Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-06-27
CAP'N JOE CURTIS.
Famous Old Bangor Rigger, u Native
of-Casttne.
From the Bangor Commercially

From the Bangor Co,nmercial.l
am going on ninety three, and don't
scare worth a cent when it comes to going
| aloft," is what Cap'n Joe w. Curtis, of
Bangor, said to a reporter recently. The
brilliant sunshine OF an April forenoon lit
up his snow white hair, and the old man,
who didn't look so very old, smiled out of
his bushy locks and his eyes twinkled like
stars. He surely did look fit to shin any
stick that ever rose over green water.
Cap'n Joe Curtis-everybody knows him
by that name-was born In Castine, away
back in 1905, on the first day of March.
He belongs to that Bagaduce dynasty,
which refers to the town as 'Carstine,"
much to the disgust OF the younger sum-
mer element in the population there, " hich
likes shorter and more aristocratic A in
the title of the place. But when a man
grows up to say "Carstine" instead OF
"CAS-tinen you can't do much with him,
particularly If the Lord has let him last
ninety-two years and some over in good
health and spirits.
In 1916 boys went to sea as soon as they
were old enough to wear long legged boots.
Where modern youngsters are scarce out
OF the reach OF their mammas, the lads Of
that period OF the century were getting
aloft in ripping gales to help work the
schoc ner of lee shore as she edged up
coast toward the Penobscot or down again
after molasses and sugar in the West
Indies. Cap'n Joe Curtis got the fever at
the usual age. He sat on the banks Of Fort
George and gazed down on the craft in
Fort Point bay and wished to be sailor.
Before he was dozen years Of age he
could splice rope and knew the sorrows
OF greasipg down a mainmast when bet
ter work lacked.
In 1916, he turned up in the port Of Ban
gor aboard one OF the tight little packets
Of the day, and loafed about the wharves
and took in the ship stores along old
Broad street for a couple OF days. He
liked the big pace, and resolved to live
here some day. They showed him where
the British soldiers had trampled the post
masters garden two years before, and
walked him down to the spot where they
forded the kenduskeag-a place " here not
many years later he was to pass by often,
on handsome bridge.
Then he sheered off again and went into
warmer waters. He went all around Cuba.
"There amt corner of that island |
don't know" said he, 1--WE used to go a
stubbin' around the hole place, anyw here
We could pick up a tierce of molasses or
such, and know that whole coast. W hen
the war broke out with Spain, vummed
was goin' down thee and fight with the
soldiers, bat they said was too old I'd
gone, though, IL they'd let me'
Meanwh ile, cap'n Dan Green of Bangor,
rigger, was building upa fine little bust.
ness IN going over such famous packets of
the time a. the brilliant" Rapid"
Increase, and ''Washington," all famous
names on the Penobscot marine records of
hundred years ago
Young Curtis drifted into Bangor in
1884 and found folks just getting ready to
incorporate themselves into a city. He
called on Cap'n Dan Green, rigger, and got
a job that lasted him until he knew all
about the trade and about Bangor, too,
aud knew it well enough to be willing to
stay here for life
of Bangor. For thirty seven years, he
Lived on Lincoln street close to the water
front he MAS closely associated with
Then he mosed to Larkin street, just a
block away aud has made his home there
ever since.
C,p'n Joe hasn't a chick or child left
him, but he is in the hands of mighty
good folks" who keep his house well for
him and look after his affairs. He is one
of the oldest men in Maine, and is one of
the most aged in Bangor. No citizen OF
the city, for his years, equals him in
activity. His mind is as clear as ii was in
1884 when he Joined the crowd at city hall
the day the town became a city. His eye
is as bright as in his youth, and he uses
glasses only for close reading. His step is
more rapid than that OF many youngster.
and he moves like a lad and talks like one,
too.
Cap'n Joe says he will be ninety three il
he lives to see another birthday. That is
enough to make his friends smile, because
as he is to- day, he looks in better trim to
meet dozen more birthdays than do lot
of men of half his years.
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