Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-07-21
THE "HARD STRUGGLE"
Captain Pe.dder's Craft Successfully
Launched at City Landing.

The Augusta city landing was the
scene, Thursday afternoon, OF genuine
launching, such as has not been wit
messed in years, Captain Elbridge Ped
der's launch which he has christened
Hard Struggle" having slid graceful
ly into the waters of the Kennebec. at
five minutes before 6 o'clock, before a
goodly crowd of Onlookers.
This event is one that has been look
ed forward to by Capt. Pedder and his
friends for some time, and when the
craft was hauled through the street.
at noon, yesterday, from the builders
home on Gage street, it attracted no
end of attention and comment. The
launching was postponed until later in
the day in order to secure the favor
of the food tide. When the tide was at
its height very little effort was needed
to push the boat into the water, and
she rode as prettily as though born
there instead Of having been evolved
by slow process, up on the hill
The story of the building Is a long
and interesting one, it having been a
part Of Captain Pedder's life in the
spare moments he could secure from
his work, for the past three years. In
the summer of 1902, with the help of
his son. Charles, the frame was con-
structed, but the untimely death of the
younger man put a stop, for time to
all operations. In the summer of 1904
the sides were planked up, and since
then the building has gone on at odd
jobs whenever spare time could be
found. All the work has been done by
Captain Pedder himself, and another
feature of interest is the fact that in
the meantime he has built sufficient
other boats to purchase nearly all his
building materials.
One customer contracted to furnish
lumber enough for two boats in return
for the building of one. The proceeds
of this trade furnished him with his
hardware. Another 11fOoter was built
and sold. bringing in enough to pur-
chase gOodly amount of lumber All
this only serves to emphasize the pa
thence, industry and thrift Of the build
er, and one can readily understand
that a craft which represents so many
hours of work and SO much planning
is a much more highly valued possess
sion than one which is purchased out
right, from stranger, for a specified
sum of cold cash. 1t is out of this long
but patient process of the boats con-
struction that her name, Hard Strug-
gle" arises.
The dimensions of the craft are as
follows: Length. 81 feet, over all; beam
s feet 6 inches; depth. S feet forward
and Az aft. The frame and bottom are
of selected oak, while from the water
line up the construction is of pine. The
deck is built of the best of cedar. The
cabin, which is seven by eight feet is
nicely upholstered, and the windows
fitted with extra heavy plate glass. The
upholstery is the work of Mrs. Pedder
and is an ornament to the furnishing OF
the launch. A piece of scroll work used
in decorating the cabin is relic from
the Senate chamber at the State House.,
having been given to Mr.. Pedder by
the late General B. F. Harris, when in
the Office Of superintendent Of public
buildings. The lifelike eagle which
serves as the figurehead- Of the craft,
Mr.. Pedder whitfield out Of a stick with
no other implement than a jackknife
The craft is equipped with 5-horse-
power gasoline engine and by another
season the skipper expects to add a
second engine, making a twin screw
propeller and with that equipment,
thinks he can show heels to the best
of them.
The trials given the boat, last even
ing, were gratifying in the way she
showed up. and with the proper bal
lasting and trimming, and the accurate
adjustment Of the engine, she promises
to give her owner a large amount of
satisfaction in return for his Hard
Struggle"