Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-10

Below Richmond is MerTymeetlng
| Bay where the waters of the Andros-
cGggin and Kennebec meet and form
an alliance in their race to the sea.
Just above Bath the steamer leaves
| the beaten path or ship channel ana
steams through Burnt Jacket, nar-
row waterway, that is as picturesque
as the lover of nature could Wish.
| There are many Indian legends con-
nected with this little channel, some
true, others alas the result of mlnce
pie and poor digestion. Coming
out into the open again we get fine
view of the Shipping City with its
magnificent water front. We can
hear the click of the calking hammer,
almost see the ships as they grow.
Just below the steamers landing are
the Iron Works, famous the world
over, for many of Uncle Sans battle
ships and cruisers We're born here.
Bath is the port of entry and all ma
rine business centers at the custom
house whose flag can be seen from the
steamers deck.
| Dlasonally across from Bath, we
| leave the old Kennebec whose for
tunes we have followed since early
morning and enter the little Samoset
river. The bridge tender in response
to our whistle opens the draw of the
little old rustic bridge that connects
the town of ArroWSic with her sister
to%n Woolwich. Greetings are ex-
changed as we pass through, a wide
sweep is made to clear the middle
grounds and once more we are head
ed Tor the open sea. 1t is a serpen-
tine channel we follow down through
Hell Gate once the dread of all skip
pefS who We're obliged to make the
run, but thanks to a generous govern
hleHt, the passage is comparatively
SAFE AT the present time the govern
ment engineers are building cob work
from Green island out into the rips and
propose in the near future to finish
pldStlnS the obstruction, thus widening
the channel and removing all elements
Oh DANGER The water pours through
mere like a mill race. The great
ragged rocks are bare, the islands are
coated with coating of kelp and sea
weed. The high bold shores look
lfoWning enough and the face of old
Hockamock stands out in bold relief.
way over to the Westport shore a
little tide mill can be seen, a relic of
olden days and their primitive meth
obs. The scenery through the gates
70 the open waters of the bay are lust
as nature left them. No attemnt has
been male to beautify them, it would
be Ike painting the lily There is not
spot in the country to compare with
them, for wild rugged scenery. The
Hudson may boast if it's palisades. the
1,f
famous Lachine rapids of the st. Law
renee of Its wild rush of waters. I
nave sailed them all and under all con-
ultIons and mile for mile they do not
compare with the little serpentine
chanhel that forms the waterway to
the open waters of the Atlantic.
Just beyond the lower gate we pass
between Westport Junction and
Risgsville out by Goose rock, the en-
trance to McMahans ship channel. and
across Sheepscot bay with it's open
sheet of water, where Hendricks head
Light looms up like grim sentinel. a
guardian of the roadway to the shell
tered harbor OF Wiscasset. Between
Isle of Springs and Boston Island we
PICK our way, whistle up the bridge at
Southport and enter the little narrow
strait that divides the town of South
port from Boothbay If there is any
one spot on the Whole trip more beauti-
lul than another, it is the outlook as
saw 1t in the hazy misty sunlight
that midsummer morning. Just imag-
ne broad bay. possibly half a mile
across with creeks and inletS innumer-
abie, heavily wooded shores on one
SIDE, a seaside hotel with it's long
stretch of green lawn in front, cute
little cottages just sheltered enough
10 be cosy. innumerable pleasure crafts
OF all kinds from 60-foot wind jamer
to the trim little motor boat skimmjng
the waters or lying at their anchorage
and you have partial view as I saw
1t from the steamer deck. AS we near
Boothbay, the broad stretch of water
narroWs until it is scarcely 800 feet
from shore to shore, while over the
steamers bow can be seen the white
caps that come rolling in by the south
ward OF Squirrel Island from ocean,
ward. | never sailed through this lit
tie landlocked harbor without admir-
ing It's beauties 1t was faryland to
me, 1t is my ideal, my little heaven
where the turmoil of business does not
penetrate.
We journey through the little gan to
Capitol Island where the Gardiner
Colony holds fort, thence across the
blue waters to the little Bar Harbor
of Lincoln county, Squirrel Island. The
docks are covered with sweet summer
girls ana their escorts living the out
door life. The scene is ever change
able like Kaleidoscope, new scenes APP
pear on natures canvas. The little
larbor with its sparkling waters, it's
surface dotted with white sales heeling
over to catch the breeze, the clang of
the motor boats, the toot of the Island
or, the blending of the laughs of the
merry sailing parties make q scene long
to be remembered. Once more we shape
our cours" out into the open and land at
ocean Point where finger long
enough to see the sunset tint the gold
en- west and paint the little woodland
paths golden brown. My story is
told, my yarn is spun. Others NAV
travel Though the old world or ram
bic through tie world centers. but
give me the old Kennebec and her
waterways that lead down to the sea.