Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-03-27

then the New YoIk-sidc, and from
the navy-yard 10 the Buttermilk chan
nol, on IT,, BROOKLYN side, was for
est of maSts The bowsprits stuck out
over the streets fronting the docks.
and the Wnndrous works of the cary
"rs' art looked down from the bows
on passerSby. All this has passed.
Until few years ago a ships
chandler in South street near Wall
street, had an old Observation-Disclosures
said it was from the clipper ship An
drcm"da, which figured in the slave
trade-as 4 sign of his trade outside
his warehouse. But that is gone. as
/ is another that was bought by an en-
tcrprising tobaoconist with an eye to
drawing trade from the sailor men
and used instead of the more familiar
| Indian. This marine tobacco sign
! represented u bewhiskercd. chubby
! faced person, maybe the owner of a
| ship long since forgotten
Down in the Erie basin. the hospital
| 6nd morgue for antiquated ships rot =
| ting ard forgotten, are Ggureheads of
! several hig ships. one, a figure oi
| Aphr"ditr, has lost leg. and the up
raised hand. which pointed the way
| over the waves, also las disappeared.
! Another is draped figure. about
| seven feet nigh, Int the features long
since have Leen obliterated.
GuStaEc Guiterman. who 40 years
ago waS ono II the principal figure
head carvcrs IN the country. is still
living in retirement over in New Jer-
ScN. lie SAYS that like the figure
bend jG a n l.:
he has; not touched malet or chisel
f"r :" T"als, inc occasionally comes
over to Manhattan to visit old friends,
ON the maritime exchange, or to stroll
along South street and dream Of TIL
past
You see rhishty few tsurcheads or
SHIPS today" he said Yesterday Yet
III the old days no vessel WAS consid-
cred complete without one Several
steamships carry an ornamental plate
| on their nows, but the plates are Of
metal and hack tho individuality of
the wooden figures
Il don't know who. FIRST used figure
heads, but have an idea that it was
Noah. unless il be that Adam used Ia
Ego sailing. it was the Unborn belief
III omcnS that led to their use, and
While that belief has not lessencd with
the advent al steam it was empha-
sized in the days of the sailing slip.
through the romance that naturally is
associated with the winds and waves
In q steamship the seaman docs
not depend OH the elements, good or
lad as they may be. He goes from
pct 10 port working on schedule
that is utmost as inlieXiblc as d rail
road tinr.A BILE But when III. sailor
had t. depend on the wind and tide.
ii MAS natural that be should hope
fer. good Weather. and this hope cryS-
talized in the emblem Of good luck
on lis bows. That's Why the use Of
tie hgltrehead continued, though It's
genesis dates from primitive times.
SjragcS Of all lands hay" been wont
To -1ant figures of their gods on the
haNs Of the canoes, to Lad them I"
Victory % tn SAFETY. The Indians of
.AlGslsa ID this today. The Greeks and
Romans adorned their -alleEs with
their daitics. aud Wien Christianity
cam" the practice continued.
.Yon know, mytholosy tells how
Jason, Will, IN his search far tie
talking oak OF pGdona. and from il
carved 4 figure Wnirh he carried With
him or his Journey in the ArGo. 1t
was the advice of this figure, so it is
said. that saved the Argo. Then there
were the Norsemen. The bows of their
ships bore hidenus .heads Of animals
or birds, which th"Ns painted i'll bright
cOl"rS, to strike terror into their enc