The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-11-27
WILL BE FIRST OFFICER
OF vanderbIIt's Big Steam Yacht
Aiva.

BATH, Nov. 2K.-John M. Gushing, executive
officer of yanderbilts steam yacht Alva, was
born in Phipsburg in 1861. When he was two
years old his parents come to this city, where
they have since resided. His father, Samuel w.
Cushing, is one of the leading merchants OF
Bath.
Young Cushing attended the public schools of
this city and was one of the graduates OF the
Bath High School class of '68. Three months af-
ter leaving school he was shipped as "royal boy"
on board of the ship Ellen Goodspeed of Bath.
He was then II years old. He made voyages In
that ship from Europe to the Pacific coast and the
Pacific guano Islands. In less than two years he
became second officer of the Goodspeed and when
he left her In 1871, at the age of 20 years, he held
the position of first ofieer. In May, 1872, he
Joined the ship John o. Baker, engaged in the oil
trade between Philadelphia and the continent
until June, 1S75,w when he resigned to take charge
OF the ship Oregon, then building in this city at
the yard of VIM. Rogers.
While captain of the Oregon, from 1875 to 1879
he engaged in the China, East India and Coast
trades, and made number of remarkable passa-
ges. The longest passage made by the Oregon
with Captain Cushing as master was 10 days. In
1875 he made the run from Hampton Roads to
Liverpool in IL days. In 1876 from Cardiff to
Hong Kong, 101 days; Hong Kong to Manila, 31a
days; Manila to San Francisco, 43 days. In 1877
the 0regons passage from San Francisco to
Queenstown was 102 days; Liverpool 10 Bombay,
100 days; Bombay TO Valparaiso, 76 days. In
1873 Captain Cushing drove the Oregon from
Pabellor de Peu to Queenstown in SS days. Other
quick passages were made by him while in COM
uIand OF the Oregon, which was considered fast
sailer.
DESTROYS of changing from sailing ships to
steamers Captain Gushing, in 1879, resigned COM
mand OF the ship Oregon and went TO London.
There he passed the examination by the English
Board of Trade, and was granted an English mas
ter's certificate of competency. In 1880 he was
appointed to the position of second officer of the
steams hip Waesland of the Red Star line from
New York to Antwerp. He made one voyage on
the steamer as a second officer and was then
promoted to first officer, which position he held
until June, 1882. After making several voyages
In the American line of steamers Pennsylvania
and Ohio. Captain Cushing went to the Pacific
coast. The principal part of the past four years
he passed in Washington Territory and British
Columbia, where he had contracts for handling
iron shipped to New Tacoma for the completion
Of the Northern Pacific railroad and TO Port
Moody for the construction of the Canadian rail-
road. Besides attending to these contracts he
was In business as ship broker and Stevedore.
Seafaring men in this city who have been with
CaptainCushing speak in high terms of bis abilities
He IS known here by business men and ship own
ers as one Of the sInartest young captains that
ever commanded a Bath ship, and is regarded by
those best acquainted with him In relation to
steamships as well fitted for the new position to
which he has been appointed on board the Alya.