Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-29
Old Sailor Tells Of a
Death bed Scene
Which Appeared 10 Him al Sea,
Many Years Ago.
Tells Shlpmaies-..The Man Seen in
Dream the Vessels Owner.


1 as France Marie, painted on the state
| " stern of the big bark now being
. dismartled in the John N. Robins DIR.
dock in the Erie Basin, but it is by
f ! that name that the Triggers call her
} The 1994-ton steel wind TANNER was
, | built by Forbes & c. de la Nedit al
; Havrc in 1900 for carrying petroleum in
bulk and has been purchased by the
Texas Oil Co. 10 be converted into n
barge.
Her sails have been unbent. her
yards sent down. her masts unstopped
| and housed, and so the transformation
from n proud white winged sea beauty
/ into n nrosaie tank 10 be the drag OF
tugs proceeds.
4 Scotch sailor Ben Mackenzie, one
of many who have been attracted by
the majestic bearing of the French
ship, climbed aboard her, last week, to
1.rerew old friendships with the white
! hark. for he has sailed under a dog
en- different flags, and once was
| quartermastet on the French Mary"
,tShe wasn't as smart on her last
| ttir as in my day." he said. Nothing
ever happened 10 her amiss, for she
| vas too we'll built and too carefully
| handled"
| II was the noon hour and the boss
| rigger was tnking his luncheon in the
| wheethouse, where the old sailor had
stood many trick. Not to be denied
his warn the old man launched a tale
or dream that came true. 1t was
when he was sailing out of London on
the Blackwell ship Winchester, own
ed by George Marshall & Sons and
/ engaged in the East India trade. She
| was ore of n fleet of II under contract
| to the British government, and so
built that they could be converted into
frigates or army transports.
During the abyssinian war the
IBlackwall ships carried troops around
THE cape of Good Hope to Alden. thence
proceeding to Calcutta and shipping
COOLIES for Demerate with double
Icrews and doctor. Mackenzie join
led her at Alden Her skipper was
Twas Capt. John Davidson.
In the middle watch while l was
lasleep below" said Mackenzie Il
lsaw as in a vision big. luxuriously
furnished bedroom, and in great
bed lay, dying, George Marshall. the
head of the firm. Around the bed
stood his wife and sons. They kissed
his brow. He was too far gone to
make any sign. The doctor noted the
end and closed his eyelids. and every
lbcdy save the doctor and the clergy
: man left the room.
Il was called before eight bells to
take my trick at the wheel The man
Whom I relieved gave me the course.
III took a quid, glanced at the sails to
see that they were drawing, and wait
i ed for the mate Augustus Brownfield,
Ito come to the pinnacle and make sure
thn ship was on her course.
Mr. Brownfield and / had been to-
gether on other ships. or l should not
have made so free. When he had look
ed at the compass and repeated the
course in a low voice, / steadied the
wheel and told him my dream
Must have had an extra tot of
rum, Mac, before you turned in said
MI. Brownfield.
| 1T had so happened that when grog
was served at eight bells of the dog
watch had given by whack of grog
to one of the other quartermasters in
payment of debt. / told the mate of
fthis.
"IIe paced the deck for five minutes
and then came back.
Did you ever see George Mar
shall, or were you ever inside his
house," he asked.
| Never saw him and never knew in
what part Of London he lived" / re-
lplied
"'Describe the appearance of the man
| who died.
AZ could describe only the head and
face
when Capt. Davidson comes on deck
want you to tell him exactly what you
lave told me- said the mate.
II was leaving the wheel at 6 o'clock
when the old man came on deck in his
pajamas and overcoat before his bath.
The mate saluted him as he came up the
companionway, and beckoned me to APP
proach.
Il again described the deathbed scena
. to Capt. Davidson, who knew George
Marshall we'll, having sailed many of tho
Blackwell ships / described the dying
mans features and then, at Capt. Da'
Wilson's request. the bedroom. The skip
a per instructed the mate to include my
, dream in the log
= ihree DAYS later, as we were towed
up to Hoogly to Calcutta, we saw ir
port four Marshall ships with their flags
, at half mast. When the Winchester sig
, nailed for information we learned that
the head of the house was dead. He had
; passed away at four bells of the middle
watch on the night of my dream Wher
we had made fast to our mooring buoys
and learned the particulars they coin.
cided with everything in my vision, ever
, to the family gathering and the appear
anee of the chamber.
THE Winchester was lost some years
: later and Capt. Davidson is dead, bu
r when a man is 90, as am. he amt goint
. 10 tell no lies"