Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-19


example of the troubles they encoun-
ter. want to relate one incident in my
life to YOU" said Capt. Bosworth. 1T
was during the war and had to do
with a British steamship that was
wrecked and saved again, which tried
to bring from Nassau, the Bahamas,
to New York. Then there were devel-
opments in the way Of e. S. cruisers
and balky sailors that added to the
excitement.
I'm July, 1862. there were some peo-
pie | knew who lad purcha sed
wrecked steamer that had run on
reef in the harbor entrance. Her name
was the Karnak, and they asked me
to get her to New York. | lad 8 pref
ty hard time to get her in readiness
for New York. but thought I could sail
her with what rigging I could patch
up for she was barkentine rugged.
A day or two before We started to
sail the captain of a British steamer
offered to tow us to New York and
the owners decided it would be worth
it to try the experiment After we
had been out about 10 hours the cap
tain reported his coal SO bad he WAS
unable to make sufficient steam to tow
us to New York and said he would
have to return to Nassau for a change
of coal We set sail from Nassau
again and when off Savannah the cap
tain reported that he would have to
let us 60 as he didn't have more than
enough coal to get the tug to New
York. | decided to go into Port Royal
and anchored at Hilton head. which
had recently been captured by our.
forces. Admiral Dupont's flagship
Wabash was lying there and | was re-
quested to go aboard at once.
Admiral Dupont was skeptical and
ported but he was inclined to believe
the ;ug intended to run the blockade
into Charlestown and took my vessel
for tow as a blind. At any rate he
decided to mold her until he saw the
tug reported as arriving in New York.
In about two weeks the tugs arrival
in New York was reported.
In a few days along came another
steamer from the north 10 tow the
Karnak to New York and we started
the next day. But the steamer, which
was really a schooner rugged vessel
built for the coasting trade and of
low power. was not able to tow us
against heavy winds and l decided
that she wouldn't he worth her bother
In the meantime the engineer of the
Karnak had been tinkering with the
machinery and had made some pat
terms which | took to New York on a
trip to see the owners as to what was
best to do.
They thought it IL good plan to have
sore castings made and shipped to
the Karnak and an effort would be
made to bring her north under her own
steam. While waiting there the au-
thorities at Port Royal had wearied of
having my sailors upon their hands
and thinking they had been sufficiently
punished for their disobedience. PUT
them aboard transport and sent
them to New York. Seeing the owner
and myself on the street one day they
had & warrant issued for our arrest
FOR ill-treatment.
I'VE were tried by jury. after be
ing out on bail for a week, and were
discharged, for there was no evidence
to show that we were responsible for
the orders given at Port Royal
BY this time the parts of tie en-
gine had been cast and an assistant
engineer and crew hired and were
ready to go after the Karnak. but that
trial by jury was The last straw for i
me and / decided the Karnak was a |
hoodoo so far as [ was concerned and |
| resigned my command then and |
there. decidinr that thereafter | would |
confiEe niyself wholly to sailing ships |
Another skipper was hired and the |
craft brought to New York. refitted |
and was put into the government SER
vice as a transport and later was sold |
at a handsome profit"
Capt. Bosworth after his retirement |
from active service on the sea settled |
in Portland or. for 10 years as sur
veyor for the board of marine under
writer's. and returned to Bath in 1900.
where he has since remained.
He has ore son, Arthur Sewall Bos-
worth, :. prominent business man of
Portland. Me- and is Il member of So
lar lodge of Masons and of Winter
ST, eet Congregational church.-Boston
Gtpho