The Portland daily press., 1890-08-06
FOUND IN A BOTTLE,
The Venerable Cunners immortal
lied In Verse.

SAMP JOhN n. EEABBLES,
Z. E., August 8. 1890. I
Another beautiful day has greeted the V.
G. A. and p. C. clubs outing, and to say
that it has been thoroughly enjoyed is but
putting it mildly.
The business meeting was held at IL
O'Clock this morning, and the following off,
GERS elected for the ensuing year: Commits
sary, G. l.. Tewkesbury; vice commissary,
w. w. Colby; treasurer, Samuel Thurston;
secretary. G. o. Leach; foreign correspon-
dent, William Ross; watermen, Charles
Cook. Lewis B. Smith; firemen. B. A. Kin
ney, 81. s. Murray potato slicer, ]. A. Mer.
rill.
Secretary Leach read lengthy and inter-
esting report of the last outing, which was
received with immense applause.
The camp was named Camp John A. Pea
bles, in honor of that affable gentleman, one
Of the clubs best friends.
Messrs. L. w. Fobes aud Charles III. Toll
man were duly initiated Venerable Cunners
according to the ancient and approved rite
of the V. G. A. and P. c., which was con
Quoted In most beautiful manner by the
commissary and secretary, music being fur
nished by the "Shawistic Octette."
A bottle, washed ashore near the camp,
was foun1 by surprising coincidence to
contain something of great interest to the
Venerable Cunners, as follows:
Ills the second day of the yearly meet
OF the v. G. A. and T. c.,
And upon the shores of the rugged Cape
Is goodly companie
Young and old are gathered here,
Each to the other bound
By solemn VOWS and binding oaths,
Whose equal ne'er were found
These oaths have been taken
While strong men wept,
And blood stood still in the vein
But once the fierce ordeal passed.
Itresuts to the takers gain.
These souls have gathered for many year.
And as long as the sun shall shine,
Their heirs and assigns to Long Point will come
To sing TO fish and dine
For many year has this day been kept;
And now for the forty-ffth time
Assemble the men OF the finest club
That eer met in any cline.
Around the festive board they sit
In numbers thirty or more,
And hear, as oft in years gone by
The surf on the sounding shore
There's Thurston. the Oldest member he
OF the cunners who gather today
But a younger one 'twould be hard to find
Or enc more blithe OF more gay.
There's John L. Shaw, Singing mate.n
Whose voice Is iaEse esiffe his heart.
- eats today like he'll sing anon
For he makes of both an ant.
Clint Tewkesbury sits at the head of the board
And fills the commissary's chair
He's "hustler" too in all that he does
And his face is boysh and fair,
And opposite, down at the other end
Is Colby, sweet voiced Bill.
He's next in command of this jovial band.
A place he's well able to fill.
Doctor Fernald is near the head,
A rugged fellow who,
Full many time has look ed on pain
And often gives it too.
Next him is man by many loved,
His name is c. o. Leach,
And immense execution he does Just now
To the things within his reach
There's black whiskered man with clear, sharp
eye.
His speech is never at loss.
Clint Tewksbury says he's chronic kick.
The fellows name is Bin Ross.
frank open face has the man who is next
OF care and worry killer.
kinder man meier came to these shores
Than jovial, wholesouled John Miller.
II a picture were taken of Burt Kinney's face
1t wOnld find much excellent use.
For better receipt you ne'er could find
For hard attack of the blues
Not much like the doses his neighbor Sells
Though there's nought unkind in his look.
But druggists are necessary things,
Not better one lives than Chas. Cook.
A place is vacated quite soon In the meal.
At the shore dark man disrobes
And careful use of the glass demonstrates
That the bather is L. W. Fobes
Charles Tolman;s white hair and beard are here,
And they cover level head.
useful man in many away,
He deserves to be very well fed.
"Uncle George Thomas" is near by Charles;
He's walked all the way long the shore,
And better company you can't find.
OF stories and songs he's store.
Here's j. Ambrose Merrill, not large in size,
But he makes up in heart and mind.
He's Gunner of very long standing, too,
For all he's word that is kind;
And many others are seated round,
Whose virtues fam would sing,
But an endless task it sure would prove,
Not then satisfaction brings
But my mind goes back to years now gone
To men who these places did fill
"And long for the touch OF vanished hand,
And the sound OF voice that is STILL"
farewell toast to this Gunner Band,
MAY your lives, like your faces, be bright
May you all camp at last on beautiful spot
On the shores of the 'Harbor of Light. %