Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-06-09
The pretty little wind swept town of

Deer Isle, Me-, has long enjoyed
reputation for the character of the
fish handled by its fishermen. and for
the natural charm of the town as n
resting place in summer. No man of
national reputation has caused the
eyes of the country to be riveted to
the place, and no civic achievements
or memories have demanded historys
attention. But the quaint island town
has ever taken pride in its history and
In its people, content with the thought
that some time the world would find
them out"
SO to-day, when every man is apt to
regard a sailor with veneration AMI
class him with the disfavored mortals
of this earth If he do not follow tile
sea for a living, eyes naturally turn
to this little Maine town for the best
product of the craft.
1t is peculiar and a notable distinc-
ton which, for the second time, comes
to Deer Isle, in being called upon to
furnish good all round Yankee crew
for Americas Cup defender. In 1895
Captain Weed, that fearless and cello
brated master of sailing crafts. picked
many of his expert yachtsmcn from
the island town, while others were Sc
lected from the ordinary run of mer-
chant Jacks in New York Harbor. In
years past it has happened that there
were few real Americans among them.
and that the predominant element was
Scandinavian-go good men and true, to
be sure. hut lacking in an emergency
something of the quickncSS and deter
ninatiOn of the sailors of our steel
nerved New England stock
Our cup defenders and our motives
have been at all times the thoroughly
American. and it came TO pass four
years ago that by the advice of vet
eran master mariners. Yankee seampn
alone We're chosen, ana Deer Isle. Me-.
was looked upon rs the place where
the most thorough New England sail
or could he procured. The verdict af-
ter the Observation-Disclosures races Of
1850 settled the matter for good. when
it was proven that our crew of seamen
was the finest which had ever sailed
for the Americas Cup.
The last time the men from Maine
worked so well together and so clear
ly demonstrated their ability as expert
seamen that Captain Weed. was deter
mined to have his crew entirely from
Deer Isle, this year. and he has gone
about his work of selecting thirty-sev-
an men from 231 applications with
strict impartiality
1t is said in this little town:-"As for
losing the race. there is no such word
as lose in the Americans vocabulary;
if by some mishap we fail to keep II t
cup this year it will be regained next
year. When we consider the crew
and their hailing place. we can almost
lanUrip2te the word victory flashing
over the wires; We f"c.' ike cl;if12ing
the hand of each defnder boy and saw
ing God speed Captain Weed has
only the interest Of the citizens and lnc
pride of America in view. and this is
not a money making scheme on his
part. 1t is for the love of his coun-
try and not his wallet that he takes
this interest in the defenders crew.
As he also shared in the honors of the
last great victory, so will he in the
next"
The restriction that those selected
for this years crew be under thirty
years of age. assisted Captain Weed
TO some extent. but it excluded sever
al of those who were on the old De-
fender in 1893. Every man is strong
and hearty. and like all Deer Islanders.
has spent his life in battling with the
sea and storm along the Maine coast.
and on the fishing banks. This is the
list
William Scott second mate: Willard
Haskell, quartermaSter: Charles Scott,
quartermaster; Il. l.. Fifield. quarter
master; Rollins Staples, quartermaster
John Marshall. charge of lazaret: sea
men, Samuel Bray. +. NJ. Conley. Chas.
Barter. John Billings, George Stinson,
Z. c. Haskell, Herbert Bray, Charles