The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-04-06

lust east of where the old Longfellow
birthplace mansion still stands, and were
launched across the street into cove,
which has been filled in many years and
is now part of the Grand Trunk rail
way train yard. The Commodore Preble
went on the line In 1916, and was COM
manded by the late Capt. Isaac
Sturdivant In the Office of the
Portland Steam Packet Co. properly
framed for preservation is one of
the little posters, announcing the trips
of the Com. Preble, with fare the same
as now, $1.00, but the meals were %
cents.
The Gen. Warren was launched a year
later. Among those on board for the
event was harmless. cranky old fellow,
who called himself Gen. Warren and
used to bedeck himself with sword
and some attempt at uniform. He firmly
believed that the steamer was named for
him, and was strutting about on top of
the cabin in great glory in cooked hat
and full regimentals. By the spreading
of the ways the vessel stopped very sud
denly before she was afloat and poor old
crank Seen. Warren went tumbling
end over end, much to the damage of his
fine clothes and feathers and the total
humiliation of his dignity. The Gen.
Warren was commanded by Capt. George
Knights, who, like Capt Sturdivant, had
been an experienced sailing packet mas
ter.
These propellers were not much of a
success. They were slow, and most of
the freight had to be lowered into the
hold and hoisted out, SO that it would
take the crew about all day to handle a
$3.50 freight. Still with good manage
ment and a fair passenger patronage they
paid their way and something besides.
The company was lucky enough to sell
them to good advantage early in the
fifties to 90 to California during the gold
excitement of that period.
In 1851 man named Cunningham,
who had got possession of the old Port
land, put her on the route between Port
land and Boston in opposition to the pro-
pellers. He ran from the end of Union
wharf and carried passengers at 25 cents
head Cunningham was sort of free
lance in steamboating. He had money
and his method was to find out where
there was paying line and put in oppo-
sition for the purpose of being bought
off. His boat was faster and accommo-
dations better than the propellers, and
as Capt. Coyle used to say, he was soon
ssraising the mischief with them in the
way Of business. But Cunningham was
dealing with longer and more deter
mined head than his. Capt. Coyle quietly
slipped on to New York to secure side
wheeler that beat Cunningham's boat.
One of the first persons he met there was
the late Capt. Maymon Sanford, founder
of the Penobscot and Boston and other
steamboat lines.
'Hullo, Coyle, what the Old Nick
brings you here?' saluted Sanford, as
he grasped his hand, for they were warm
personal friends.
CATER side-wheeler,' replied capt.
Coyle, 'sfor that Cunningham is running
the Portland against our propellers and
making us great deal of trouble
s'The ID he isl observed Capt. S.
''But I've got just the boat you want
without looking further. 1t is the John
Marshall. The mate is on board. Knock
together crew and take her.
"But I'm not prepared to buy today.
only want to charter" said Capt.
Coyle.
'sMakes no difference; go and take the
boat by my order. I'll give her to you il
need be to beat that Cunningham, for he
has made me trouble enough in past
times"