The Republican journal., 1897-05-27
"reminiscences of Voyaging and Yacht
ing.
Correspondence of The journal. I

y
probable voyages of the future; but in
life's afternoon he gives right of way to
reminiscent moods regarding pleasant
voyages of the past. Being now in st.
Croix recalls to mind my one previous
trip made to this island nearly thirty
years ago. Then strong and heavy youth
brig, the Lewis Clark of Bangor. She
was of about four hundred tons capacity
and commanded by sailor, scholar and
gentleman, James b. Bartlett OF Orring-
ton. We loaded with lumber in Bangor,
Just around the corner OF steamboat
wharf and close to a ferry slip where
double end rowboats came across from
Brewer. Suppose they have steam ferry
boats there now.) While there | was en-
tilely alone Oh the vessel About that
time splllt compasses We're Just coming
into use; l had never seen one before,
One day the captain was in town and he
Brought down highly polished brass
rather seriously, Here, you take charge
OF tins took it without question and
he huuiedly started tor his home The
thing was heavier than lead. Only a short
time oetole lie had told me OF occasions
when he had carried moderate quantities
OF specie, as height, from New York TO
q " lsla he
ot this stlong box, a0ded To my being SO
specially charged with its care, led me to
have no doubt that it WAS shipment Of
gold coin AID OF many thousands OF dol
lars. didn't like such responslb ility,
While III port and alone, did not dare to
60 up street after any supper, but with a
gun sat ON the box all night and had no
breakfast till nearly noon, when the cap
tain came aboard and explained the use
fitness and moderate value OF nv strange
chalge-a spirit compass, worth about
forty dollars. | might now wish that in
ali the years since then | had as faith
rally guarded every forty dollars OF my
own as l did the unknown box.
Sailing day came and We We're towing
down by the captain home just in the
hour OF twilight-calnI and the silently
gathering shadows OF a June evening.
His wife and their four little children sat
on the river bank and the baby shouted,
IN childish accents, Good by, papa, good
by" Then, for the frs time, | thought
OF what has since been more fully realized
that a seattle may have its draw backs |
said ''Cap'n, / should think you would
be homesick.' Then was the only time |
ever had from him a nervous answer. He
tremblingly said, Il am.
Captain Bartlett, before then, had never
passed up OF down the bay by any route
except that to the westward OF Islesboro
de desired to 90 down "Ship- channel
that time and it was understood that
under my guidance, we should so that
way. We had maps OF the world. but, in
those days, no charts OF bay and harbor
My knowledge OF the bay had been gath
cred entirely by sailing ON my grand
tathel little yacht which drew four feet
OF water; and | must here turn aside and
tell something OF that earlier experience.
our craft. the General Taylor" was
Thirty feet long, deep and narrow, schooner
ll9eed and the fastest thing in the bay, in
those days OF no prize races. If she was
now a11oat | would like to increase her
spals and sails and back her against any,
hing that viii sail on the bay this year.
She had the shape of a salmon rather
than the founder build OF modern craft.
some OF the small yachts OF these days
ale 50 wide that l can't tell the scuppers
nom the hawsepipes. During summer
vacations | lived on the "Taylor'' as
much as possible and had been allowed to
practice going out in command with
othe1 boys ton a crew, tor some little
while before mother knew that some
bearded man was not always on board.
When she first learned that party of us
infants were out alone, there was energy
anC excitement in the home camp.
4 wildly frightened woman flew across
The fields and found grandpa in his
meadow. | never knew all that was said.
but the dear old man was of mild but con-
vlncing speech, and master at spreading
OIL upon troubled waters. My certificate
as embryo commander was not allowed
10 be cancelled, my proudest pleasure was
not taken away. Grandfather had the
greatest faith in youth of any grown-up
man ever knew. AS a vessel owner. in
small way, he made great many new
masters and the most ruinous loss he ever
met with was by an able master of lone
experience. When l was fourteen, three
cousins OF ours We're visiting US from Ban
gor and there were no steamers then ply-
ing up the river from our side of the bay.
Grandfather said could take them home.
winch was more foreign voyage than /
had yet made as commander. NV sister
went with us, in all the dignity of her six
teen years, as chaperor to her female
cousin and as legal adviser to us all. We
had but fairly started when the wind
began to blow most fiercely. Passengers
ana crew became critical of my manage
ment and inclined to be insurbordinate.
My sister, always loyal and true. had the
greatest faith IN her brother and always a
gentle but com mandinp shirt She de-