New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-23
A FLOATING COBBLER SHOP.
SAILS THE MAINE COAST IN SUMNER AND
CRUISES ON COUNTRY ROADS
IN WINTER.

Bangor. Me Nov. 22-The queerest craft
that sails the coast of Name in summer and
cruises the country roads In winter-for she, or
IT, does both-is the scow boat Yankee Notion.
owned. sailed and operated by Uncle Nat
Cottle Familiarity known "Cobbler Cottle-"
This strange voyager by land and sea was born
at Jonesport, Me, sixty-two years ago, and is
a cripple of his less being withered and
minus the foot while the other is twisted at
the ankle that locomotion is difficult and almost
impossible for the old man. with the aid
OF crutches. To add TO his misfortunes, one
hand is almost useless that any work he
undertakes is performed slowly and laboriousy.
Yet stout heart and fine stock of Yankee
ingenuity have enabled the cobbler to~get on
In the world better than many Of his able
bodied neighbors have done
Cottles parents We're poor that crippled
as he was. he was obliged when a mere child
10 go boat fishing. and in the course of several
years at this he became a good sailor-so good
that in spite of physical shortcomings. he be-
came mate of the schooner Sea Breeze. After
some years OF sailing as mate he took to cook
ing easier job and it is the testimony OF
many coaster that he was a good cook Final
~ he abandoned the sea and took to cobbling.
which trade he has since followed.
Years ago Cottlt took up his residence on
Swans Island. with his two little dogs Snip
and Sank. companions. Sank died. but Snip
has continued the cobbler's faithful friend
and companion. and is as much of a sailor as
any dog ever gets to be. The cobbler and Snip
hold long conversations together and il an
pears as il the dog understands what is said
to him. The people of the fishing village Of At
lantic built for the cobbler a neat shop and
dwelling combined, wherein he lived for time
but. although comfortable and prosperous he
longed for the sea, and made few more trips.
Returning to Swans Island. Cottle conceived
the idea of building a sort of scow boat In which
he could have a floating cobbler shop in sum-
mer. cruising along the coast, and which in win
ter could be placed on runners. like a smelt
boat. and hauled across the country.
Alone and unaided, Cottle built the boat-a
scow thirty feet long and six feet wide, with
house ten feet long and extending the whole
width Of the. craft. She is sloop rugged and car
ries weatherboards on either side to hold her
up to the wind when beating All sheets hal
yards and downhauls trim aft, so that the
cobbler skipper make or trim sail without
leaving the tiller. and he gets along very we'll
in any decent weather In the house are a cob
bers bench, bunk. a table and a stove. and it
Is comfortable enough. The sloop 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 decided sensation and
Cottle got more work than he could do. Bust
ness Is never dull with him, and he makes more
than living. He saves fifty cents every week
Ito take care OF Snip and himself when they
old" When winter comes on, and the sailor
cobbler does not care to face the fierce gales
that sweep the coast OF Maine he puts the
Yankee Notion runners and cruises over the
roads TO the interior, or. when he feels so in
clined. hauls her up in some sunny cove, builds
a high board fence on the north to keep of tie
wind and banks her sides with fir boughs. Then
he lives as snug bug in rug. with plenty
to eat and read and smoke. while his visitors
the boys from miles around, call every day to
listen to his stories of the hear him ing
sailor songs. Cottle is much loved by the boys
OF Swans Island.