Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-07-20
T,,r FIGHTING sPURLINGs.
story Of Famous Cranberry Isles
Family.

I'm the window leuge OF the private
,e,cs Of Adjutant- General Dill, at the
state House in Augusta lies magnificent
-,,rd xhich never fails to attract stten-
,;on Of callers, and well 1t might, for
a,opud II hangs story OF vaior and State
~ Maine bravery unequalled in the his
.arv AZ The merchant marine OF America.
THAT sword, with the splendid brace OF
Sueling pistols which, in their mahogany
case. are close at hand, commemorate
hattle OF the early days OF the last CEN
t,rv on the Spanish main, in which
Maine captain whipped and put to flight
piratical vessel. thereby saving his own
o-st, and an entire fleet OF merchant ships
which we're threatened.
This lighting sailorman was Capt. Sam
mel squirting, OF Cranberry Isles, the
father OF General Andrew b. Squirting,
who made a splendid record for bravery
and gallantry in action during the War OF
the Rebellion as an officer OF the Second
Maine cavalry. Close by the weapons OF
the father are displayed the old Colt re-
yotvers and the battered sabre which the
son used during the sixties in more than
one single handed combat with Confede-
rate soldiers. Both sets Of weapons were
deposited in the adiutant- generals Office
bv Gen. Squirting during the administra-
ton of Adj.-Gen. Farnham, for safety.
that they might be preserved for all time.
The story Of the Squirting fighting
qualities starts away back in the year
ISIS; that is to say, the records which
have been preserved to us begin at that
time, On January Il, that year, the
Maine schooner Cashier, under command
OF Capt. samuel Squirting, was OF the port
Of Trinidad de Cuba. It does not appear
from the records available at this time
whether she was homeward bound or was
sailing into the Cuban port. 1t Is, how
ever, sufficient for the purposes OF this
dav to know that the staunch vessel,
under command of a brave man and
manned by a courageous crew, was sail
ing the Spanish main on that day. One OF
the many buccaneers who infested the
waters OF the gulf in those days came
along in search OF prey. The Cashier
looked inviting, and the pirate bore down
rpon her.
Capt. Squirting made no haste to run.
He cleared the decks for action, armed
his crew And prepared for battle. In
stead OF bloodless victory, the pirate
got redhot reception, which ended in
aterrioie beating and the retreat CT the
pirate crew. ihat this nght OF the yam
knee skipper ana MS men saved the snip
ping in the harbor was the honest belief
OF the people OF trinidad de Cupa, ana
10 show Their appreciation they pre-
sented the captain the splendid sword
and pair oil dueiing pistols
on the SILVER NIT OF the sword Is TINS
inscription.
Presented to Capt. samuel spnrl-
ing, of the schooner Cashier. Of
Cranberry Island. State OF Maine,
.ne american merchants AZ
- :. y
his vaIlantrv and GOOD cardnc, IN
repeIllpa and defeating n pira,ical
vessel off The harbor OF Trinidad on
the zist jan, isas, thereby not only
preserving his own vessel, but that
oil several oil his countrymen.
The same inscription appears upon the
silver plate in the ton OF the box holding
the apa,;,o n;s,o,.
rs. In,
,,'. " y 81
"u i'ofs' WINE 'nc o'aoo was MADE
oy the famous Italian swordmaker, An
ara faerara in l4SS. The blades Of this
maker have been famous for centuries,
and frequent mention il made OF them
throughout, Scotia nove,.
Tn. n;s,o,s a.. .n,.na;a , :,
tba ar.,;r Z. =
-, "N"poA Va INA. pc'iou anu are
1n'0u anu very neaVy. Iheir
'a"O'e Is ABOUT nfty-six and they weigh
ABOUT TWO pounds each, are muzxle load
ing and flint lock. They are enclosed in
handsome mahogany satin-lined casa
In connection w;,h ,h..a ,,,.,o,u
folIow;no ax,,,. 49, az,
Ar,.r;' ,,.-.,, u"
9. .oy ShAries winthrop
inoicate tnat THESE weapons were
p1ooaoiy made between the years 1850 and