The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-03-10
EARLY sTEAMBoAT1Na
An Early Down-East skippcr's Iuvs~
riable Rule in Case Of
Collision.

The steamboat line between Bangor
and Boston is the oldest in point of
continuous service in America, the
first steamers having been put on in
1924, II years after the first practical
application of steam to the propulsion
of vessels. Among the early vessels
on the line was the Chancellor Living
ston, in which Commodore Vanderbilt
had an interest. She was built in
New York in 1916, and was considered
the masterpiece of Fulton. She had
three smokestacks, three masts, .
bowsprit and jibboom, and carried o
huge squaresail on the foremost, with
fore-and-aft sails on the main. The
Bangor, built in New York, was the
first new boat that ever came to
Maine. She was about 400 tons, wei.
fitted for her time and did profitable
business, generally carrying about 100
passengers on trip at the rate of six
dollars each, between Bangor and Bos.
ton. She ran on the Bangor and Bos-
ton route until the fall of 1871, and
in 1912 she was taken to the Medi-
terranean, where, for some time, she
was engaged in carrying pilgrims
from Alexandria on their way to Nee
ca. When she arrived over there, be-
Ing painted white, not MussulmaI
would step foot on her, white being
their mourning color; SO she was
painted black, and then business -four
ished in the pilgrim trade. The Ban
gor was purchased by the sultan of
Turkey and added to his navy. An
other steamer named Bangor, pro-
peller, made few trips between Ban
gor and Boston, and was then pur.
chased by the United States govern.
ment and sent out to take part in the
attack on Vera Cruz, where she won
fame. She was the first iron steamer
ever built in America.
In 1868 the steamer Katahdin ap-
peared. The .Katahdin was in many
respects the most remarkable side
wheel steamboat ever produced in the
United States. She was as good sea
boat as most of the propeller steam
ers, fast in her day, and was followed
by the most surprising good fortune.
Other boats were wrecked in the
storms that she went through with
out the least trouble, and others would
strike on rocks along the dangerous
coast Of Maine that the Katahdin al
ways lodged. She never lost either a
passenger or any freight, and, in
short, such was her luck, that down
east people, especially sailor men,
came to regard her as having a
charmed existence. She continued to
run between Boston and Bangor, with |
the exception of a few winters on
Long Island sound, until the summer
of 1895, when she was broken up for |
her metal.
Steamboating down east is a very |
different thing now from what it was |
in the old days. 1t is related by old |
travellers that, before the war, and |
even later, the bill of fare on tie
boats consisted chiefly of ham and |
eggs. There was nothing much to eat,
but great plenty to drink. Now
there is great variety to eat and not
so much to drink.
Capt. Charles B. Sanford, who for
many years was the ruling spirit of
the Boston and Bangor line, was one
Of the most picturesque characters on
this coast. He was at one time worth
about $250,000, all made in steamboat
ing, but he lived high and at the time
of his death, a few years ago, had very
little property. He was absolute mas
ter of his boats, and his word was law
n everything. Some of his sayings
and doings are related to this day, al
though he retired from steamboating
n 1875. Once the steamer Cambridge
an into a schooner in the Penobscot
liver and sent her to the bottom, cut
ing Ter in halves. Capt. Sanford was
Glow at the time, at dinner. Feeling
he shock, he rushed up into the pilot
louse and asked what had happened.
We've sunk schooner, sir" re-
bonded the quartermaster.
where is she?" asked the captain.
swell, the forward part of her is
'ver here to starboard, and the after
art of her to port" was the reply.
The quartermaster expected that
he captain would rake all hands over
he Goals, but Capt. Sanford seemed
ather pleased than otherwise.
That's the way!" he roared, ssthat's
he way-when you hit 'em, cut 'em
light in two!"
Then he went below and finished his
inner as though nothing had hap
ened.-N. Y. Sun.