Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-26
THE DATE SETTLED.
Frank Davis Went Over the Augusta
Dam in 1869.
Several Gentlemen Had Wagered on the Dis.
puted Question.

some of the citizens and caused them
to search in all the old records they
| could find for the exact date of the
happening of the event. They searched
| everywhere and finally happy
! thought struck one of them. He saw
Captain Charles Nash and that gentle
man settled without the shadow of a
doubt the question.
1t seems that the Journal is at blame
for the discussion. as one of the re-
porters in search of interesting events
to chronicle. and hearing of feats of
| daring that used to be performed bv
the rivermen, sought 'Lafe'' Mars ;on
ana asked him about it.
DO | know anything about the
| MarStons who used to run over the
rails in bateaux?" repeated Mr.. Mars
| ton after the reporter had asked the
| question. We'll. | should rather say
that | ala. considering that it was one
OF the feats of which all the Marston
| lamlly, with the exception Of the
| women lolks, used to think nothing Of
! why, ! was the first person to run over
that dam in skiff, and at the time
J was but Il little boy"
| Ii was in Viewers restaurant where
the little matter Of history was paIng
discussed, and at the time there were
| several Of Mr.. Viewers regulars :ak-
ing their supper.
~ was when ! was but small boy. f"
continued Mr.. Marston. some mon
hired me to take Il little skiff over the
dam There had been many 20 over
| previously in hateaux, but Won know
| they are built Ia stand anything. Al
'hat time man who run The min saw
me going toward the dam. and think
! ing ! had lost control Of the boat H.
shouted, Boy drowned That brought
all the employees Of the mill out To SEQ
tn" accident. ! went over the dam An
| right, and though my boat was half
iull of water, | landed below the dam.
| was hurt pretty badly, though. as
did not grasp the side of the boat hard
| enough wnen | let ii 30. When |
struck the wave at the foot of the
apron, was thrown back and struck
my back against the stern seat
1t was not a very uncommon thing
in the spring OF the year for an al-
venturouS riverman to run a bateau
over the dam. one Of the men, Charles
l.. MarstOn. who used to operate the
baggage and mail transfer at the sta
ton, was remarkably daring in this
line. and about every spring he would
run over the dam. and do ii SO very
easily that the people used 10 gathe"
on the old lock wall on the east end
Of the dam. 10 see the trick per
formed"
The matter that | wish to get at is
the story Of the time Frank Davis
went over on a wager" said the re-
porter.
oh. that was not so very many
years ago" said one member Of the
crowd. This Frank Davis and an
| other man We're talking of Mars.on's
feat Of running over the dam. one day.
in the office of the old Mansion House
Davis wagered that he could run the
dam without capsizing. and this other
man offered to bet he would not dare
to go over a all, to say nothing of
tipping over The bet was covered and
the time set when the feat was to be
done.
''On the day appointed there seemed
to be general turning out OF the
people Of the city to see Mr.. Davis go
over the dam. He grew timid as the
| time approached, and finally he asked
Charles Marston to 60 over with him.
The man who wagered with Davis
clalmeo tnis would De violation OF the
articles OF agreement, but II was de-
clded that DAVIS ala not agree TO go
over alone, SO Marston went along.
ION the way over Davis became
frightened and upset the bateau. Both
srasped the capslzed boat ana Marston
sprang to the top. where he executed
| little dance for the hanaGt of thnSa nn
| shore. He would not let Davis climp
| aboard. but made him cling to the
| stern until they We're picked up
THAT must have been fully so years
| ago, suggested Brad" Waterman, for
| | came here In 1872, and il was being
Mr.. Watermans idea of the time was
seconded by Horace Cony while Mr.
Marston urged that he went West in
| 1879. ana while there read the account
| of the affair in the Daily Kennebec
| n the SAM. manner Mr. Waterman