The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-11-11

To the Editor of the Press:
After visiting many places on the globe and
never having visited the old whaling port of
Nantucket, a short time ago. went to Boston
on one of our fine boats, and after a few days
stay in Boston among relatives and
friends, took passage on the train from the Old
Colony depot to Woods Holl, on the north
shore of Vineyard Sound, about 80 miles from
Boston. There embarked ON board the fine
steamer Nantucket for the Vineyard High
lands, and Nantucket, once the principal whal-
Ing port of our country. Nantucket is what is
termed a barred" harbor. At the entrance to
the harbor, there is a sand bar, at best tides
with only about nine feet of water upon it. In
1920 there were ~ ships engaged in the whale
fishery. and as there was not water enough to
take them over the bar, the ship owners con-
structed what they called "Camels.' They
were built somewhat like our floating dock.
The ships were anchored outside OF the harbor
in deep water; and the wooden "Camels" were
towed out to the ships and filled with water by
opening the valves.
When sunk low enough, the valves were
closed and the camels were hauled under the
ships and then pumped out, was told that
ships drawing 10 feet Of water were raised high
enough to go in over the bar without anytrouble:
and the people of Nantucket had great jubilee
when the first ship was taken into port by the
this museum l saw ship and ''cameP' about
eight feet long, and many other things OF inter-
est including many Indian relics, some very
beautiful carved work, and whales jaw IL
feet in length with 46 teeth. This whale was,
S7feet long, and So feet around. 10 barrels of
oil were made from him; and 800 lbs. of whale
bone were taken from him. The whale was taken
in the Pacific ocean in 1865 by Captain William
Cash, Bark Islander,
In 1875 the Nantucket bank was started; and
robbed of 1922. 900 the same year. In statistics
gathered the population in 1910 was nearly
10000 From that date the whale fishery began
to decline and the people began to leave the Is
5000 and in 1875 was but 5000. Since 1875
Nantucket has become quite a seaside resort
and | was told that more than 10000 people
had this season visited this pleasant old city sur
rounded by the Atlantic ocean on one side, and
the Vineyard and sound on the other side.
Since Nantucket has become pop
town tow has T been Very much i' improved The
houses have been painted and the population
has increased to about five thousand.-the
ago ago, Hotels and many cottages have been
built. Water to supply the city has been in
troduced, and a railroad has been built out to
the Shore and extended along the shore nearly
to the Sankaty Head light house. This road
is only used i'll summer.
To the southeast of Sankaty Head light
ssaay Twenty ss sn Is the sSd saa1
these shoals is
on our coast
Several years ago two vessels sailed from
Portland for the West Indies and were never
heard from, One of them was the Bark r. H.
Knight and the other the brig Nancy Lock. A
heavy easterly gale set in soon after they
sailed and there is no doubt that they were
lost on the Nantucket Shoals.
A fog gun should be used on board of the light
ship near these shoals. A gun can be heard
much FARTHER than a steam whistle But this
light ship has nothing but "a bell to beruns IN
f0ggy weather.
IN the last few years the valuation of much of
the property in n antucket hasmore than doubled
We are glad to know that this once important
seaport is having boom as watering
place and summer resort.
never have visited any place in northern
climate where there is such large variety of
beautiful wild flowers.
Although late in the season, I saw some fine
climbing roses with many roSebuds just ready
to bloom. They were like our roses in june.
The first name given this old town was Sher-
burne, but in 1875 the name was changed to
Nantucket. The town bore the first name for
more than 100 years. In 1894 an Indian
plague swept off 222 Indians. leaving only 136
on the island. and in 1854 the last Indian died.
Nantucket WAS first discovered in 1902 by
Bartholomew Gosnold, and Sankaty Head was
the first land seen. The largest number of In
dams on the island at one time was about 700.
In 1641 the island was decided to Mayhem and
Son by Lord Sterling, and in 1863 Mayhem
decided it to 10 original purchasers for 80
pounds and two beaver hats. When the white
men first came to the island it was largely COW
cred with forests of oak and other trees. In
1878 the taxable property on the island was
worth $685. In 1888 great fire con
sumed $500 900 worth of property Other
great fires occurred from time to time, one in
1846 on July 18th and 14th. Nantucket is
pleasant place in which to spend a few days or
more in summer. They have good boats and
competent men to manage them. and there are
plenty of the blue and other kinds of fish.
ALVIN HALL.