The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-02-06
Capt. Chas. 3. Sanford Dead.

FOR MANY YEARS FAMOUS STEAMBOAT CAP
TAIN ON THE MAINE COAST AND MAN WITH
HOSTS OF FRIENDS.
capt. Charles B. Sanford died Jan. 22d in
Searsport, where he had resided since leav-
ing his home at Fort Point some time ago.
He had been gradually failing in health for
year or more, and death was due to gen.
eral breaking down of his constitution.
capt. Sanford was famous all along the
Atlantic seaboard as a steamboat command
er, and from 1849 to 1879 he was one of the
most conspicuous figures in steam navlga-
ton affairs down east" He was the son OF
Capt. Menemon Sanford, who was also
great steamboater, and was born i'll New
Haven in 1927. There were nine OF the San
ford children-seven sons and two daugh-
tiers. Of the sons, Thomas, Edward, Asa,
Charles, George and William, were interest
ed IN steam navigation, either as masters or
owners, while the other, James T. was en-
gagged in the banking business in New York
All OF the sons and one of the daughters are
now dead, the sole survivor Of the large
family being Miss Josephine Sanford, who
resides in California.
Capt. Charles had his first steamboat ex-
perlence at the age of II, when he was bag
gage master on a steamer running between
New Haven aud New York. When his
father, Menemon Sanford, established San
ford's Independent Line between Boston
and Bangor, along in the 4O's, Charles came
to Bangor and was for a time engaged as a
freight clerk at this end OF the route, but
soon, following his natural bent, went in the
steamers, serving in various capacities until
in 1S49 he took command of the T..
+. Secor, small slde-wheeler running
between Bangor, Sedgwick and other
ports of the bay and eastern coast. In
1867 he was clerk in the side wheel
steamer Bangor (not the old iron steamer
\ n 4, ,,l
was atterwari sent to the Mediterranean as
transport for pilgrims between Alexandria
and Mecca. In 1858 he took command of
the steamer Menemon Sanford, one of the
best modelled side whtelers ever seen on
this coast, and in 1868, when the katahdin
came out he took charge of that remarkable
boat. She was in many respects the most
successful Steamboat that ever came east,
and, with the exception of a few winters on
Long Island Sound she ran almost continu-
ously on the Boston and Bangor route from
1865 TO 1854, inclusive-32 years. III 1867 the
fine steamer Cambridge came on the Boston
and Bangor route ami for a time Capt, San
ford commanded her, This was his last COM
luand, and he was succeeded 10y Capt, j. P.
johnson The Cam bridge was lostin Febru-
airy, 1886, on Old Man ledge,
In 1915 Sanford's Independent line went
into the hands of stock company known as
the Sanford Steamship Co., Capt. Sanford
and Others of his family having disposed of
large share Of their interest. In 1879 the
line went into control of the Boston & Ban
gor S. S. Co., of which VIM. H. Hill of Bos-
ton, now dead, was president and his son,
VIM. II. Hill, Jr., general manager. The
Sanford's now retired altogether from the
business and Capt. Charles took up his resi-
dence at Fort Point, where he owned large
tract Of land and built comfortable house
and 0utbuidings. He continued to live at
Fort Point until about year ago, when he
removed to Searsport, where he died.
Capt. Sanford was twice married. His
first wife was Miss Frances Pomeroy TAYLOR,
daughter of Abner Taylor of Bangor, and
the second Miss Maria French, daughter of
George French of Glenburn. The first wife
died III 1888, the second about 20 years ago.
By his first wife Capt. Sanford had two chill
dren, "A daughter, who died when very Young
and son, Charles, who resides in Brooklyn
n, Y. He was a man of commanding stature
great executive ability, OF genial nature and
possessed of many admirable traits Of char
acter, notable among them his princely gen
eroslty. He gave money literally to every
body and everything that needed it, and
this, with his democratic simplicity of man
ner, made him loved and honored by people
OF all classes. He was one of those men to
whom the term popular could be truthful
ly applied. He was most capable com
mander and had the reputation of being
able to make a better and quicker landing
Il
tain's commission on the line. Besides being
steamboat king, he was engaged at times
IN other enterprises, among them the Was
saumkeag House, now the Fort Point Hotel.
He gave a thousand dollars toward the con-
struction of the Masonic building in Bangor.
and helped along many another good work.
He was the same to every body, from deck
hand to millionaire. He outived all the
captains who served under him-Rich, John
son, RoiX and the rest-and of all the men
who served as agents of the Sanford line,
but fOur-James Patterson of Winterport
Daniel Lane of Belfast, Fernald of Camden,
and John Stokell of Winterport, survive
him.
Among the many stories told of Capt San
ford is one relating to one of his famous tug
boat fishing trips, when the boat with party
OF well known gentlemen aboard lay tied to
wharf in Camden preparatory to setting
out for Matlnicus for the catch. Capt Sa,l-
ford had been telling them about how once,
OFF Cape Cod, he jumped overheard from a
steamer and came back over the rail with a
mammoth Goldfish under his arm. As a
matter of course nobody on the tug boat be-
lieved the Captain, and for an hour or more
they "Jollied' him tremendously. Now the
captain knew that under the wharf where
the boat lay there was a trap full of live
goldfish, so before anyone could SLY out the
situation he was over the rail. III "a water,
salt or fresh Capt. Sanford was like a New
foundland dog, for he could swim literally
like duck. For a long while he was under
water, so long in fact, that his companions
began to worry about him. Presently, how
ever, he came to the surface and, throwing
himself to the rail with one arm, with the
other he pitched out upon the deck an enor-
nous cod, strong and lusty as a steer much
to the establishment of the other fishermen.
There" said he, putting from his exertions,
perhaps you don't believe my Cape Cod
yarn now" 1t was long time before any
one learned just where that cod came from.