The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-04-27

may happen to think OF them. and II 1
| succeed In carrying any Of my hearers
back TO the DAYS when they were boys.
and bring fond recollections to view. or
even bring a smile TO their faces as they
recall some OF the coed old days now past
and gone, then my efforts Will not nave
been In vain. 1t was somewhere In the
forties that Diamond Cove first BROKE
forth on my view. On q bright summer
day, being then young boy, 1 was IN
vited by Hon. James Deering who at that
time owned behring's Oaks, and In fact
large portion OF the western part OF the
city, to take n trip down Casco Bay In his
good old schooner "Nameless." she was
under the charge of old Harry Homer.
who was sailing master and crew. Harry
Homer L well recollect rs very genial,
pleasant, whole souled man, larse, broad
| shouldered. long thick whiskers extend
ing under his chin and from ear to ear,
regular man of war style. Mr.. Deering
thought great deal OF Skipper Homer
and for years they passed many happy
hours together In Caseo Bay. AT that
time, MIR. Deering owned the whole Of
Little and Big Hog Islapds, as they were
then called. That same time my father
was in business on Exchange street. q
tenant of Mr.. behring's and 1t did not
take me Il great Will, to work into the
good graces of Mr.. Deering, and be of as
sistance to him, by carrying handles and
making myself useful while on board.
Many and many trip have had with
him, through the blue waters OF Casco
Bay; and right here let me say, that In
the whols course of my life, l have never
met with more pleasant, considerable,
agreeable man. A perfect old school gen.
tleman. Bear In mind that.I am now
| speaking of the richest man In the city at
that time and really the father of yacht
| ing in Casco Bay. A tender hearted. fine
looking old gentleman. he was ever ready
to respond to all calls in trouble and dis
| tress; his hand and pocket were always
| open to the needy. He had smooth,
| saint like face, always dressed In the pink
of perfection, white stock, summer and
| winter always white vest In warm
weather. well recollect one incident of
Mr.. Deering, which know the recording
angels above passed to his credit There
was In the forties tenant oflhis son Ex-
change street, named Buxton. l think
that he had been captain of vessel, and
while holding that position, rope had
caught in some manner and injured him
so badly that both legs We're taken OIL at
| the knees; itlwas very unusual sight in
those days to see man walking round
town on his knees, attending to business.
| He kept small saloon in a little 1-2
story farm building, situated on the spot
where the Oriental Powder Mills Office Is
now located. He was Familiarity called
"Daddie Buxton" by young and old. At
the time 1 refei to above, Mir. Deeriug
was in my fathers store, and "Daddie
Buxton" came lin and asked to have a
ten dollar bill changed. My father gave
him the change, ana "Daddie Buxton"
went out, when upon looking at the Bank
Deteotor 1t was found to be u counterfeit.
"Oh," said my father, THAT Is too bad,
some one has passed that bill on old Dad
die Buxton. the poor old cripple Let
IL > la
MIR. Deering. Mr.. Deering took the bill
In his hands and looked carefully at it
and at the Bank Detector, and said, YES
1t is u counterfeit" and then tore 1t in
a hundred pieces, threw them on the floor,
and banded out clean ten dollar bill to
my father with the remark, Don't you
say word to Daddie Buxton about this. I"
That was ore of his charac teristics.
l wonder how many OF the gentlemen
present can recall the two headquarters
for letting row and sailboats In tine for
ties9 In my minds eye can see wildly
before me the old shops of John Fenno,
on the corner of Fore and Union streets,
and the store of Lazarus Harrow, after
ward his son Edwards, who still resides
on Congress street, in this city, which was
on the opposite corner. AT either place
you could hire row boat for cents an
hour, or a sailboat-no yachts in those
days-which would carry from to Is or
20 persons, for l2 13 cents an hour, or
81. SO for the day of "a hours, with Gunner
lines cod lines, salt clam bait, fry pan.
| chowder pot and coffee pot thrown in;
and good old times they were, too. The
yachts you have now, may cost n great
deal more money, but hardly think you
Lave such jolly times as We did in thoss
Gays. Steauibo to the Islands were I'M
known at this time, and sail to Dia-
mond Cove, was thought as much of as
a trip to Boston in the cars is nowadays.
The sailing boats in use about this time
as recollect them, were the sch. Laurel,
sloop Fayorite, and sloop Helen Maria,
owned by Harlow The Helen Maria
was named in honor of lady friend of
mine, and had the pleasure of present
ing set of flags, and stuffed stern
cushion, great extravaganza in those
days. i also had the honor of inviting
as large party as she would carry, and
sailing her down the harbor on her first
trip. 1t was a lovely, bright, clear day,
with u fine west wind, and suppose l
bought at that time. that / was big
ger man, than Gen. Grant. However.
! managed to bring the party back all
alive, and many times after that occasion
also. Then there was the sch. Mechanic,
sch. Banner. which met with such a ter.
rible disaster, sloop Go Ahead, owned by
Pettingill. and the sloop Odd Fellow,
owned Uy John Fenno. The sloop Ameri
can. owned and run by Harry Mcclellan
was quite favorite for practise.
On September sth, 1910. the sch. Ban
ner with party on board consisting of
nine young persons, three lads aud six
young ladies, started down the harbor TO
visit the u. ). feet which had been in
the harbor for several days 1t was
beautiful afternoon, and us the schooner
slowly sailed down the harbor, the fleet
got under way and sailed out by Portland
Light, and the boat ran down to Little
Hog Island and stopped there for few
minutes. They then started off from the
shore, and before they got fairly under
way flaw of wind struck her and she
keeled over and instantly filled. The
suns rays being very uncomfortable, just
before the coat sank five of the young
ladies had gone into the cabin to shield
themselves. One young lady and
three young men We're outside. and they
chung to the toat until one OF the young
men Embossed the small boat attached and
rescued those cl1nging to the sides, For
those in the cabin, there was no relief
as the Loaf oapsized entirely flled, and
they were hurried in moment from