The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-14
IPELEG BUNKER'SSHIP
8'tE WAS NOVEL IN CONCEPTION,
EXECUTION AND LAUNCHING.

A Unique ana Exciting Event That Marked
Red letter Tsra fnThst section Of the
old Pine Tree state From charIeston TO
Tidewater at Bangor.
"Talking OF shipbuilding. did you even
hear of seagoing vessel being built %
miles from navigation and carried ON
wheels down 10 tidewater and launched"
said +. w. Norcross OF Tho Shoe and Leath-
en- Reporter the other day. II have, and
was literally in IT, at the launching. Let
me tell you about a schooner that was
built in Charleston. Me-, up in the woods
north Of Bangor.
"Captaln Peleg Bunker was an old fish
ing skipper, who many years ago thought
he had got enough Of the sea, and so bought
him farm up in Charleston and settled
down TO live on the land. 1t didn't take
him long 10 find out that that was no kind
Of life for him. and he pined for the sea.
There were with him on the farm his two
rrownnp sons who had saved some money.
They had found swcethearts among the
neighhors' daughters and were beginning to
plan isr farms OF their own.
.Weli the old captain got moro and
more restless, and at last, one July morn
ing. when the wind from the south blew
breath OF the sea mp inland, Captain Bum
ker stood snutIing IL i'm. OF sudden he
turned round 10 his two boys, who were at
work sharpening their scythes for haying.
boys. he said, II you'll build me
fishing smack you may have the farm
"The young men thought II over and
then took him at his word. They got in
Bangor all the materials that had TO be
bought All the timbers they founC almost
at their doors waiting TO be cut and hauled,
for in that day the lumber woods were aSl
about them. When everything was ready
mt hand, they laid the keel in their farm
yard. and in six months had built the hull
Of a neshipshape schooner 30 feet long,
completely fitted up and painted, with the
spars lying alongside-for her masts and
rigging were to be pat in after the launch
ing
"The next thing was TO get her afoat.
twenty-five miles Of hilly road lay between
her and tidewater. Tho builders took
time in the year when teamwork was slack
ito haul her TO Bangor. Maine country peo-
pie were neighboriy In those days, and
when the Bunkers got ready to move their
craft all the farmers in the township were
ready TO help. You perhaps know what a
Maine OK cart is--that wide. tieup affair on
a pair OF immense heavy wheels. The
Farmers came i'm with their OK carts, took
off the bodies from dozen ol chem, ranged
the pairs of wheels in line one after an
other, then, all hands helping, ran the
schooner upon them, blocked her up on nm
even keel clear of the tires, and there she
was, ready 20 start.
"The next day the farmers were all on
hand with 90 yokes of oxen, everybody
cooked and primed for Bangorand picnic.
When they had got the 20 yokes Of oxen
strung out in a long line before the wheels,
attached to them by one great chain used
in booming logs. and the word was given,
every red shirted driver swung his goad
stick, yelled at his oxen, and the schooner,
christened the Peleg Bunker, began her
voyage over the hills to Bangor. From a
pole in the stern 1uttered an American flag,
and from the bows another upheld white
streamcr bearing the vessels name. All
along the route the people came long dis
tances TO behold the vessel moving along
the highway going like a duck to water
The schoolhouses were emptied OF their
barefooted urchins, who ran alongside the
schooner, and a procession of farm wagons
followed in it's wake. Farmers along the
route opened up barrels OF cider and passed
it in pals and tin dippers along the line,
and when night came their houses were
opened in free hospitality to the teamsters.
II was youngster then. My father was
in the procession with two yokes of oxen,
and he said that might 20 along. Proud
enough felt to ride on the schooner's top
gallant forecastle alongside Captain Bunk
er, and standing with my hand on the flag
staff overlook the other boys running
alongside.
"The first day we made about Is miles.
On the second at about noon, the process
sion came into the city. All Bangor had
heard Of our coming and turned out to re-
ceive u.s. The sidewalks were crowded, and
there were faces In all the windows. The
public schools were adjourned that the
pupils and teachers might see the sight,
and they were all there, you may be sure.
''The teamsters did their prettiest at
welding the goad stick and shouting to the
oxen rs down Main street and the Hamp-
den road the schooner passed to the river
side landing. There the rollers had been
laid, and with the help of many willing
hands the Peleg Bunker glided into the
Penobscot and floated with the appearance
for the first time of being at home. 1t was
the old days OF open rum drinking, and the
teamsters were SO Hospitality treated by
the citizens OK Bangor that they returned
70 Charleston in scattered order, and it was
week before the last stragglers arrived
home, but all were happy. and there was
nobody to find fault.
"Captain Bunker staid by his vessel.
With no loss Of time he had her rugged,
proyisioned, and with n crew of or 10 men
was Off for the winter fishing on the New
foundland kanks. After that he sometimes
came back TO the farm for visit, but he
followed the sea 10 a green old age. The
Peleg Bunker proved a Seaworthy and
lucky vessel, and for all know may be
still afoat, although her captain, for whom
she WAS named, has long since paid the
debt Of nature. New York Sun.