The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1898-03-03
Haliowell's Former Prestige on the
Seas.

In the early days, Hallowell figured as
an important inland port, and her com
mercial interests far surpassed any place
in this part of the State. All have heard
of our city S former prestige as a trading
centre, and many have doubtless heard
some of the older residents relate of the
vast amount of business carried on with
far off lands. Hallowell ships carried on
a lively business with Southern and West
Indian ports, and Boston was considered
a nearby neighbor. 1t will be interesting
to learn something relative to the early
packet lines.
In 1885, George Crosby Of this city ran
the kennebec Packet, between Hallowell
and Boston, Chaplain Samuel Patterson
being master The sloop Courier was
later run by Capt. Patterson, and other
packets were lrregularly run, later on,
including the Catharine, owned by Thorn
as Norris. The Catharine met with dis
aster in a terrible storm in 1914, while on
a trip to Boston, and the Kennebec
Trader, commanded by Capt. Carr, lost
its mate, Elisha Nye, in the same storm.
In 1881, or near that date, the first reg
ular line of passenger packets, with the
time advertised, was instituted between
| Hallowell and Boston. In 1S45 two lines
OF packets were started from Hallowell to
Boston and were to leave from Augusta as
soon as the river channel had been deep
ened. Flagg' Line included the schoon-
ers Gazelle, Capt. Elisha Springer; Van
Buren,, Capt. I. r. Pool; Advent, Capt.
Union Line included the Somerset, Capt.
Hinckley; Watervile, W. H. Heath !;
Harriet Ann, Capt VIM Reed, Jr. Con-
sui, Capt. A L. Cove; McDonough, Capt
Andrew Brown. A Portland line was es-
tablshed in the year 1887, the New Eng
land being one of the first packets.
Cornelius Vanderbilt established a
steamer line between Hallowell and Bos-
ton in June, 1888. He placed the New
England on the line. The Huntress was
at this time running, and there we're sew
eral sharp rubs between the rival steam
ers They collided once in Boston har-
Dor. Later, Cornelius bought the w. c.
Peck and ran in opposition to the Angus
ia, commanded by Capt. A. Brown.
In 1S41, the John Richmond, command
ed by Capt. Kimball, went on twice a.
week route to Boston. At this time the
Huntress, Capt. I. G. Jewett command
ing, made two-day trips to Boston, twice
a week. The NJ. Y. Beach made three
trips per week to Portsmouth, the east
ern terminus of the Eastern Railroad
The Richmond cut the fare to Boston to
50, in 1912, and the same year the Hunt
ress ran to Portland and connected with
the railroad, placing the fare at 81, the
lowest yet seen. In June, 1912, the Tel
egraph put tie fare at ST to Boston. June
10, the Splendid advertised fare to Bos-
ton as ''S1 or as low as any other boat on
the route" June %, the Richmond
wound up the rate cutting practice by ad
vertising 25-cent fare to Boston. The
Richmond did f1ourishing business for
time, in fact until it finally went out of
existence, it being burned to the waters
edge at the wharf in Hallowell, on Sept.
8. One week later, the Richmond was
replaced by the Penobscot, which ran an
all-winter route to Boston. In 1915, the
John Marshall, Water Witch and Balloon
appeared on a Boston line. In 1855, the
Governor saw good service, and from 1866
to 1870 the Ocean Queen, commanded by
James Collins was in service and proved
to true to her name. Kennebec Journal.