The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1902-01-16
SAILED 1oa, 400, MILES.
Capt. Thomas burgess of the Packet p. NJ.
BOnney.

Capt. Thomas Burgess of the Packet p. NJ.
Bonney.
"Well yes" said Capt. Thomas Burgess
| of the trim little two-masted schooner, P. M.
| Bonney, 81 think | oughter know the way
| from Belfast to VinaI .aven, me and the
Bonney," as reporter stepped on the deck
| of the trim little craft which was loading for
! the island of Vinalhaven, where she has
| been sailing in the coasting trade for many
| years from Belfast.
Eyes" said he, ''me and the old Bonney
know the coast down to Vinalhaven from
| Belfast about as well as it can be learned.
But then what's the odds, if one gets caught
| in the fog or a snow storm there's about an
| even chance and sometimes it's mighty Slim
| chances we have"
| The schooner P. M. Bonney is trim little
schooner of some 10 tons, built in the town
| of MiddletOWn, Conn, and commanded by
| Capt. Thomas Burgess of Belfast, from
| where the craft halls.
| She is two topmaSt, schooner rugged
vessel, perhaps of rather yachting cast
than otherwise, and there have been days
| when this little vessel and her commander
would gladly sailed with the yachts in this
section, but now both vessel and command
er are growing old together.
517 feet in length, 1S feet wide and has a
depth of AS feet. She was built in 1856 for
| the packet business between the ports of
| Boston and Provincet0wD, in which she
| sailed some years, having headquarters at
| the Eastern Packet pier, and was then one
of the trimmest little crafts of yachting
style, and especially when respondent in a
coat of fresh paint, which ever sailed east
| from Boston in the early days of the packet
ing.
brought to this city many years ago by
Capts. Samuel and Thomas Burgess, who
opened up the packet route to Vinalhaven
from Belfast, where they both resided, es-
tabishing fine business, which has been
continued since 1868.
The little schooner is now 46 years of age,
i'll active service all these years, and yet
she has never had but one commander
other than Capt Burgess, that being Capt.
, Small of Chatham, Mass, who first COM
manded her Capt. Burgess, now over 70
years of age, is a typical seafarlng man,
II years.
Of a family of - children of the late
Capt. Jonathan Burgess, five of whom are
living, and OF eight boys, all followed the
sea- becoming master mariners, competent
to handle many II large ship. Two cap
taus, Samuel and John Burgess, live in
Bristol.
In earlier days Capt. Thomas Burgess
commanded the brig Marshall Dutch of
Searsport: the schooners Clarissa, Forest
Queen, Catherine Beae, Lapwing and, last,
the schooner Ida S. Burgess, named tor his
daughter, Il large tWo-maSter of some 2G0
tons burden. In these vessels he sailed
chiefly in the West Indian and southern
trade. In this Trim little coaster Capt
Burgess averages one trip each week from
Ninaihaven in Belfast, due in large part to
the condition OF the weather and the mar
hetS, he being his own salesman, buying
ana selling what he has, and proving in all
these years good salesman.
The distance from Belfast to Ninalhaven
is considered as about 10 miles, and, proVld-
ing that Capt Burgess has lost about one
third of the trips by delays and weather
conditions, he has averaged in the 46 years
continuous service upon the route not less
than 2,592 round trips, or, i'll miles, some
1890, or more, because there is seldom a
chance to sail direct to either port without
making more miles than the distance by
steam.
"When the Bonney." said Capt Burgess,
was first bought she was painted white,
her sails were new, and, being good saier,
She had a picture appearance. At that
time | had many demands to use the vessel
i'll party and fishing excursions, and have
taken out large crowds, being gone several
days, and putting into some port each night.
/ have been down the bay with a large
party from Vermont, and afterWard sailed
out of Bangor, but my trade has been
almost wholly confined to Belfast. After
sailing few years with me, | purchased
my brother interest," and he retired
eyes, | have had some narrow escapes
elIl'i oOiiS llulu GliollCtS, Dub away CdtilV
out safely. A few years ago | arrived in
Belfast from Ninalhaven, and finding so
much ice was unable to get into the harbor.
| was obliged to load my vessel for the
return trip at the White & Conner wharf,
well down the bay shore, and while laying
there ii northeast storm began, driving the
little schooner III the night upon the wharf,
breaking in her side and she began filing.
In attempting to get ashore from the craft
my leg was broken and it was with diff
Guilty that | was saved. When | was able to
get out the vessel had been repaired and
began sailing at once.
My largest party was composed OF some
s. men ana women, on tWO-Weeks cruise
down the bay, and a fine time they had, too.
The B0nney was good saler and was the
trim craft she looked. With plenty of canvas
on and centerboard down she could show
her stern to many of those island boats.
We visited Bar IIarbor and Machias, fishing,
and the time went by quickly. During the
early days of packeting we always carried
passengers from Belfast to Finalhaven, or
vice versa. In the way of trading l have
carried almost everything, including pigs,
foxes, squirrels, trout, partrldges and pro-
duce OF all kinds There were times when
have easily made from "a to So each day,
but the recent strikes in the granite quar-
rleS in and about Einaihaven have been
the means of reducing the market and max
Ing bad business for me.
In the passenger service said the genial
captain, ''my youngest was child barely d
week old, and the oldest a lady of "a years.
We do no passenger business now and the
profits are taken off by the quick transporta-
ton OF the steamers. I suppose that might
fill book with stories that have come to me
In the long packet service" said Capt. Bur
CESS as he sluiced another bag Of potatoes
ON board the good schooner, which was a
part of her cargo.
The load was soon on, however, and
climbing on board, the lines were cast Off
while the good schooner, with her wheel
rolled hard down, the sails hoisted into po-
sltlon, cleared from her pier at Belfast on
another trip to Vinalhaven, so long the ter
minus of her many trips Growing old to-
gether, the captain and his schooner are ia
be after this long service in which one must
know the other well.-Boston Sunday
Globe.
Victim of Philanthropy