The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1903-08-06

tain was kind and indulgent, the boys
were whole-souled fellows, and Mrs.
Shute, their mother, was the same as
mother to me. God bless her memory.
She was known as Mrs. James Gilmore
and for many years after kept millin-
cry store in Belfast. Captain Shute,
being an old man and having a competen-
CIV. did not care to buffet the fall winds
in the old schooner and hauled her up
in October.
This was my last cruise with my
friend and companion, Fred Gilmore,
though in after years l met him in
many ports. I met him in Havana while
he was in command of the old full-rig-
ged brig Russia. l was then mate Of
the brig Tocoa of Rockport. l again
met him in Cardenas, when he was in
command of the brig Abby Ellen and l
was mate of the ship Pamela of New
York, and have been in touch with him
all my life.
A few years later made one short
trip with Captain Gilmore's brother
Charles as shipmate, of which will
say a few words later. After the old
Dione was hauled up l shipped in
schooner and made trip to Newport,
R. l.. so that in a few months l had
made four trips. had doubled Cape
Ann three times and Cape Cod once,
and thought myself very much OF a
sailor. Among other things [ had learn
ed to chew tobacco, had few dashes OF
India ink pricked into my hands, bought
a good REFER jacket and black SILK
handkerchief, such as were worn py
sailors on their necks in those days, ana
think are worn by man-o' War's-men
to this day. Then l returned to the back
tier of lots to attend winter school; and
to astonish the out-homers | fear L
did throw my heels out and did STICK
my nose in the air, and with big quld
of tobacco in my starboard cheek
staggered up the aisle of the school
house like homeward bound East In
diaman. In fact, ! was too salt for
the time | had been in pickle. left
off the sWagger and the use OF tobacco
before | was twenty years old. AT that
age / was first mate of the brig Lady
of the Lake, Captain William l.. Shute,
with whom sailed for three years.
My short trip with Charles Gilmore
was this: We, with others, shipped by
the run to take the new ship Sports
man to New York, where her owners
sent her for sale. There was full
crew of young men from Belfast and
vicinity, mostly fishermen. Gilmore,
myself and two others were the only
sguare-rig sailors aboard. We had both
been mates, and l think Charles had
been in command of small vessel.
Though it was in the winter time it
was most delightful trip. The officers
and crew were all from Belfast, and
nearly all neighbors at home. In the
language of the old song we had
A bully ship and bully crew,
A bully cook and captain, too.
We had on board the owner, David
Peirce, and the master builder, M. I.
Woodcock. q would give the whole OF
his front name if 1 knew how to spell
it, Capt X. O. Patterson was our COM
mander, Capt. Thomas Shute first mate
and Tom Sellars, second mate. | do
not recall to mind a member OF that
ships company that is living to-day,
with the exception of Master Wood
cock and myself, and perhaps a man
named Isaac Elliot, who, if living, lives
in Troy, Waldo county, Me. In think
ing this matter over [ am reminded OF
the lines of Longfellow:
There is reaper whose name is death
And with his sickle keen
He reaps the bearded grain at breath
And the flowers that grow between.
JOHN o. JOHNSON.