The Saint Paul globe., 1904-01-31


The last embargo of any moment
was in 1901 and lasted fifteen days.
Then there was the same alarm on
the mainland that the people would
starve, and, as this week, when the
Ice went out. 1t was found that the
only inconvenience was the shortage
Of fruit and the loss of the mail and
newspapers.
The longest freeze-up the old town
ever experienced was in 1872, when
for thirty mine days no boat entered
the harbor. But landings were made
on the ocean side of the island many
times, and passengers, mails and news
papers were left and taken from the
island. The ice in the harbor at that
time was so thick that eelers were un-
able to cut holes through and Sleigh
ing parties, fee boating and winged"
skating engrossed everyone The
schools actually closed for several days
so as to permit the scholars to partici-
pate in the pleasures of the ice par
ties.
Another embargo which is quite fresh in
the minds of the younger people was that
of 1880. The steamer Island Home was
caught In the foe about two miles from
her dock. was jamned into the porridge
Ice, which rapidly froze about her during
the night, forming solid mass for miles
outside her Among her freight was a
dozen steers consigned to the town
butcher. AS there was no hay on board
on the third day, by consent of their
owner, bags were tied on their forward
feet and they We're allowed to slide down
the gangplank. They were cautious for a
While slipping and falling many times as
the drivers urged them ON. Scores of
men, women and children were watching
the performance from the shore. AS the
steers neared the beach their timidity
vanished and the leader. followed by the
others, broke into run. The consterIla-
ton of the people on the beach was in
deseribable as they beheld a dozen broad
horned, untamed Texas steers making di-
rectly for them. The drivers, however
headed them off, and no one was injured
although many were reported to have run
for miles down the beach. The steamer
wharf for two weeks. Her bunker coal
gave out and this was replenished by
horses dragging supply out from the
beach on sleds.
AT the same time many coasting
schooners were caught in the pack and
one, handsome new three-master, the
Crfah B. Fiske, was carried onto the rips
about 200 yards off the point and right
within sight of the town. The crew was
rescued by volunteers and the Wreckers
proceeded TO strip the vessel, it being ap-
parent that she was doomed to go to
pieces. They worked on the vessel dur
ing the running of the west tide and came
ashore when the. tide changed. as there
was no telling what eapers the immense
HlOflIlR IdSS VI ice WOulQ CUT Wnen- the
shift of the water came. This was done
every day for nearly a week, the work
of lightering the vessels cargo being very
slow and laborious, as there was no means
of rigging derricks and everything had TO
be hauled out OF the hold by hand One
day they got the anchors and chains
cleared up ready to take ashore on the
next tide when they were forced by the
threatened breaking UP of the vast fee
field to make haste to get ashore. They
were unable to board the vessel again for
several days, and in the interim the fee
beyond 1t broke up. and while the wreck
erS were waiting an opportunity to finish
their work small schooner came over
from Hyannfs, on the mainland, sailed
up under the bow of the schooner and the
pirates" lowered the anchor and chains
on their own deck and carted away a
cargo of guano. with which the Fiske was
loaded. The wreckers ashore, unable to
get across the ice or launch boat, were
wild, and the epithets that were hurled
the Hyannis pirates" are recorded in the
towns history as without equal.
So it can be readily seen that this
hemmed-in town of the Atlantic is In no
grave danger during freezing-up and
that in reality there Is no season when
the inhabitants enjoy themselves more
than when the harbor and sound are
frozen solid. while fleet of schooners
securely imbedded in the ice. with every
prospect that one or more viii leave her
bones on the beach or the dreaded bars
and reefs that surround the island and
that each and every inhabitant will benefit
by securing some portion OF the cargo or
hull.