The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-10-01

From Louisburg to Bangor.
A Voyage in the Schooner Vim. B. Palmer

One of the editors Of The Hartford
Conn, Times made the voyage from
Louisburg, Cape Breton, to Bangor. in
the big four masted schooner William B.
Palmer, Captain Frank Dyer. The sehoon-
er had cargo of =, $50 tons of coal, The
first part of the voyage was-an experience
OF fogs and Gains, and Of the latter part
we quote as follows from the interesting
account in the Times:
FINDING A ROCK IN THE FOG.
Friday found everybody on the alert for
the American coast. Since leaving Louis
burg only single observation had been
secured, and that was, at best, of only
doubtful accuracy with the horizon partly
obscured by mist. Dead reckoning, that
is, the distance run on the several courses
as indicated by the patent log, furnished
the best data by which the run could be
marked on the chart. And, with this, it
seemed almost marvellous that we could,
in the midst of dense fog find the point
the vessel was aiming at-Mt. Desert rock,
mere speck upon the waste of water, fiji
teen miles out at sea from Mt. Desert Is
land.
With steamer, going straight as she
may be steered it is one thing. With a
sailing craft, the sport of the winds and
OF ocean currents, it is quite different
At O clock Friday morning the captain S
reckoning showed that the vessel was
within fifteen miles of the rock, upon
which is a lighthouse and fog whistle
Amid the densest of fog and only light
breeze, the vessel crept onward, and
shortly after dinner the low, solemn note
OF fog whistle at regular intervals was
heard far away on the starboard bow.
Timing the blasts, identified it as the
whistle on Mt. Desert rock. The wind
holding northeasterly, and it. being risky
to run in on the coast in such heavy fog,
the vessel laid to on the port tack and
drifted slowly seward.
Clear skies and breeze would have
landed us ashore Saturday. However, it
was noon before the fog lifted, and when
the course was changed to the westward
to run the seventeen miles to the east en-
trance Of Penobscot Bay, the breeze died
out to almost a calm. The lofty heights
of Mt. Desert Island lifted out of the fog,
and with bright skies we had beautiful
Isle au Haut abeam nearly all day, SO light
and titfdl was the breeze. 1t left US final
ly, without enough to risk the perils OF
the east entrance to the bay and all night
long the vessel drifted slowly to the west
ward, keeping within sound of the low.
solemn sound of the fog whistle on Matini-
Gus Island, The following morning the
fog continued thick and for safety the
vessel came to anchor in twenty two faith
Oms.
4 BREEZE AND CHARMING SAIL.
Sunday noon, rafting breeze came up
from the southeast. The fog swept away.
as by the hand Of the magician, revealing
all around beautiful green islands, upon
whose rocky shores the surf was break
ing. The sturdy little engine soon had
the anchor off the ground and the sails
hoisted to their places. Keeling off eight
knots easily, the big craft sprang away on
her course, entering Penobscot Bay by
the westward channel, thence up the bay.
by Rockand, Camden, Rockport and Bel
fast, passing innumerable pretty islands
in this, one of the most picturesque sheets
of water on the coast. Where the big
Penobscot mingles its brown food with
the bright green of the sea, the vessel
rounded Fort Point in the midst of live
ly shower at S p. m. and came to anchor.
The trip had been long one, ten days
Three days before sailing from Louis
UufS, tHe lLe large louT-IlaSCeQ MarJOIle
had left that port also bound for Bangor
1t was surprising news that now came to
us that the Marjorie had not yet arrived
somewhere amid the fog and drift we had
slipped past, and it was not until after we
had been at anchor at Fort Point dozen
hours that she rounded the point and came
to anchor nearby, difference of three
and a half days to the Palmers credit
How it happened is past explanation, but
as in the case of the schooner Crosby on
the outward voyage, such are the chances
of the sea.
The voyage was practically ended here
at Fort Point. Beyond, it was the bust
ness of tug to take the vessel thirty
miles up stream to her destination, at
Bangor. A delightful trip it was, the
next day; no fog, no Gains, noble stream
winding amid high banks, covered to the
waters edge with trees and grass and
flowers; pleasant little villages nesting in
sheltered hooks, the beautiful Stars and
Stripes floating here and there, and every
thing bathed in the bright sunshine of
midsummer-''God's country as the
captain, in burst of patriotic fervor,
termed it. Now, Bangor comes in sight
around bend of the river, with its great
icehouses, its tall factory chimneys and
white steeples and from the shore is borne
ont upon the quiet of the river the boom
and hustle of the city's traffic and bust
ness.