Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-07-19
BLUEIiILL BOYS.
Capts. !. l.. and !. e.. Merrill are
Visiting their Old Home.

wealth in the gold fields Of California. are
back at their old homes ia Maine for the
summer They are at Bluehill for the
present, having run down there on the
two handsome yachts which they have
purchased and with which it Is their
intention to cruise all along the Maine
coast this summer
Both gentlemen are weil-known in the
mining regions of the West. Yachting is
no new pastime for either of them, al
I though before they went West they fol-
( lowed the sea as a business rather than for
| pleasure. They prospered as well or bet
ter than most seafaring men on the Maine
coast until they finally gave up the sea to
seek their fortunes in the gold fields OF
! the West.
1t was while he was a fisherman that a
| particularly sad adventure befell Capt j.
l.. Merrill At that time he was fishing
on the Grand Banks when a boat from his
vessel went down and two of his brothers
( were lost. At another time while trading
/ between New York and the West Indies
| his entire ships crew was taken down
with yellow fever in mid-ocean and all
were taken off one by one, except himself
and sailor. He had light touch of fever
himself but survived.
For number of days there were but
two living persons to handle the ship and
for part OF this time the man at the
wheel was the onl one also to stand on
deck. OF those who were buried at sea on
this tragic voyag were four of Capt
Merrll's neighbors and two Of them were
sehoolmates of his. But way was pro-
/ vided for the ships safe return to port
Another ship WAS sighted and hailed and
II proved to be a trader with whole deck
load of negro passengers on board. From
among them a good crew was obtained
and plenty of needful supplies. The two
ships then parted and Capt. Merrills ship
set sail for her destination and arrived
safely in New York.
But fora long time there were sorrow and
anxiety in Capt Merrilus native town for
he had been given up for lost, but he ar
rived there, safely though with the aw-
full news of the death of his fellow
townsmen. 1t was shortly after this that
he gave up the sea and set out to make
his fortune in the gold mines OF the West
He was determined to succeed and worked
hard in the mines until he soon struck it
rich.
He has been all through the West and
Southwest and has succeeded in his de-
termination to come out winner. He
has accumulated wealth and at present
has a salaried position as locator and in
spector of mines. He has beautiful and
costly residence in Los Angeles which city
is his headquarters. He deserves his
success, too, for he earned it with not
few hard knocks. The yacht which he
has purchased since he care East is the
India, formerly OF the Boston Yacht club
fleet.
Capt. J. G.. Merrill also makes Los An
geles his headquarters, and he too mas ac-
quired fortune in the gold mines, but his
experience has not been as large as has J.
l.. Merrilrs. Both are still young men,
full of life and fun and are fairly enjoying
themselves on their trip East. They have
many friends in Boston but are not so well
acquainted in Portland, though there are
several who know them here. They will
be here with their yachts before long and
will probably have an interesting tale to
tell their friends OF their adventures in the
land Of gold.
The name of Capt. j. G. Merrill's yacht
is the Genie, and il their business does
not Unexpectedly call them back to Cali
fornia they will remain East during the
summer season. Their business is such,
however, that they are liable at any time
to have to go back home.
Since they have moved to California,
Capt. j. L. Merrill's wife, who was Miss
Horn, of Boston, has died. Mrs. Merrill
was the true type of pioneers wife, faith
full, loving and brave, ever ready with
kind words, good advice and sympathy for
her husband and children. She went into
the mining camp with her husband and
though while there deprived Of many of
the comforts of her native city, she bore
the hardships which were sometimes
necessary, cheerfuIly and with a smile.
While in the mines she was able to visit
her folks in Boston occasionally, but the
greater part of her time was spent in those
rough regions where her husband gained
so much material success.
Soon after Mr.. Merrill was promoted
and they had moved to Los Angeles, and
the new and beautiful home which they
were building had been completed and
the date set for the opening, Mrs. Mer- |
rill was taken away The cause of her death |
was heart failure and it came very sud- |
denly. The blow was terrible one, com
ing as it did when the family were about |
to enjoy some of the results of their hard |
rill came ON to Los Angeles to care for the
children and they have found in her a
kind friend. The children come with |
their father every summer to the Maine |
coast and will probably spend part of |
- -. - Lii l. hin. a.. L =. ..,.l.t