The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-11-04
Lod,. Ds1Hc easy to buy, easy to take
aAOOQ , lIIS easy in effect. 25.

Is the One True BLOOD Purifier
Hoods Pills easy easy to a e sss easy t take
NOT THE ORIGINAL MAYFLoWE
Rut She Is the Oldest Mayfiower Afoat--
She was Built in 1924 and Is Still In
Service
III don't say that we've got the original
Mayfower,' said ]. II. Blake Saturday,
'sput we've got the Oldest Mayfower
afioat and she looks ancient enough to
warrant the belief that she is fully as old
as they claim. She was built in 1924, and
is commanded by Captain Nutter, one of
the Nutter brothers of Steuben. They re
all CAPTAINS ana have the reputation of
sailing vessels no one else will venture
ont in. and so far they haven't been
drowned. They are all expert sailors, and
are noted for their courage and their good
luck. Come down and take look at the
craft -
Mr.. Blake led the way to the extreme
end of the wharf, where the ancient
vessel was tied up. Captain Nutter had
a full freight of wood. which he proposed
to take to some Massachusetts market,
not finding Portland good market at
this time of the year. The wood is piled
high on the deck only leaving little
space by the pumps, very proper pre-
caution under the circumstances. A more
weather beaten and wind and storm
battered old craft probably isn't afioat in
the American waters, the house looked as
ancient as the hull, the masts showed
signs of their many years of service, and
as Mr. Blake said: "There's hardly bit
of running gear that isn't stranded. y
Take it all in all che ancient schooner
seemed likely to at last follow the ex-
ample of the deacon's one horse shay, and
go all together and nothing first. To
be sure there is no reason to suppose that
one part is any stronger than any other,
and she must have been built upon honor
by the ancient builder who shaped her
stout timbers in 1924.
And yet some way there was home
smoke curled up from the chimney, there
were evident indications of the prepara-
ton of the evening meal, and coasters
live we'll, and Mr.. Blake called special
attention to the large house. They built
her TO accommodate the whole family"
he said.
Captain Nutter," shouted Mr. Blake,
and boy looked out and then gave
place to the captain, a fine looking speci-
men Of the Maine sailor. Captain Nutter
said he put in partly for shelter, but
mostly on account of his wife. II have
my family with me-" he said While
outside Mrs. Nutter was suddenly taken
sick, and Captain Nutter came into port
and called a physician. She is progress
ing well, and is not very seriously sick.
Captain Nutter is not himself POSTED
regarding the age of the schooner, but
had no reason to doubt that she is fully
as old as stated in the Marine Register
s'She's as sound as nut yet. y he said,
and doesn't leak bit. He thought
that she is still fully as good as schooners
of her class of half her years. Chow long
ago was it that the house was rebuilt?"
he asked of Mr. Blake who thought it
over ana said, "thirty years, captain, -
and the house did certainly look that age
to say the least.
The captain didn't very much like the
appearance of the night, but hardly
looked for heavy storm. He said that
his crew consists of one man beside the
rest of u.s. He thought he should find a
good market for his wood.
sThat schooner said Mr.. Blake, as he
walked back to his office, ''isn't the Oldest
schooner still in service, but she comes
close to it, The Oldest is the Polly, built
in 1906 but no one would suspect it. She
was privateer during the war Of 1912,
and has great history, but she's still as
trim and handsome as any schooner of
her class. The Mayflower hasn't been
looked after as we'll. and l don t suppose
there are many captains who would take
her as gift on condition of sailing her
from Southwest Harbor to Boston and
back, and yet Captain Nutter will go and
come all right.
ssYou heard what Captain Nutter said
about having his wife and boy with himP
It's very common thing for the captain
of a coaster to take his wife, and children
if he has any with him from point to
point The wife does the cooking, and
saves her husband tine cost of man. 1t
makes a big difference with the skipper.
and adds to his profits.
Captain Nutter is a good specimen of
q Maine skipper. He doesn't wait for
some one to load his schooner, but buys
freight and takes it to what seems likely
TO be the best market. A Maine skipper
who owns his coaster, who has money
with which to buy freight, and who
keeps his family with HIM can't help
making money. His schooner may be SO
old that no one would risk a freight in
Der, but even then he's all right as long
Is he can keep her float The May6ower
is pretty old craft, but she. may be kept
ifioat for years to come. l don't believe
hough that with the exception of the
Polly, there's another schooner of her age
40 W on the Maine coast, or for that
natter III American waters Even
ryantaiu Nutter would hardly ventura IN |