The Republican journal., 1900-09-13
OBITUARY.

Capt. j. B. Durham, native of Belfast,
died Sept. Sd, at his home in Maiden, Mass,
aged 70 years. He was we'll known in mari
time circles, and during the 50 years he fol-
lowed the sea he commanded some of the
best ships sailing from Boston and New
York. After retiring from the sea he had
no settled abiding place, but after coming to
Belfast Tor summer or two he bought the
house on Church street owned and occupied
by A. A. Howes, and resided there year
or more. He then sold his property here and
moved to Maiden and, with the exception of
year spent in California, had since lived
there. He was life member of the Boston
Marine Society. His wife, who survives
him, was Miss Elizabeth PIERCE of Glouces-
ter. Capt. Durham, "Barney" as he was
called-his middle name was Barnett-was
we'll known to all our older citizens, and has
many warm friends here who will learn of
his death with regret.
A notable event in Capt. Durham's nauti-
cal career was his collision with the French
steamer Lyonas while in command of the
new bark Adriatic, built here in 1856. The
| steamer was bound from New York for
Havre and the collision occurred the night
OF Nov. >, 1856. Those on board the bark
did not know what craft they were in col
llslon with, as it was very dark and gale
prevailed. The bark put into Gloucester for
repairs, having lost her bowsprit and broken
IN her stem, though no damage was done to
the main timberS or the fastenings The
steamer was made a total wreck and pas
! sengers and crew left her by boats and RATS.
and most of them were lost
The owners of the steamer, Gauthier
Brothers. began proceedings against the
bark in the French courts and obtained a
Judgment of contscation against her Capt
Durham was at Marseilles with the Adriatic
and when he was served with copy of the
judgment of contiscation he resolved to make
his escape. The Journal of April >, 1888,
gave the following condensed account of the
affair:
OF course he had to resort to strataeem.
lie had her calked all around for about five
1eet above the waters edge, under the pre-
text that She was so open She would sink
right there in the harbor What provisions
they got We're put on board another vessel
and from thence transferred to the Adriatic
during the night. The crew was also shipped
for another vessel, and subsequently taken
on board the Adriatic, when they We're 50
much intoxicated as not to be conscious of
what was going on.
Capt. d. commenced prepaIati lnS to leave
on the evening OF the Sth. his force consist
ing of Capt. --, two mates and a bow
The vessel lay in the middle tier, with both
anchors ahead and moored with a hawSer
astern. The vessel ahead was made fast to
the chain, and when the Adratic Slipped
they let 80 the fast of the other vessel and
when the captain aWoke and found himself
adrift he cursed the id Yankees bitterly
The crew were got on board by four O'Clock
on the morning Of the 9Th When the Adri-
attic got abreast of the guard ship, her boat
came of and demanded the forr-pasS of the
former Capt. D. when asked for his pass.
replied 'prennez garde Ia" and threw the
officer bit of paper with two sous wrapped
up in it. The paper and money, however.
went over the boat and into the water. The
officer then inquired for the name Of the
vessel, when Capt. ID. replied she was the
day before. The Adratic then proceeded
on her way.
She arrived at Spezzia ON The morning of
the 18th of January, and anchored with the
Hedge, having cut loose borh anchors and
left them at the wharf in MarSeilles. HAY
ties would not permit her to land Capt. d.
then went ashore himself to the pratique
office, where he met the American Consul,
who Informed him that the news of his eS-
cape had reached there AMI that the French
government had teegraphed to all the ports
III the Mediterranean to stop the vessel in
whatever port she might be found. Soon
after her arrival orders came from Turin to
seize the vessel. and the officers actually
placed a gun-boat under her stern, with two
gums mounted, having received orders to
fire should any attempt be made by the cap
tain OF the Adriatic to move from the spot.
subsequently orders we've received that the
vessel should not be molasted
Coz. Long, the [. s. Srorekeeper at Spec
Zia, kindly furnished the vessel with all She
wanted. Just as she got her provisions and
water ON board there came on a fresh blow
from the northward. and the vessel was
riding by the kedge and forty-tive fathomS
of chain, with one of the chain boxes filled
with stone to back it, and a hawSer bent to
the other chain box.
The vessel kept drifting until Capt. u.
was compelled 10 run a hawSer ashore to
the lazaretto, W here he made out to hold her
until he went to town and got his papers.
Returning to the bark, he put to sea.
The day following the Adriatic boarded
the ship Elizabeth Dennison, from which
she got more provisions and an anchor.
The voyage from Madeira to the United
ing encountered, alternately, calmS and
headwinds nearly throughout the passage.
The crew finally exhausted all their pro-
visions, except IA small quantity of beef, and
it became necessary for the ship to make the
nearest American port (Savannah), which
she reached in safety.
Errold Gilman infant son of Mr. and Mrs.
Herbert F. Morrill, of Belmont, died Thurs
day morning, Aug. 80, aged s weeks and
three days. He had been i'll but a few days.
Much sympathy is felt for the afflicted fam
lily in the death of their sweet little boy.
The funeral was attended by Rev. G. NJ. Bal
ley of Searsmont on Friday The floral Of
ferings from relatives and friends were
many and beautiful.
Landlord Mitchelps Success
A recent issue of the Ticonderoga, n Y,
Santi1lpl had a roc ranb q bput tho Hot