The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-02
CAP'y III FoGG's OPPORTUNE DIVE.
Whether He Did 1t or Not, Bucksport's Old
Ferrybont Is Turning Again.

whether He Did 1t or Not, Bucksport's Old
Ferryboat Is Running Again.
BuCKsPoRT. Ne. July l.-Science may lar"h
at the idea OF human tidal wave and many
people right here in Bucksport pooh pooh The
idea that If Cant. Hiram FoEG had not :allen
overheard a few nights ago the Joseph G.
Totten would not have been launched that
night.
The Penobscot River at Ducksrort is half a
mile wide and communication with The further
side is accomplished by means Of ferryboa
a dory for single sengers and q scow Tor
teams. In summer. after the huge chunks OF
Ice have all gone out OF the river. the Joseph
&. Totten Is nut in commission. The Totten
is Il craft OF fearful and wonderful "onstruc-
ton. Her hui, is practically big lecked
scow with miniature pnddlewheels on each
side. These are agtated by an engine OF an
tique design By skilfu navigator. having
full knowledge Of the currents and tides. the
craft can he coaXed across to the opposite side
and back in the course of bright summers
day. II costs more to run the Totten than 1t
does to scull a scow. and hence the ferry COM
pany postp the date Of placing the steam
boat in commission in the spring as long az
OF frost in the nutumn. hauls her out on a
cob pier male for her. Last fall a .pheuome-
nally high tide: which vas augmented by a
sha was laid up she went above high water
marx further than ever before The men who
attended to the matter were hired. To Law tho
Q raft up only. and took no thought for the com
ing spring.
management that there was difficulty ahead
The highest OF the snrlng tides hardly swaShed
against the bottom OF The boat and with an or
One mean tide was lost by tho breaking Of
hawsers with which tug was epdeavoring TO
caJole the Totten to her native element. The
old salts predicted that about June 20 there
would he very hIgn tide. Several weeks Of
the summer season had now passed and still
were finding fault On certain night the en-
tire force Of the ferry company was modified.
n tuK.chartered and every preparatiOn mnde
to get the old craft of. Ihe water rose higher
and higher on the cob work and anped 2gninst
and then stopped. it lacked only a, few min.
utss Of being Tie tor Of the fq2d and 81:
float on that tide she never would. The pros
Al At the dock next the Totten an old schooner
repairs. It was Capn Hi Forg's vessel and he
was out in a small punt directing operations.
ABLY more than 80, and IS 90 gazse in his
movements. although perfectly at home In a
inH at the Totten. but couldn't bulge her
CRpn Hi was also interested in the operations
on the Totten as we'll ms on his oTn craft. and
the scene. As he shot across The dock lie
wasn't aware Of the hawser npon which the tug
was Just swinging foc null.
What you felers wnn' 10 dc is to run line
to a capstan on tn o' Colby wharf and"--
But he never finished the sentence The
hawssr came up with swish directly under
the punt and like totteI ing Statne Cam Fogg
fell There was sound as OF the fall Of q
mighty tree into q lake, the water recaded
from around the Totem and then a mighty
wave came rolling back, some say il was two
boat and with the gentle ali ~ the tug she
Slipped gracefully off the cob work into deep
wafer.
Cap'n Fogg was rescued bv he tug. After he
had relieved himself.of. the salt water he sput-
tered:
Il knew you felleIs couldn't get of that OIL
boat Mess helped"
! Some people say that II was n puff ~ wind
which brought II that extra high wave: but
| people are always found who do not want to
| give Cap'n FogG his due.