The Washington times., 1902-12-10
FLOATING COBBLERSEOP.
Curious Craft That Sails the Maine
Coasts in Summer.
New York Tribune.

New York Tribune.
The queerest Graf that sells the
coast OF Maine i'm summer aud cruises
the country roads i'm winter-for she, or
it., does bota-is the scowboat Yankee
Notion. owned. sailed and operated by
Uncle Nat" Cottlc. familiarly known
as "Cobbler Cottle." This strange voy-
ager by land and sea was born al Jones'
port, Ne. siXty-two years ago, and is
cripple one of his legs being withered
ana minus the foot. while the other is
so twisted a the ankle that lOCOmOtiOn
is difficult and almost impossible for
the Old man. even with the aid Of
Crutches To add go his misfortuncs.
one hand is almost useless so that any
work he undertakes is performed slowly
and labOriously. Yet @ stout heart and
fine stock OF Yankee ingenuity have
enabled the coh0ler to get on In the
world better than many OF his able
bodied neighbors have done.
Cotle's parents were so poor that
crippled as ne was. ne was obliged when
mere child to go boat fishing. and fin
the course Of several years az this ne
became a good sailOr-sO good that. in
spite Of physical shortcomings, he Ie-
came mate Of the schooner Sea Breeze
After some years OF sailing as mate
he took TO cooking as an easier job. and
NJ is the testimony OF many a coaster
That he was "a good cook. Finally hT
abandoned the sea and took 20 cobbling
which trade he has since followed
Years ago Cottle took up his resi-
dence on Swans Island. with his two lit
tie dogs. Snip and Sank. as CompauiCNs
Sank died, bur Snip mas continued as
the cobblor's faithful friend and COM
panion. and is as much of sailor as
any dog ever gets 90 be- The cobbIer
and Snip hold long conversations to-
gether. AMI 10 appears as if the dog uu-
derstands what is said 10 him. The pco-
pie of the fishing village of Atlantic
built for the cohblcr a neat shop and
dwelling combined. wherein he lived for
time, bu., although comfortable and
prosperous. he l0nEcd for the sea. and
made few more trios. Returning %
Swans Island. COttlC conceived the idea
Of building sort Of scuw boat I'm which
he could have a floating cobblcr shop in
summer, cruising alouc the coast. and
which i'm winter could bc placed ON run
ners, life a smelt boat. and hauled across
the country.
Alone and unaided. CottIe built the
bCat-a scOw thirty feet long and six
]
and extending the whole width of the
craft. She is rloop TigEe1 and carries
weatherboards on either side to hold her
Up TO the wind when beating All sheets
halyaTds, and dowuhauls trim aft. so
( that the cobbier skipper can make or
trim sail without leaving the tiller. and
/ he gets along very well in any decent
weather. In the house are "a cohble~ &
bench. a BUNK. q table and "a stove. and
! ia is comfortable enough The sIoop Is
painted bright red. and across the stern
appears. IN big white and blue letters
her name, Yankee Notion.
When the Yankee Notion made her
| first trip along shore She created a de-
! cided sensation. and Cottle got more
work than he could do. Business Il.
| never duh with him. and ne makes more
| than living. He saves so cents every
/ week TO take care of snip and him
self when they are old" When winter
! comes on. and the sailor c0bbler doe.
/ not care TO face Tho fierce gales tha.
/ sweep the coast of Maine he puts th,
/ Yankee Notion on runners and cruise.
! over the roads 90 the interior. or. Whel
I he feels so inclined haUls her up II
| some sunny cove. builds a high boar,
/ .ence On the north 90 keep of the win,
/ nd banks her sides with fir houghe
| Then he lives as snug as q bug In
l rug. with plenty TO eat and read an,
I smoke. while his visitors the bows from
! miles around call every day 10 listen e,
/ his stories Of the sea or hear him eius
/ sailor songs. COtrlc is much loved D.,
| the boys Of Swans Island