Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-09-30
FIRST THROUGH CANAL.
Former Hancock County Man Guided
First Commercial Steamship.
Written for THE AMERICAN by Rev. H. w.
~ Norton, Of Newport.1

L
Norton, Of Newport
Probably few Of your readers know that
the captain who on the 18th OF last
August navigsted the first commercial
steamship through the famous Panama
canal in such a successful manner, was a
man from the Pine Tree State, and that
many Of his boyhood days were passed in
Hancock county.
| Captain Gardner e. Sukeforth, the man
in question, was born in Washington,
Knox county, Maine, and early in life
came to live in the home of Capt. William
Eastman on the farm afterward owned by
the late Hon. N. f. Norton in South Pc
| nohscot.
When only thirteen years Of age, young
Sukeforth began his sea-going career with
Capt. johnson Grindle, of Sargentville, in
the coasting schooner Polly and Clarissy.
| When fifteen he began going in square
riggers'', his first voyage being made
| in the bark Gertrude, OF Portland. From
that time till he was thirty years old, he
was on shipboerd about all the time, sail
ing in large ships on all oceans, complet-
| ing his career on sailing vessels as first
| officer Of ship Cyrus Wakefield, of
Thomeston.
In 1888 he began what has proved very
successful career in steam navigation,
running from San Francisco to Japan and
China. In 1885 he came to New York and
entered the employ OF the Red d line OF
Boulton, Bliss & Dallett, running between
Nax.v V~vlr ~
as others he was eminently successful.
| In 1896 he entered the service Of the
Panama Railroad & Steamship line, and
has continued with that company to the
present. He has been in command of all
| their steamers, and five years ago was
promoted as captain OF the largest steamer
OF that line, the now historic Ancon, a
10000 ton ship, which under the skillful
direction OF Captain Sukeforth made the
first round trip from ocean to ocean by
way of the canal.
| The following is clipped from one of the
daily papers Of the Canal Zone: 'The
Ancon left her berth at Cristobal at Z
o'clock this morning, Aug. 10, and made
her way to the end of the deep water
1
locks. She went through these locks,
which have a lift of eighty-five feet, in
seventy minutes. She continued through
the waterway from deep water on the
Atlantic to deep water on the Pacific side
without incident, reaching Balboa at A
p. m. and having navigated the canal in
nine hours.
''The decks OF the Ancon were crowded
with guests of the government, and Off
Gals OF the canal administration and the
republic Of Panama. The party included
Colonel Goethals, President Porras, Of
Panama, and Captain Hugh Rodman, U.
S. N, superintendent Of transportation.
"The flag OF the American Peace society
fiuttered from the foremost Of the Ancon.
Beneath her decks, however, were two
huge pieces of artillery, which are
destined to form an important part in the
defense of the waterway.
| "All the seventy four officers and men
aboard the Ancon appeared in spotless
white uniforms, and the ship itself
| glistened with new paint, over which
futtered signal flags and the ensigns of
all nations.
"lnvitations to be guests on this first
trip had been much coveted, and the rails
were lined with local canal officials, and
those Of the Panama republic, together
with their ladies, as the big steamer
backed away from her berth. Colonel
Goethals was on the bridge beside Captain
Sukeforth, of the steamer. The Panama
National band and the regimental band of
the 18th U. 8. infantry played THE Star
Spangled Banner as the ship started, but
the music was almost drowned by the
whistles Of the steamers in the harbor.
San traffic, including the working
boats in the Culebra cut, was brought to
standstill for the Ancon's passage, and
several thousand canal workers enjoyed q
holiday. With villagers Of all types from
the surrounding territory, they lined the
banks at various vantage points. The
Ancon was fully loaded with cargo she
brought from New York"
| Captain Sukeforth, in letter to the
writer of this article, says: 1.-THE dream Of
| Ferdinand and Isabella is at last realized,
and the search for short passage to India
has been realized, found by American
brains and gold, and l tell you honestly
that 1 was proud to take the first steam
ship from ocean to ocean with no help or
advice from anyone. No power was used
but the ships own, no order given but by
me during the entire passage.
''It is the most difficult piece of naviga-
ton in the world to-day. 1t was sailors
job, all right, and / did it, but do not
think that went at it blindly. l had a
blue print of the lake and cuts. l had
| studied he turns, and l know my ship.
suppose that it will go down in history
| that it was a Maine man who took the
| first large ship from deep water in
the Atlantic ocean to deep water In the
| Pacific ocean in nine hours and twenty
five minutes, and never made mistake"