New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-03
WAYS OF THE SIER.
A CLASS OF SAILORS WHOSE TRADE IS
DISAPPEARING.

COM. ETrTIoS OF THE STEAMBOAT LNEs-fiow
ScHooNERs PASS THEIR OLD AGE-A
COASTER VILLAGE.
The coaster sailor dwells all along the At
lantic scaboard in winter, and sails his ieaky on
craft in summer for paltry sum OF few hun
dred dollars. A few adventurous ones continue
sailing right through the winter season. and every
rough storm washes several upon the rocks OF
reefs to be dashed to pieces The chances OF larger
profits induce these hardy spirits to sail their Ola
vessels from ha rbor to harbor In the very race OF
fate dodging along the coast to escape bad
weather and heavy seas. Despite their prccauton'
however every storm catches number OF them
far from all harbor and Off dangerous points
The coasters are usually two-masted schooners
OF about 100 tons burden Nearly all OF them are
laden with lumber, coal. lime or similar cargoes.
The lumber coasters are the lcakiest old craft
that float the sea, and they are literally held to-
gcthcr by coal tar Ia ordinary seas and weather
they are safe enough floating along buoyantiy
by virtue OF their Hight cargo Even leak IN the
bottom would cause very little trouble at such
times. But a strong adverse wind or heavy sea
makes the lumber coaster unmanageabe and dan
gcrous. The lumber is apt to shift and the seams
spring alca!I in very short tine. While the
lumber coaster never sinks even In the toughest
storm. but floats around as 4 menacing dereIlct'
life becomes dangerous and impossible upon her
decks in short time. She either turns over or
becomes waterlogged so that every sea sweeps
over her deck The crew find safety or watery
grave by taking to the small boats before the
coaster rolls over.
Very few coasters are built in these days and
near.y all OF those In service from ten to twenty
years OF age. The newest ones are used chiefly Tor
carrying coal and lime and the Oldest ones for lum-
Der. Before the steamers entered into the coast
Ing trade those old wooden schooners were paying
affairs. The finest and stanchest coasters In the
world were then built and fitted out In Ncw-Eng-
land They constructed - as 10 stand rough
weather. and many of them ouirode storms OF the
worst kind. Their skppcrs were Down East Yam
KEGS. and their crews experienced seamen OF no
mean reputation for skill AMI bravery. The trade
WIS then carried on winter and summer. and fewer
wrecks occurred than today. These old coasters In
their declining years are not httel to weather IN"
storms they did when young.
Tho steamers entered into the coastng trade and
soon made the Oil schooners OF lIttle real value.
They were 10 longer paving concerns and the cd
shpbuildnx trade declined. The captains In many
Instances bought tho oil wooden coasters FOR mere
song ana thcy run them to-day at small proht
In ono season after tho crew * paid of and the
schooner repaired. the captain and owner finds him
SELF yJp or 900 ahead This must last him through
10. winter until he can start out again On A trip.
The oil coaster Sc ail up IN some sheltered haroor'
and the captain goes home to spend several months
ou shore,
These coaster sailors on shore cass by
Themselves. AMI should not be confounled with tho
ordinary -lmcu. Thy hsye small house and
patch ~ garden. overlooking th" SPA. TIL garden
is plaueh,I and planted iu the spring before IN"
owner sl.s % sct. AMI ~ rest ~ the family at
tent to th, cultivation AMI harvesting. with the
.f,..ls ir.m ih.g ami th, money tho captain make
a Bile .lutn.J ,cnIut, p. the family manage to lad
d, Pleasant AMI lomio:iab.o hGe Usually a number
~ th,s, caster skppcrs VIII I've In one small ham
l.t surrounded 10y families poorer than themselves.
f-.m whom their crews are generally made mp In
,Ac hathor r.1s, bog nail a dozen more schooners
VII Dbl. lilI up
WHOM spr.ne comes the sleepy hamlet begins to
show SIGNS u more actl,iy. The early gardening j.
pushed a.uuf a- rapidly as possible. Then tn ola
,cr.on.r. lra hauled up AMI repaired \ coat Of
.aIut H.. given 20 som". others AT" calkcl up ana
setmc! a.jh co,i tar. new rigging AMI spars are
atiel upon fc~ and some improvements made
upon every one Ry N" time this work j. com
pl-,.l spring IL well upon ~ way and the cam
ocean Is inviting "a" sailors 20 80 90 sea again. In"
old hunks lre loaded with provisions ana water aHd
the gallant crew ana skipper sail form upon thrr
GUNNER. voyage Tie crew consist, chiefly ~ ud-
,nc,s - the captain Sometime D. IS necessary 10
run up 20 lo-tou or Ncw-I.ondpn short-hanlci, AMI
hamlet ls sof,e,. mos touching The whole village
comes down g. go" thc coasters on. for reqn' my
gll~tcn 100 the hdrbot sunlight Ike q mock 81 bifds
AMI then .s theS ~owy AT ont 10 s'' ihey DcS,n 10
.
10 81 cargo ~ lumber. others sal straight to Be-
ton and a f.N down through Long Island
Sound WHEN loaded The GOA ter, "hi FOR favor
abe winds AMI weather - take them on their Jour
ucy Thoy dodge from harhor 70 4tihor. making u"
vovag. nom boston 90 Now York sometimes IN a
fcw ,a,- aud other times rot in ]" oi two He'kS
Whl. iA.I up iu a harbor for u M * on account 81
haI weather. the captain has to- board his crew ana
make nothing himself
coasters loaded with conl or lin" must not leak
and they are a better class pi hp"is than many
OF th, ,lisiing schoouers. But II once caught IN
"a storm they are the most dangerous rrdt To b.
caught uuou n they srrinG al'Ak ihr pumps
must be- worked at once and th" vessels bcached
f., short order This Is the only Way To say" even
"A part OF tho cargo and shlp. The coast l. lned
Vim schoouers loaded with coal 10 the summer
ana early fall months They nI'k INTO every har-
hnr and start afrrsh each moruln-. u they 10 not
carry lights hey arr great tn,nac" To naNish-
ton \ good s7cI schooner loaded Win coal De- ~"
wlfs, enemy th4t our ocean steamers can encounter
The coasfcr shippers are sonnet dimes very nrSllg"t
about displaying light. especially when lying or
shore whore f,w Vessels travel
Tho Old n.hing smicks and schooners are superior
AS "A rule To- fhc coasters. ana many of thtn hi"
sold af cane cod fIr mcrt song, 70 spend thrlf
oil ago In carrying lime, coal am Iumh'r to th'
various points along the colst These Oh crafts
u,vcr rot - pieces and 80 into the OLD lum pie"
they ere always sailed until they meet the same
fot. # not wrecked In storm. they leak an 70
thing ls then sold - some Wrccking company Tor