The Republican journal., 1903-10-08
A Shore Dinner at Crescent Beach.


The writer went on the last excursion
of the season to Crescent Beach on the
steamer Castine; and now looks for
ward tc going again another season. 1t
was most satisfactory trip from start
to finish The boat left Lewis wharf
lust as the tide began to ebb, and the
improvements made and IN progress,
to the wharf property along the water
front were very noticeable. In TACT,
Belfast is brushing up generally, due to
the prosperous condition OF all our IN
dustries. the recent accession OF new
ones and the activity in our shlpyards.
As we proceeded down the bay the
wind veered to the southeast and over
coats were in demand, but it soon shit
ted to the northwest. A call was made
at Northport Camp Ground, but no one
was stirring there. At Temple Heights
dozen or more came on board, lnclud-
ed Capt. Joseph Heal, Mrs. Heal and
two daughters, who with their lady
friends sang hymns as we entered Cam
den harbor. The steamer landing IS
well up the inner harbor and on the
port hand yachts were moored, leaving
a passage hardly wider than the length
of the steamer, and it was supposed the
boat would have to be backed out. But
Capt. Coombs knew trick worth two
of that. He turned the Castine in
about her own length not touching
thing. In the yacht fleet at Camden
we saw MI Groeschner's steam yacht
Idalette, and the sloop Scandia, former
" owned by the Folwell's. In the outer
harbor were two or three knockabouts,
the steam yacht Satilla, owned by j. Z.
Stravhrjdce. summer resident, and a
schooner yacht with the Burgess ZIG,
which was said to have been a pilot
boat. She had the straight stem and
eliptical stern of some years ago, but
was an able looking craft. Passing out
bv Negro Island our course was shaped
for Owls Head, on rounding when the
usual salutes were exchanged. A short
run brought us to the pler at Crescent
Beach at 1245 p. m. Landlord Smith
was on hand to receive us, and SAID he
"euessed dinner would be ready about
one o'clock" and some of the party,
whose appetites had been sharpered by
tie sail hoped that he had guessed
right. 1t was little later than that
when tie party were seated at the table.
Clam and fish cAoWder and lobster
stew were first Oh the bill Of fare, and
lobster was served as a side dish. Then
followed CLAIMS fried in batter, steamed
CLANS with glass of clam water, fried
cod and broiled live lobster. Hot bis
cults were served during the meal, and
Cant. Coombs claims to have emptied
three plates; but he had some help from
his ueighbors. Doughnuts, coffee and
pie topped off the meal, and if any one
got ND from the table hungry it was
their own fault The supply of every
thing rs apparently unlimited, and OF
the best, AID Mr.. Smith looked person
ally after his guests to see that all were
served to their liking.
Tie large dining hall is also used for
dances and has fine hard wood floor.
On a raised platform at one end is
piano and room for an orchestra, and
on one side of the room is large hurdy
euTdy, also used on occasions. A little
distance in rear of the hotel is large
building with a ball alley on the first
floor and rooms overhead. Mr.. Smith
said he could put up one hundred people
over night comfortably. and we don't
doubt it. Y little beyond is a we'll
equipped livery stable, and procuring
team there the writer and one of his
companions on visit two years ago to
Belfast. Ireland, drove over to Owls
Head village which is quite a settle
ment. There are cottages occupied by
summer visitors all along the shore, i'll
Guiding quite number at Crescent
Beach, and the Crescent Beach House
has a goodly list Of regular boarders.
Crescent Beach is rightly named, as
it is in the form of a crescent. 1t is not
sand beach, but is composed of loose
stones worn by the action Of the waves
into round or oval shapes, and many of
the visitors took in ballast here for the
trip home. We were pointed ont the
place off Ash Point where four of
Rockland's most promising young men
lost their lives by an explosion on a
naphtha launch; and on Monroe's island
the lone dwelling where lives woman
WHO few weeks ago was blown out to
sea in do1y and picked up after two
days exposure in an exhausted condi-
ton.
The tide was very low at 8 p. m., the
hour for departure, and the Castine
was backed out into deep water. The
wind was now from the south, bu> very
light, and the water was as smooth as
mill pond At Camden we took on
4 = - No