Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-24
AT CAPITOL ISLAND.
The Colony of Summer People Enjoy
ing Themselves to the Utmost.

ciaD The doings of the summer colo
| ny at Capitol DO not find their way into
! the papers to any great extent, and
| were it not for the voluminous cores
pondence which is daily sent out from
| the island post Office and the return
of those lucky mortals who have passed
their vacation days among the rocks
| and woods which characterize the
| island. the world at large might get an
| idea that this picturesque bit of Allan
| tic coast were no longer on the map.
| However, it is not necessary to refer
to the coast survey chart, or the map
of the Boothbay division of the East
| ern Steamship Co., to ascertain that
the island is still solid on it's founda-
tons, sheltered on one side by it's big
sister, Southport, and on the other by
Burnt Island, whose revolving light
| keeps Il nightly watch over all.
There have been seasons when more
people were on the island, before the
burning of the hotel at the north shore,
| but as far as enjoyment goes. every
| one says that the present season is
| about the limit. There are no ball
grounds, no golf links, and but one ten
mis- court on the island; but in spite
| of the absence of these so-called indiS-
| pensables to polite society, somehow
Capitol Islanders seem to have a good
| time, and are sure to be filled with re-
| sret on leaving.
| The chief sport of the islanders is
sailing and they have at their call the
| best fleet of boats and the most care
| full shippers around the harbor. Inc
shippers themselves say that Capitol
| gives them the best business of any
| of the resorts. over at Ocean Point,
one boat does the work, and at SOUR
rel Island, though there is quite a fleet,
they seem to be swinging at their moor
| ings the greater part OF the time.
| The shippers here are all we'll known,
| and have grown to be as much q part
of the island as the pier where the
steamers land, and, furthermore they
are as essential to the cottagers as tue
| we'll over in the grove. And speaking
of shippers, perhaps a brief mention OF
each, having in sight, of course, a care
| full consideration of their modesty, may
| be in order.
| Probably the premier danseuse of this
cotcric of nautical ballet dancers is Capt.
John Reed of the Sweetheart. Everyone
knows John and likes him, and to sec hlm
| on the quarterback of his ship, clad IN
white duck and with a red bow under
his chin to set off his pecan compleXion'
and hauling out of the harbor with = luli
passenger list of ladies, makes many
llandlubber long to be a sailor
| Then there is Capt Chas. Wade, who
is also postmaster Capt. Wade com
lmands the Idlcwld, the largest boat of
the feet and though perhaps not built
on such fine lines as some of the harhor
craft. she is stiunch, and nothing short
of a West India hurricane could make
her show her keel. Capt. Wade also has
auxiliary power in the boat This enables
hin, to so sailing whether the wind blows
or not, and brings lots Of business, and
his friends say that when he goes to his
home on Swan island this fall, he Will
carry Il stocking full of coin.
| Captain jim Robinson of tho Themis,
another one of the favorites, and Capt.
| Knight of the Annie T., and both have
good boats. Capt. Robinson is enc Of the
best all round, catchaS-c atch-can SKID
ncrs in the harbor, and capt. Knight, be
sides being good skipper, is a noted
weather prophet, his forecasts exceeding
in accuracy those in the Farmers Alma-
nae.
In addition to the sailing craft at the
island there are several naphtha launches.
owned by private parties, among them
being the TakciteaSy, owned by J. a.
Proctor of Richmond; Lucy, by Or. On
lphant. and enc each by c. \. Waggett
of Melrosc Highlands, Mass, and z. L.
| X eth of Boston,
! Another popular outdoor sport on the
island is uuoits Grounds have been laid
ont in the grove near the well, ana games
I1rc in progress daily. Aspirants for hon
ors are many, but the most successful
PLAYERS thus far are Mayor Russell of
Gardiner, Dr. Geo. j. Andler of Pttsfeld,
Mass, f. G. Wallace of Cambridge, Mas,
and Chas. Penney of Augusta.
The above game is played largely ny
ycntlemen, although some ladies are very
good pitchers; but as a rule while the
men are pitching quoits, smoking ana 90
| ing other things that men do the ladies
swing their hammocks under the trees
get out their sewing and make-lt would
take a lady reporter to tell what they do
make.
| Evenings. in the outside air are quiet
| but there is always something gong on
at the cottages. Chatting dish pafles are
popular as is anything which pertains 10
the gentle art of eating, and the Stunning
of cards is seen around many table alter
| the evening shadows fall
| The island is getting quite metropoli-
tan, and improvements under the new al
mnistration are becoming manifest.
, new plank walk has been built over the
hill at the north end, which is duly apprec
ciated by all who traverse the path Oh
| the cottages. and also by the members
| of the wheelbarrow traction company.
Another evidence of progress IS a syS-
TEN cf street lights. which snow 70 liie
belated traveller. with more or less acct-
racy, the location of the stumps ana roChs
in the path. They are good thihs, ever
if they can't SHINE around the corIeta,
and it is hoped that they will continue
to dspell the gloom of foggy nights hshce~
forth and forever more.
There are rumors of a new hotei ~ ~
built. the coming fall, but although .lle at
foundation has been searched lot tne p 80
week. it cannot be found. Notnins nas
been decided upon, except that the new new,
house, when built. will be gooo oi,G aitu
that it will be built on top of tht, MI ea ;,t
of the old house, location Wlich WIN
command a view which can haTd!! pe SA-