Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-05-10
"COLUMBIA'S" CREW.
DEER ISLE, THE HOME OF THE
BEST AMERICAN SAILORS.
THE ROYS WHO WILL SAIL THE CUP
DEFENDER SEEN IN THEIR
HOMES.
From the Boston Journal. /

The pretty little wiud-swept town of
Deer Isle has long enjoyed a reputation
for the character OF the fish handled by
its fishermen, aud FOR the natural charm
OF the town rs resting place in summer
No man of national reputation has
caused the eyes OF the country to be riv-
TIED to the place, and no civic achieve
ments OF memories have demanded his
tory's attention. But the quaint island
town has ever taken pride in its history
and gin. its -people, content with the
thought that "some time the world
would find them OUT.
So to-day, when every man is apt to re-
gard sailor with veneration and class
him with the distsvored mortals Of the
earth. il he do not follow the sea for a
living, eyes naturally turn to this little
Maine town for the best product OF the
craft.
1t is peculiar and notable distinction
which, for the second time, comes to
Deer Isle, in being called upon to furnish
a good all-round Yankee crew for Ameri
cas- cup defender. In 1895 Capt. Need,
sailing craft, picked many OF his expert
yschtsmen from the island town, while
others were selected from the
ordinary run OF merchant Jacks in
New YORK harbor. In years past 1t has
happened that there were few real Amer
leans among them, and that the predomi-
nant element was standardization
httt Loo, IL in
an emergency something OF the quick
ness and determination OF the sailors Of
our sleel-nerved New England stock.
Our cup defenders and our motives have
been at al! times the thoroughly Ameri'
can, and it came II pass four years ago
that by the advice OF veteran muster
mariners, Yankee seamen alone were
chosen, and Deer Isle was looked upon as
the place where the most thorough New
Eng and saitor couid be procured. The
verdict after the "Nalkyrie'-"D Defender
races OF 1895 sett led the matter for good,
when it was proven that our crew OF sea-
men was the finest which had ever sailed
for the ''Amerca's' cup.
The last time the men from Maine
demonstrated their ability as expert sea-
men hat Capt. Weed was determined to
have his crew entirely from Deer Isle this
year, and he has gone about his work
OF selecting thirty-seven men from 81
applications with strict impartiaIity.
1t is said in this little town: "As for
losing the race, there is no such word as
-, 4 I'm /
some mishap we fail to keep the cup this
year it will be regained next year. When
we consider the crew and their halling
place, we can almost anticipate the word
victory flashing over the wires; we feel
like ciapping the hand OF each defender
boy and saying God speed. Capt. Weed
has only the interest OF the citizens and
the pride of America in view, and this is
not money making scheme on his part.
1t is for the love OF his country 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 Capt. Weed to some extent,
but it excluded several OF those who were
on the old sDefender" i'll 1895. Every
man is strong and hearty, and like most
Deer Islanders, mas spent his life iii bat
Ting with the sea and storm along the
Maine coast aud on the fishing banks.
This is the list;
William Scott, second mate; Willard
Haskell, quartermaster; X. l.. tlheld,
quartermaster; John Marshall, charge OF
the lazaret; seamen, Samuel Bray, F. NJ
Conley, Charles Barter, John Billings,