The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-17

The Lop.slAed Uncas and the Slow.footel
Lady Fenwlck.

New LONDON. Jan. 16.-For more years than
can he remembered the old ferryboat Uncas
has carried man and beast across the Thames
to and from the Groton shore 1t is n small,
pristine affair. with an apology for q cabin and
the engine on one side. and room for about
four teams. providing they are not too big. on
the other. 1t was built this way SO that the
boat would be evenly balanced when loaded.
That occurs nearly every trip from this side.
The boat usually returns with one wheel
buried deep in the water and tho other ono
high In the air. creating draught. The very
sight Of the boat crossing the river Is enough
to brighten a stranger from venturing aboard
Of 1t. Before the new railroad bridge. which
New I.ondoners never tire OF speaking Of as
the biggest draw in the world. was completed.
there was no other way to cross the wide river.
and strangers had to take the little boat then
whether they cared to or not. But since tho
big bridge has been in operation people have
been known to wait several hours to get train
in preference to risking their lives. as they
thought. upon the creaky old Uncas.
There will be no need OF this much longer.
new fcrrybont has been built and will take
the Uncas's place on the first OF the month.
The latter will pass out of service ar that time
and into history. In the mean time It Is having
about rs much fun as it possibly can. The
conditions OF wind and tide have been favor
able to assist the Uncas in it's recent amuse-
ments.
According to the natives. a regular living"
gale has danced up the river frequently during
the past month The natives thy are all "Gspns.
capable OF making a distinction In the matter
Of gales. Ordinarily, the Incas does not at
living gale. but il the finansia prospects LOOK
factoring the two cid sc, sea dogs who manipu-
ming over. The Cncas sits low in the water.
and no one thinks anything when she ships =
any With st. stsansers hoS
tRsr hsy % the Sna And ns add
tknS about n the nwul times which are
Now thnt a brand new ferryboat OF modern
Seins 6at On either side Of the riSe s' ior
2 float on either side. With few plies sunk kin in
the river to prevent the Uncas, from being
tide There were no Stations s"e or VIVA WainR
rooms oa and the only expense In running the
pesct s1 The Sa has
retired sen Csptain Who saw tic PSssbiiities.
dicate got together and petitioned the town
Tor the privilege. Offering to pay a stipulated
ine anything. The town went to him. but got got
nothing more than growl out OF. him. So tho
cspan soa ~
syndicate.
There is an elaborate scale Of prices for for
ryinG man and beast 1t makes difference OF
several cents whether u wagon is drawn by
horses. mules. or oxen. and whether it is
Loaded with hay or something else. Then. too.
there Is a discount for round trips. which nre
always payable in advance unless you are par
ticuiarly we'll known. In such an event
as that you can have them charged. The
grlzZlad old sea dog who collects the fares
In the middle OF tho stream is noted for his
memory men II you should pay him for round
Tip. to save several pennies. the way some Of
even II you shou ldnt return for n week
This ferry Is the only ono ON the Thames
me river used to have more. but they have
been succeeded by bridges.
4, me Connecticut River still depends upon
the Terry system below Hartford There are
seven different ferries on that stream. tho
boats Of which are more primitive II anything
than the old Uncas. A good idea OF them may
be had by sticking your head out ia Shore Line
car window WI lille crossing tho vi bden covered
draw bridge between Old Saybrook and Old
Lyme. The little ferryboat which struggles
across the river ut that point is named the Lady
fenwick. 1t will accommodate one team n
" couple OF years ago tho boat was run on
wind was blowing the boat used to 60 creep
route The LAZY FenwcR IS sg p seSfe Gf ~
steam now. however.
The other ancient ferries on the Connecticut
are between Essex and Lyme. HadIyme and
Chester. Goodspeed's and Haddam Middie-
town and Portland Gildersleeve and Cromwell.
and Rocky Hill and south Glastonbury. They
nave all been in existence for century.