This varies with the taste and skill of
! the owner and no matter how often a
| pilot may change his boat for a new one,
| he invariably clings to one style Of paint.
| one has his boat painted all white. an
other all green. one is green top with
white bottom, another white TOP and
green bottom. One is black and white,
with yellow stripes, another blue and
white. with yellow stripes. OF the many
boats employed, no two will be seen
painted Just alike. Each stevedore or
pilot generally regards his boat as being
a little better than ANYBODY else's, or
| he at least boasts Of her having some
quality in the superlative degree She
''can lug the most sail" or "can lay
nearest the winds eye or sis the best
sea boat, or '.pulls the easiest" or "tOws
the dry est" etc
The men who engage in this vocation
are, for the most part, old sailors who at
some period of their lives have been mas
ters OF mates of the largest vessels, and
hence are qualified to take charge of any
class Of vessels it may fall to their lot to
get on board. Sometimes there are as
many as eight or ten ''stevoes" congre-
gated at the place described. and if a
vessel "heayes in sight" that indicates a
'.iob," as many lots wooden pegs no two
of a length,) are stuck in the ground as
there are pilots, then each pulls lot,
the last man to draw being he who plac-
ed them. The longest peg takes the
prize and the lucky man springs into his
boat and speeds away in direction to
intercept the approaching vessel.