The Republican journal., 1909-08-26
A sEAFARER's "REMINISCENCES.
a Interesting Letter From Captain F. F.
= Norton.


The Rockland Courier Gazette publishes
an interesting letter from Captain F. F.
Norton of the yacht Merlin, who writes
from Naushon Island, from which we
make the following extracts:
In marine Matters l see mentioned
the Brigadier, discharging cement at
Boston from the Hudson River (Rond-
out probably. How it carries INV
thoughts back Sc years to the dav she
was launched at Stockton, and l was in
sole charge, and only 20, which was .sonlv
boy, to 60 master of such vessel in
those days. AS there were not much
larger schooners afloat at that time
well remember how proud was and how
l hustled to get her fitted, and away into
warmer weather. It was November
1873. | sailed her nine years and she
was truly lucky vessel. Whenever
was ready to sail the wind and weather
were also ready to permit me to do so.
l made some fine passages in her. too.
as she was so arranged and constructed
that she could always be kept going, and
driven, too, when the occasion demanded
have in mind one passage from Carl
isle Bay (Barbadoes) in by old Cape Cod
light IN nine days and ten hours; also the
first West India trip l made in her I
was outside of Sandy Hook % DAYS. I
went to Cardenas, Cuba, and brought
back cargo of molasses; stocked 500 a
day. Those were times when there was
something worth hustling for.
Some of the "solid'' men of Rockland
were interested as owners of the Rriea-
der when she was built. First and most
prominent was Hon. Francis Cobb. whom
| have always considered one of the finest
men have ever met, man who was a
gentleman in every sense of the word.
Hon. Nathan Farwell, Cornelius Hanra-
han, Hezekiah Wight, Captain George
Gregory; think there were some others
but can't just remember now. But |
consider those five were, in my humble
opinion, unsurpassed for honesty, inteli-
gence and business tact by any other
five men in Rockland, or | might say in
Maine; They have, SO far as / know, all
passed on over the clark river"
l have passed 81 years of my life afloat,
mostly on sailing vessels, and every day
more fully realize how much the mani
mate thing, sailing vessel, resembles
human being. noticed also in Marine
Matters" some of my old acquaintance
other than the Brigadier, viz, the J. R.
Bodwell, Caroline Gray, Mary Farrow,
Red Jacket, Mary Brewer, Jennie Hall
and Abel w. Parker. 1t makes me feel
sad to read of the death of Capt. Chand-
Ter Peck, one of my intimate acquaint-
ances and Capt. Charlie Williams; also
that Capt Alabama Gross was to clay
up for REPAIRS Well it's only the in
evitable which has to come to US all. AS
for myself l am on my 21st year with
the same yacht and the same owners. Is
that the record, or not? l was quite
pleased to meet Capt. Weed, of the
steam yacht Wacouta, which is 24O feet
long and 81 feet wide Capt Weed, as
you no doubt know, was Rockland boy.
He sailed with me on his first trip Tor
nearly SOY in the Brigadier when she We S
new, and | have never met him since
until he came alongside the Merlin in
fine steam launch. Of course we didn' t
have anything to talk about. The yacht
he commands is owned by James j. Hill,
the great railroad manager and owner.
Capt. Weed is looking fine and apparent
ly taking life easy.