Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-02-28
COUNTY NEWS.
West Brooksxtile.
CAPT. ROBERT TAPLEY.

West Brooksxtle.
CAPT. ROBERT TAPLEY.
This retired ship-msster, OF West
Brooksville, a notice of whose sudden
teath on Feb. II, appeared in THE
AMERICAN two weeks ago. was one OF
usiure's nobiemen and his as~ing away
= worthy OF more than the brief minute
which was made of it at the time.
he Was the son OF Robert and Polly
{Suowl rspley, aud was born in Brooks
vile, Jan, 10, 1924; being one OF nine
brothers, to whom reference has been
made in these columns as 1.-THE Tapiey
boys. He began TO follow the sea at an
early age, was soon competent navigat' T,
and was placed in cor mand-his first
vessel being the schooner apis. lie
Was very successful az ship master aud
was aretuI OF his vessel aud crew, never
losing man by sickness. One life only
was ever lost from any OF his vessels
during the forty years he sailed, and thai
a mate " no was washed from the deck by
q tremendous wave that broke over the
ship.
In 1864 Capt. Tspley commanded the
barque Mark l.. Potter, sailing from
Bangor loaded for Key West, and when
little north OF Cape Hstterss, he was
overtaken and captured by southern
privateer. Then being relieved OF his
years provisions, OF which his csptors
happened to have great need, hts vessel
was burned. He was on board the
southerner but few days when another
vessel was taken, and being boarded was
sent in with its crew, Capt. Tapley aud
his crew, and other prisoners that had
been prev iously taken.
Nsrrating the incident Capt. Tapiey
said he WAS at dinner when they came
down and described the craft that was
bearing down upon him. Said he: 81
knew at once what 1t meant, and that 1t
was AL up with me aud my vessel"
And what did you do?" he was asked
.Do? why | finished my dinner, for l did
not know when | should get another"
This illustrates the level headed coolBess
with which he ever acted.
On being thus summary relieved OF
his vessel, he built and had built for him
the ship Hattie +. Tapieyn, named for
his wife, and the last vessel he sailed. He
retired from the sea in 1870; but since
that time has made one voyage TO Japan,
being absent about two years.
Since stopping ashore, Capt. Tapley has
been found one OF the most upright aud
public-s spirited OF men-alwsys good
citizen. As neighbor and a friend, he
has ever taken pleasure in relieving the
suffering and assisting those in need,
repeatedly advancing money to help
OF theirs, to his own disadvantage and loss.
He united with the Congregational
church near his home in 1850, and since
that time has been a most faithful attend
ant upon it, services aud generous con
tributor to It's expenses and henevoieucts.
II might be said OF him that he .tloved
Goo aud little children; aud the chill
dren all loved "Uuce Robert" no less,
Even al the age OF seveuty-siX years, he
was constant attendant at the Sunday
school, finding great pleasure in having
part with the children there.
He died suddenly from heart failure on
the morning of Feb. II, aud was buried
from the Congregational church the fol-
lowing Monday-the pastor, Rev. ).
Richards. officiating. The very sppro-
pirate scripture text used on he occasion.
was Ps i2:t-"Heip. Lord; for the godIy
/ man c.asetb; the faithful fail from among
| the children OF men, Though calling
! from among the children ot men,, such
1 fait hfu souls are immortal
/ Feb. q. SIMMONS.