Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-07-07
THE OLD sQuARE-RIGGER
.rhe Passing of the Famous Type of
Vessel.


from wharf fronts and ferry boaSs, prob
ah,v do not realize as they see at rare in
,arvsls a sailing ship leaving or entering
mort. how near they are to witnessing the
anal disapp. arance of the "square rigger"
asa factor in international commerce.
Ten years ago statistics showed that
there was slight increase in the number
If sailing ships built, particularly in
Glasgow, and some shipping agents de-
olared then that steam would never en-
trely drive out sail as motive power for
freight ships covering long distances,
owing to the great saving in coal con-
spmption in cases where the cargo was
not nerisha BILE and time was not of prime
Importance.
These views have been borne out by the
development of marine commerce, how
aver. The perfection OF devices to save
coal consumption, taken with keener COM
netition on the part of those supplying
worlds produce to get their goods to
market with as little delay as possible,
have made it harder and harder for the
owners of deep sea sailing craft to get
careoes, This is not so true in the case of
schooners. which require small crews, as
II is of square riggersn, which need many
hands. But even with the schooners the
writing on the wall is so plain that he who
runs may read.
Nowhere is the passing of the "square
ripger" more manifest than in a walk
along the shores of the East river in New
York city, from He'll Gate to the Battery.
Five years ago at this time Of year any
number OF what in the old days would
have been called packets" could be seen
fitting out for trips around the Horn or
for ports in the China seas. A visit to
these ships was equal to six volumes OF
Clark Russell, and it was pleasant to sit
on the roomy quarter decks and pick out
among the "web feet" busy on the yards
and strung out along the far-reaching
bowsprits, the characters common to
Russell's Marryat, and Dana's books.
With the passing OF the sailing ships
these heroes Of youth have disappeared,
where cannot be imagined, for the old salt
has 30 place on q steamship. Sailors Snug
Harbor can still muster many, and there
are some warrant officers in the navy who
can remember their apprenticeship square
ringers, but death has taken the majority
and there has been no demand for young
sters to take their places.
On bright day about week ago one
OF the few old salts still left in service was
found seated ON an upturned bucket on
the forward deck OF the Mary D., brig
antine fitting out for q trip to New Zea-
land from New York, with an assorted
cargo. The old sailor wore a knitted
skull cap which he had made himself, a
heavy jersey, and moleskin trousers. His
feet were bare. He was splicing halyard
and chewing tobacco, and though ten feet
from the rail, not drop Of tobacco defiled
the deck when he spat. In itself that
stamped him as belonging to the old
school.
1t was very clear that the old sailor did
not care for conversation. As visitor
came up to where he was at work and sat
down on the roof of the galley house near
by, he turned his back on the newcomer
and concentrated mind and body on his
task.
Several tentative advances meeting only
with grunts from the sailor, the visitor
had about given up drawing him out,
when he fired a shot which he had held in
reserve for the last.
"rve got pint flask in my hip pocket
with some prime rye in it, he said. "Do
you think we could find place for
drinkg''
The old sailors shoulders quivered and
he cast a hasty glance around the deck.
Then, with an air OF the greatest inditfer-
ence, he said:
SWELL / don't know as / mind. We
might take look in the fo'c'sle, il you
wish"
The old tar put down his work and
shuffiei to the fo'c'sle hatch, followed by
his inerlocutor. The flask was produced
and the sailor took long pull. Instantly
his manner changed. A cordial smile
spresd across his face, and with hospita-
bic wave Of the hand he invited the visitor
TO lave seat on bunk.
i'm clear for half an hour" he said,
evidently figuring that as about the limit
oftime needed to empty the flask. ''The
al busy with the riggers."
"You asked me on deck how long I'd
been sailor" he continued, after pause
Well, it's nigh on forty-five years. 1
shipped out of Bedford as an apprentice
when was fifteen, and I've been follow
ing the seq ever since. There are mighty
rev ports haven't harbored inn
Where do the sailors come from now
mat make up the crews of the sailing
ships?' the visitor asked.
They have to take pretty much any
thlng they can get," the sailor replied.
ihere aren't many able seamen left in
tne business, outside of few old timers
IKE me. The men they get on some sail
ing SHIPS nowadays would drive skipper
oi the old school crazy. Many of 'em
haroiy know the names OF the spars when
'ney ship, and as for splicing and making