The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-03-02
THE LATE CAPT. CHARLES GOTT.

Capt. Charles Colt died Feb 21st at
his home in Castine. He was born in
Brooksville, Oct. Is, 1886, and started
gong to sea at the early age of Is, as
many of the coast of Maine boys did in
those days. At the age of 10 he got his
first command. On this vessel curious
as we'll as thrilling accident befell him.
During severe gale as the:vessel rolled
to windward while her decks were cover
ed with water he was washed overheard
and the very next oncoming sea washed
him back on board again. He was in
command of several vessels, among them
the schooner E. L. Condor and brig Ham
den. In 1870 the schooner Augusta M.
Colt was built in Brooksville for him.
The owners were Limeburner & Co.,
and Capt. Colt. On voyage from Ban
gor to Martinique, loaded with lumber,
she turned turtle. The eight men of the
crew managed to crawl onto the bottom
of the wreck, where with barrel of salt
pork, few potatoes and very little
fresh water, five of them managed to
keep alive for 29 days until they were
taken off the wreck. On the seventh
day of their clinging to the bottom of the
wave-washed vessel a sail was sighted,
which proved to be an English bark, who
stayed by them for two days but was I'M
able to take them off because of the high
sea that was running; then fog settled
down and the bark became separated
from the wreck. Not another sail was
sighted until the 18th day; and as the
days passed and the scanty provisions
began to give out, three of the eight,
crazed by their suffering, jumped into
the sea and persisted. On the 18th day,
the provisions having given out and
the men nearly crazy from hunger,
they tried to force the captain to
draw lots to see which should die to
serve as food for the rest; but Capt
Colt commanded and implored them to
wait one more day. On the 29th day the
wreck was sighted by German ship, who
took them off and landed them at Gibral-
tar, whence they were sent to New
York by the American consul. AT
ter this experience Capt. Colt decided
to go into the lighthouse service, and was
appointed keeper of Saddleback light,
where he stayed for seven years and
three months. Once during his stay there
he passed through another fearful ex-
perience. One winters day his assistant
went to the land in their boat for pro-
visions. A terrific storm arose which
swept away Ile dwelling LOuSe, COOK
house and boat house, forcing Capt. Colt
to take refuge on the second landing Of
the tower and, finally, the waves mount
ing higher, he was compelled to take TO
the lantern room itself, where he remain
ed for three days, until the sea had gone
down enough to allow assistance to be
sent him. His next station was Mark
Island light, where he was three years
and six months, being transferred from
there to Dices Head light at Castine.
He had charge of this light for "a years
and 10 months, or until his death. Capt.
Colt was first married to Augusta M.
Lineburner of Brooksville, and their
union was blessed with three children,
Charles, Ida and Pearl, all of whom sur
vive him. His second wife was Lucy
Day of Rockland, by whom he had three
children, Belle, Adelbert and Ormond,
all surviving him except Belle, who died
last Christmas. He was a member of
Hancock Lodge No. 4, Free and Accep-
ted Masons, and of the Methodist church.
The funeral was held at the church at 2
p. M, February 23d, under the auspices
of Hancock Todpe