The Florida star., 1901-05-03
DEER ISLE SH|LORS CHOOSEA.
where the Crews of Cup Defenders Are
Born and Bred.

AprI 3U.-Ine fOIk or tnlS little seaport
town. hidden away on one Of the many
picturesque islands scattered like
plums In a pudding along the ragged
Maine coast line. are very happy now
adays. The fact that they have once
more been called on to supply the lar
ger part OF the crew OF a defender of
the Americas cup has filed Them with
n just pride. When Captain Uriah
Rhodes. skipper OF the Herreshoff slOop
Constitution. arrived on Deer Isle re-
Gently for the purpose OF choosing na-
tive sailors for his Craft. he but full
filled the expectations OF the islanders.
who by reason OF the previous success
es of their hardy mariners In interna
tiOnal yacht racing felt assured that
they would be wanted TO man one OF
the vessels designed TO meet Sir Thorn
as Lipton's Shamrock H.
Deer Isle is one OF the largest and
most beautiful of the myriad islands
between Portland. with its famous Cas-
co bay. and Grand Manan. Eggemoggin
Reach. known TO the summer visitors
20 northern coast resorts. waters It's
western shores. while nOrthward rolls
the Atlantic. eastward Is the isle stud
ded Merchants Row. while TO the south
stretches Penobscot hay. Truly ideal
environments TO inspire men with de-
sire TO learn OF the sea and its ways.
The men of Deer Isle are adept sail
Ors from their childhood They are pun
into boats at an age when the usual run
OF youngsters would be unable to lift
an oar II Is seldom long before the 10
and II year Olds are seen scOotlng
about the hays In sloops and ynwls car
rying a large spread OF sail I'm the stiff
est OF breezes and showing the keel OF
their craft TO windward in a manner
that would cause the hair or the Ordina
~ self confident yachtsman 10 literally
stand on end.
During the years approaching matu
rity the Deer Isle youths have ample
opportunity for becoming familiar with
the varied phases OF seafaring that
make the typical down east" Jack Tar
The Maine coaster Is wonderful
school for sailors. Fleets OF vessels en-
gagged In freight and lumber traffic and
IN miscellaneous trading ply the Pine
Tree waters In quest OF markets for
their cargoes. In connection with the
fishing fleets they form an uneQualed
means OF instruction in the fine points
OF beating TO windward. Jlbing. sheet
tending. steering. running before the
wind. rounding buOys, laying. courses
and In the study Of tides.
One Of the most thrilling sailing ad
ventures IL was ever my pleasure 10
experience occurred last fall on board
the Nellie r. feet double sticker"
hailing out OF Deer Isle Landing and
manned by four OF the island jackies
John Billings OF the Columbia's crew
held the wheel We were bound for
MOrgan's bay. 81 knots distant. TO
shoot seals.
All thought OF hunting was soon
driven from my mind, however, by the
excitement of the voyage.
The Nellie Rs main and fore sails
tapped and boomed in a 20 mile breeze
as Skipper Billings shouted:
Cast of tn moorin an up wi tn
Jib an fiierl''
"Aye. ayep' was the reply.
Then as the Nellie Il pointed up into
the wind, sweeping down 1.-The Reach"
from the north. came the words:
"Shake out main an fore tOpS'ls!'
On we forged. fairly flying. Close
, hauled though we were, every inch of
sail was drawing. and the watchful
eye OF Captain Billings saw It. Il that
the Nellie b swerved not foot TO
'looard."
The brine hissed through the lee
scuppers and at times rushed complete
Iy over the bulwarks. The deck
slanted away like the toboggan shoots
at Coney Island.
The crew. crOuching TO windward OF
the deckhOuse. ready TO stan hy an
trim sheets" took things as calmly as
though "swappin yarns" at the village
grocery.
We passed the Blue Hi steamer
Catherine and shot by a score OF pleas,
ure craft under double reefs. the oc-
cupants of which stared in astonish-
ment at Us, probably thinking the Mel
lie b was the Flying Dutchman's
phantom ship straying away from its
Cape Horn rendezvous.
In a little more than two hours after
the start we dropped anchor In Nor
gan's bay, and all Skipper Billings