Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1895-07-12
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standing, show in 4 degree what those days
OF long ago produced. Decayed wharves,
where once tiers of ships were haulei up and
barrels of oil were sung from the reeking
hold of vessel just in from cruise across a
half dozen other vessels to the pier, and
marked by rOtted spiles that worms and time
have eaten and corroded.
The war brought trouble enough to Nam
tucket and her shipping. At its close the
Bedford carried cargo OF oil to London and
from her truck the national flag flew for the
first time in any British Port
During the 1872 war nearly one-half of the
ships hailing from the island were captured
by cruisers But the industry soon recov-
cred footing, and in 1920 there were ~ whale
ships and considerable fleet OF schooners
and other craft. The business constantly in
creased. and vessels were built TO supply the
demand. In model and rigging the latter
craft showed great superiority over the fore
runners in the craft. Ii is true that they
were slow and cumbersome in comparison
with the clippers of this latter part of the
18th century, but they served their purpose
and were honestly put together The year
1912 showed a tonnage OF $4,000.
Kerosene Knocked Nantuckets future into
smithereens. The discovery and subsequent
general use OF petroleum snuffed the indus
try us with cyconic gust. The decline in
the value of whale products killed the busi-
last whaler went out over the bar, and with
her departed Nantucket's commercial pres
tige. Hard luck seems to have been rubbed
into Nantucket. In the Revolutionary 800
islanders were killed. Years before pestilence
carried away nearly one-third of the Indian
population. In 1910 nearly 10000 peop.e
lived on Nantucket, while today the population
is about 5000. She has had three big fires.
Property to the amount of 81 000 600 went up
in smoke in 1876. This conhagration it is
said, had deal to do with the decadence of
the town. When the territory was rebuilt
the entire character of the locality was
changed
| Nantucket--the name of the town. island
and county is ITO miles southeast of Boston,
q miles from the mainland, in the midst OF
the ocean, 70 the south and east stretch
sand bars for many miles, mostly deadly OBJ
structons to commerce. Away out on Davis
New South shoal is lightship, warning to
vessels coming in from across the sea and
a guide to shipping bound north and south.
History says the Norsemen named the island
in the llth century, yet there has been con.
siderable controversy as to whence the name
originated Some say the name Nantiean
was applied to the island by the Morse dis
coverers others claim it is corruption OF
the Indian appellation.
The town OF Nantucket stands on the west
coast upon a spot called "Wesco" by the In
dams and signifying white stone. A nearby
bluff retains the English name Sherburne,
Death may be said to be out of job on Nan.
tucket Island. The average length of life is
64 years, and the man who dies before he Is
50 years old usually uureels the thread OF
life because of accident rather than disease
In the year 1892 Massachusetts had two towns
by the name of Nantucket. This condition
caused confusion, and in 1895 the people O.
Nantucket town requested the Legislature to
change the name to that of the island-Nan.
ucket.
The year 1876 was marked by steam com,
munication between Nantucket and Wau
winet A water supply was established II
J 1880, and the Nantucket railroad was built
!, Six years later cable was laid to the main
land the N. 4 G. G. Steamboat Company wa
D consolidated with the N. B., V. d n. Steam
boat Company,