The Portland daily press., 1899-07-18
HIS SEA BIRTHDAY.
A Veteran Portland Sea Captain csis-
brates Anniversary.

Capt. Isaac knight, well-knowp In this
city. observed bis s2d birthday Monday u
the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. DayiF,
1914 Congress street, stroudwater district
Capt. Knight Is In fall health and Is
still qrite active.
Capt. Knight was born in Portland,
July II. 1917. He was son Of Capt.
Isaac Knight and grandson Of Capt.
Benjamin knight, both well-known In
Portland among the seagoins people.
Capt Knight was born In a small house
on Fore street, on lot between the cor
rer of Deer and Vine streets. The land
on which the house was situated was
bough5 by MIR. knights grandfather Of
the Indians, and 4remalnsl In the
family until about % years ago. when
Capt. Knight sold IL to Rev. Francis
southwor
Capt knight was always interested In
seafarInR interests and at the age Of IL
years commenced going to sea for iivli.
hood. During his life Capt. Knight has
sailed to New Orleans and other southern
ports, and has also been engaged In for.
|eign commerce in Cuba and various pgrts
of Europe.
The first vessel of which Capt. knight
commanded, was q small one, called
the John Brewer. named in honor of the
president OF we'll known New York
life insurance company. His first Cargo
was composed OF coal and cord wcod
which he gathered along the coast OF
Maine. The cargo was destined to San
Francisco, Cal. but before Capt. knight
got under way he was relieved OF his COM
mand, and transferred to larger vessel
and sent to foreign port. During mis-
career as mariner, Capt Knight was
always fortunate and never lost vessel
or met with any serious mishaps. The
captain tells with a good degree of inter-
est about q small vessel which he had
built at Turner's island, and named the
Black Squall The craft was small but
was built for fast sailing, and Capt.
Knight speaks with pride Of the fact that
he beat one OF che Long Island Sound
steamers on q trip through the sound
The vessel was afterwards sold by Capt.
the last he could ascertain, was owned
By parties in the slave trade in the early
days OF the sos.
Capt. Knight retired from his sca-far-
ing life during the latter part Of the sos,
when he built q small wooden building
at the corner of Middle and India streets
where he was engaged in the grocery
business until about 1875. The building
was destroyed by the fire Of 1865. but was
rebuilt and Is now occupied by s. A.
Maddox rs a grocery.
: Capt Knight was always fairly sue
cessful on the sea, bus in the> grocery
store venture says that he never made
success as he can count about $40, 600 lost
in that enterprise.
After closing out his grocery business.
Capt. knight located In small wooden
building at the corner OF Congress and
Exchange street. opposite City hall, on
the site now occupied By the large brick
building In which Gray's business COL
lsge is located. Capt. Knight while In
that vicinity kept fruit and CONNECTION
cry store and was always successful
duflng his tooablon bnere.
When the old store was demolished to
make room tor large brick block, Capt.
Knight located bis businefs on Federal
street for few years until falling health
compelled him TO forego participation in
the activities Of business life. lie lie
now comfortably located ut Stroudwater
where he makes his home. Capt. Knights
wife, who was Rollins, . descendent of
an old and honored New Hampshire fam
lily. Mrs. Knight died about four years
ago. or his family there was but one
child, Miss Elizabeth R. Knight, who Is
employed as q clerk In the office OF E. 4.
Burrowes, Free street. this city.
Capt. Knight takes an active interest
In current events and Is constant read
er of the daily newspapers