The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-12-20
A NOVEL MARINE COTTAGE.
Into a COzy Ark Named the "Peggot-
ty."

In the great storm of November r.
1898, the pilot boat No. 2, called the Co.
lumbia, was wrecked on the Sand hills
Scituate. She was one Of the newest
and the best Of the fleet. She was built
i'm 1894 by Ambrose Martin at Jeffries
point East Boston, for Captains Thorn
as Cooper, e. G. Martin, John FaWcett
and Joseph Fawcett. She had left Bos-
ton week before the blizzard, carrying
Captain Cooper, Captain William Alb,
bott, Captain John Fawcett, Captain
Alexander Olsen to their various
steamships. Having distributed hel
pilots, she was returning to Boston, IL
charge of Boatkeeper Henry Peterson
one Of the abiest sailors in the fleet,
when she was tossed up on the beech In
the gale. Her crew of five men were
drowned, and she lay on her side, a use
less hull, according to the newspapers
which recorded her loss, fit only for
kindling wood.
This estimate was erroneous. The
estimate was erroneous. The little
craft was solidly constructed, and,
while the gale had rendered her unfit
for future service on the sea, the storm
that wrought devastation along the
water 'front.' destroyed vessels and sac
rificed countless human lives. brought
to one man the realization of dream
and a home Of happiness and comfort.
This man is Otis Barker, Scituate
farmer, who may yet become the Rob
ert Burns of New England. Tall and
slight, with what is often called the
''scholar'e dropping shoulder" with
sharp, shrewd features and keen blue
eyee, his appearance at first bellies the
poet in the man. Mr.. Barker, who Is
about thirty years of age, comes OF
good native stock. His family owns a
comfortable farm land their house is
the oldest in New England.
While attending to his work about
the farm Mr.. Barker was much given
to dreaming, The education which he
acquired in country schools was mea-
ger in detail, but what textbooks have
failed to give him, literature has more
than compensated for. Whittier, Long
fellow, all our favorite poets, he loves
and quotes. Dickens is his dear friend
and constant companion. Had 1t not
been for the English novelist, Pilot
Boat No 2 might have verified predic-
tions and have become driftwood fuel.
But it CHANGED that just about the time
of the great blizzard Mr.. Barker was
Willing away the autumn evenings by
thoughts were full of Davy and Emily,
and his dream was of such houseboat
as the "Ark on Yarmouth Sands"
When the Columbia was flung upon
the beach with such terrific force that
her entire top hamper was demolished
and house that stood in the way was
caught in the debris and swept along
with it, Mr. Barker changed his castle
In Spain for den of homely comfort.
Pilot boat Columbia, or Peggotty, as
she is now called, is ninety-five feet
over all, with seventy-fve foot water
lfne, and in her cruising days registered
about eighty-five tons Beyond remov-
ing the shell of the house and other
wreckage about the deck, the exterior
of the Columbia has not been material
ly altered. No attempt was made to
shift her pisition, and, as she lay with
her deck on a slant, she has been con-
verified into house.
From the ground flight oe steps
leads along the inclined surface of the
roof to the outlook, long, narrow, I'M
Enclosed piazza. On the floor level, and
directly in the center of the boat, a
storm door and vestibule have been
built Through the latter one passes
into the central and principal of three
large rooms. This den gives all the In
dications of being the apartment of
gentleman, even of a scholar AS
studio, any artist might envy 1t. Eve
rything is in good taste, everything is
in keeping with the nature of the
dwelling. There is not tawdry article
in it, Slxylghts shed ample light from
above while on the side overlooking the
ocean windows have been made which
command an extensive view of the sea.
Directly in front of the entrance is
fireplace, five and one-half feet long by
three high. During the present season
blazing fires of cracking driftwood Of
fer warm welcome to the passer-by.
Delightfully."- original are the andirons
made of two anchors that wear the
look of good service. These have been
IOrScQ III SuCii iiiethiiSi .iArtI eiiSAA
shanks hold the logs, while one of each
of the blades is twisted back so that its
fluke rests on the heartht, and supports
the anchor. On either side of the fire.
place are round seats made Of sections
Of the mainmast. These are In tmita-
tion of the seats occupied by "Davy''
and slittle Emily of the Dickens world.
The mantle Is made from the b1tt OF
the boat 1t is of massive OAK ana
measures nine feet in length. On 1t
rests a weather. beaten old carving,
which tells the tale of some long-for-
gotten ship that foundered. From
beach stones the chimney as fashioned.
Tn a. dark recess on the mantel shelf
that runs around three of its sides is
stove. Hidden from the casual obser-
yer. ii does it's work well. Not only Is
II used for cooking. but on the coolest
day, with the warmth Of the open flre
below and this stove above, the whole
house is well heated.
Tables, cabinets and lockers which
can at a moments notice be converted
into beds, are built against the walls in
true ship fashion. One piece of furnl-
t,,re which usually stands in front OF
the fire is an armchair, fashioned in
rough wood taken from Daniel Webs
ter's pleasure boat, the Lapwins.
TYshinc nets. paddles, lanterns and