Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-08-21
COUNTY NEWS.
EAST LAMoINE.
CAPT. SAMUEL Y. DEs1sLEs.

tne long career OF man OF marx, one well
known throughout this part OF the State.
He was a direct descendant of those
French people, who under the personal
leadership of Madame De Launay, earliest
settled Lamoine in the eighteenth CEN
fury.
Within a stones throw of the first build
ing erected by the colonists, Capt. Des-
isles was born Oct. g. 1881. His mother,
Isabella Young, was of good, solid, New
England stock. The blend of the two
nationalities resulted, in the case of Capt.
Desisles, in a character combining the
alertness of the French and the steadfast-
ness of the Anglo-Saxon American. These
traits were displayed over wide field and
in very effective manner.
This was all brought out in the address
which was delivered by his intimate
friend of many years, Rev. Daniel NJ. Will
son, at the funeral services which were
held Wednesday afternoon, Aug. IA.
These services took place in the East La
moline church, which was filed with rels-
tives, friends and neighbors of the de-
ceased. The floral tributes were numerous
and beautiful.
Rev. Mr.. Wilson did not deliver fu-
neral discourse after the old-time fashion,
but spoke right out and simply the
thoughts which the occasion drew forth.
He said that it was at considerable incon-
venience that he left Boston to conduct
these services, but that when he heard of
the death of his friend, Capt Desisles, and
he rfFy a,a+a ot he ~
sad rites he realized that, whatever the
OBTAINING circumstances might be, his
place was here in Lamoine with the
mourning community.
snow that he was here" he said, "he
had rather sit silent with all who
mourned, and mediate upon the worth of
the man whom death had removed, and
than to officiste as minister. Yet there
was much to be said, much that should be
said. "Capt. Desisles was among the best
of that generation OF fine, upright and
sturdy New England men and women who
are so swiftly passing away. Their
simple, guileless lives, frank, direct and
truthful, were typified in him. He was
oAtS pohEb. LAdCDSHdSass AtdikCes III tAc
expression of his opinions. No man, what
ever his wealth or position, could look him
down. His manliness was a constant
quality. He hated above all things hy-
pocrisy; shams in politics, social life and
religion wera his abomination. Sincere
be was all through. and upon sincerity Of
thought and feeling was built his religion.
al,er,nr ~ ir,,o md nc
his stay in his sutferings and in the ap-
proach of death. Loyal he was, and to
friend and neighbor rendered untiring
and unselfish services.
1.-The strong qualities OF his character
were not limited in their exercise to his
native town. They were conspicuous over
a wide field. In the southern waters of
Cuba, Key West and Florida he performed
important services. There during the
Civil war he was known as one of the
most efficient captains to whom were in
trusted the work of sailing captured
blockade runners to New York and other
ports for final disposal. Countless were
the ships and of all classes that he navi-
gated to their destination. His swift
Judgment, his skill and his daring were
notable among the men of his calling, and
carried him through without single dis
aster. Later he was employed on the
James River transports service. Here
within range of the enemies guns, his re-
sourcefulness and daring were put to q
still greater test.
''From all this exciting and exacting
service Capt. Desisles returned to his native
village. What drew him back it would be
hard to tell; perhaps love of the old home.
He might have remained South in COM
handing positions. But whatever the
duty that fell to his lot, whether plough
ing the high seas or ploughing the ances-
trail acres, he did all patiently for the most
part, impatiently at times, but thoroughly.
No matter what the work, great or small,
in its Performance he played the part of q
man."
At the end of his address, Mr.. Wilson
held up small book. sits title" he said,
sis Captain Israel the Hopeful 1t was
written by the Rev. Albert Walkley, of
Boston, and the Captain Israel who is the
subject OF it is really Captain Samuel
Desisles. The Rev. Mr.. Walkley knew
Capt. Desisles. They were fond OF each
other. There is as much of the minister
in the book as of the captain. This, said
the Rev. Mr.. Wilson, was disappoint-
ment. He would liked to have seen in it
more about the captain. But how elo-
quent was the compliment paid the captain
that there should be found in him the
embodiment of some OF the minister's
highest idealsln
The speaker read some extracts from the
book, and closed with these lines which
were written by the Rev. Mr.. Walkley:
'sThis is the captains last voyage.
He commands new ship.
II is the sea of life on which he sails.
The ship is laden, hold and decks, with Hope.
There is abundance for any harbor into
which he may enter"
1t was while Capt. Desisles was in the
southern seas that he met the lady who
became his wife--sgood aunt Mary lane -