Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-13
Giant Six -Inasted Scho0n-
or Building at Bath.
Will Be 325 Feet Long and
Measure $500 Tons.
Z aa3slg nS ~ I3ssss %,
WIIL6e Launched In Deeemhsr..-
Capt. ncleod to Command. = e

Bath, Me-. Sept. 12.-Of late years
general popularity in the building Of
merchant vessels has dwindled in size
from the great leviathans to four-and
| five-masted schooners, with innings in
| favor of the four masters instead of
the flyers, and in this respect it is
| seldom that a six-master is construct
ed oftener than once a year in the
yards of the United States .e..a 81
This city has had the distinction of
building two of the largest six-masted
schooners in the world. and in fact the
largest wooden vessels afloat. All rec
ords are to be exceeded. however. by
the construction of another six-master
which will have the records of the
other two giants put in the shade. for
big six-sticker now under process of
construction at the yard of Percy &
Small will have greater tonnage than
any other wooden sailing vessel in the
world. .. Fee.
Nine years ago the Eleanor A. Percy
was built and launched by the firm Of
Percy & Small She was considered
wonder, for she was a sixmaster with
a total. gross tonnage Of 3401.96. The
only vessel to come anywhere near her
in size was the George w. Wells. built
in Camden at about the same time
and considered at the time Of her
launching to be a marvel. .+.. .
The Percy maintained her reputation
as sizeable queen of the. seas until
a year ago, when Percy & Small built
and launched the big giant. Edward B.
Winslow, for the j. S. W'inslow & Co.
of Portland, and then the reputation
of the Percy failed, for the Winslow
exceeded her in tonnage bg % gross
tons, so the Portland schooner has
since maintained reputation as the
largest wooden sailing carrier upon our
seas. . .,..
Not to be outdone by the Portland
craft, however, the firm of Percy &
Small decided to build a new six-mas-
ter, which in point of gross tonnage
should rival everything on the seas
and not only this. but thy will own and
manage her themselves. She is now I'M
der process of construction, and is all
in frame, while the diagonal steel
strapping for strengthening purposes is
being put on. While there are no Off
cial figures to be given upon her as yet.
for she has not been measured by the
customs officials, she will be about 1926
feet long, and will be about $500 tons
gross. ....,t ,,r,,,a
An interesting idea OF the size of the
new leviathan may be obtained by a
comparison of the two other giants. the
Edward B. Winslow and the Eleanor
A. Percy as follows: -s,..e. w.
Edward B. Winslow--Tonnage,
342491: length. 1854 feet; beam, SO feet;
depth, 1871 feet; 8 decks 6 masts.
Eleanor "A. Percy-Tonnage, 34O1.96:
length, 323.5 feet; BEAM so feet; depth.
PAS feet; 2 decks, 6 masts.
Capt. Angus Mcleod Of West Som
erville, Mass. is to go in the new craft.
which is as yet unnamed. Capt. Nc
Leod for many years. sailed in the
Alice NJ Colburn. 4-fourmaster that
bore his wife's maiden name, hut two
years ago took command of the Gov.
Brooks, which was named for the chief
executive of the state of Wyoming. The
Brooks is five-master, and one of
the largest of her class. The new ves-
sci will be launched in December and
will be ready for sea the first of the
year. engaging mostly in the coal car
rying trade