The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-10-01
A REMINISCENCF.
OF the Personal Experience of the Editor
of the Marine Journal.

Gordon Bennett. the owner of the New
York Herald, Evening Telegram, ana
Paris edition of the Herald. and my
mental desire to congratulate MN
through our intimate acquaintance with
and admiration for the Herald, the great
est and most reliable ship newspaper IN
the United States, which began in the
fall of 1850 and has continued up-to- date,
is nv reason for making pub ic the fol-
It was in October of that year that my
father, George D. Norton, then master
of the brig Adeline, bound to Arecloo,
Porto Rico, sent me to the Herald office,
located on the corner OF Fulton ana
Nassau Streets, to get file OF papers
and some printed blanks which all ship
masters were supplied with upon appll-
cation, being requested to I'LL them out
under the proper headings with such &C.
currences that came under the masters
observation during the voyage that
would be of interest to the Heralo 8
readers, and forwarded to it upon the
return of the vessel to:the United States,
as there were no cables or steamers
running to West Indian ports IN those
days.
Long before our parent was due back
to this, his home port, we would search
the Herald daily for the report OF ships
"below," as this paper had ship news
service in the lower bay that spoke
every vessel inward bound, ascertalnea
her name, where from, and number OF
days' passage, which appeared in its
next issue. The first news received from
the Adeline since her departure appeared
in the Herald New Years Day, 1851, as
follows: "Below-Brig Adeline. Norton,
twenty-five days from Arecibo. F: T.,
West Indies," and on January Is, 1851,
the New York Herald printed the follow
ing in connection with this voyage under
the headline of marine Affairs':
presentation During the month OF
December last past, the port of Areclbo,
Porto Rico, was visited by very violent
hurricane, during which the schooner
John Hancock was totally lost, having
dragged her anchors and gone ashore on
the rocks in the harbor. The brig AIDE
line, Capt. George D. Norton, was also
at anchor in the bay, and was IN lmml-
nent peril of also going ashore. Capt.
Norton, with courage rarely met with
in scenes of such peril, slipped his chains
and went to sea in the face OF the hurrl-
cane, barely clearing the breakers as ne
stood out of the harpor, thus saving his
vessel and cargo, valued and insured in
Wall Street for about $50, 900. In con-
sideration of the services thus rendered
by himself and crew, the following in
surance companies presented Capt. Nor
ton Yesterday morning with very
valuable chronometer, inscribed as fol-
lows: Presented by the Mercantile
Mutual Insurance Company OF New
York, and the Nashville Insurance and
Trust Company of Nashville, Tenn, to
Capt. George D. Norton for meritorious
services in saving the brig Adellne and
her cargo during a hurricane near Are
cibo, Porto Rico, in December, 1850.
New York, January 13, 1851.
The Adeline, alas! was saved from
wreck on this occasion to become later
sepulcher for all hands on her next
voyage. Leaving this port in ballast for
Charleston, S. c., in the winter OF 1851,
10 load for a West India port, she
foundered, where and when was never
learned. Nearly twenty years after this
sad loss of father who had impressed
upon my mind that there was no occupa-
ton for penniless youth that would
bring successful results quicker, II 1t
was in him, than that of sailor, the
writer, with the aid of efficient officers
and crew, successfully combatted fire
at sea. And here again we were indebt-
ed to the New YORK Herald of August
10, 1869, for the following report of what
came near being a serious disaster to the
writer A brief account follows:
MERIToRIoUs CONDUCT HANDSOMELY RE-
WARDED.
The steamship United States, Capt.
George L. Norton, of the Merchants
Line, on her passage from New York to
New Orleans, July 10, 1869, was discov-
cred to be on fire Capt. Norton order
ed the after hatch off the smoke was
Increasing fast-when on removing a
portion Of the cargo over the hatch
most fearful explosion took place. blow
ing off the matches and throwing the
men in all directions, and filling the be-
tween decks with the densest smoke
Capt. Norton felt this to be the most
critical moment, and with great bravery
and promptness, taking the hose, he
leaped into this darkness and fortunate
ly directed the stream of water onto the
fire. In less than thirty minutes the fire
was eXtinguisheG and the vessel resum-
ed her course. Thus, by the timely,
courageous and gallant conduct of Capt.
Norton fine ship, valuable cargo, and
perhaps many lives were Sdfeu. III
view of this the underwriters in New
York and New Orleans had prepared for
and presented to Capt. Norton beauti-
full gold chronometer watch of most per-
feet workmanship, heavy gold chain
made after the pattern of the best bow
er cabe-with large gold anchor and
stock attached. The watch bears this
inscription: "Presented by the Boards of
Underwriters of New York and New Or
leans and all others interested to Capt.
George L. Norton of the steamship
United States, for promptness, skill and
bravery in extinguishing fire on board
that vessel July IA. 1862" Accompany
ing this testimonial was an exceedingly |
flattering letter bearing the individual
signature of the presiding officer of each
insurance company. Capt. Norton also
received very complimentary letter of
commentator from the American Ship
masters Association.
In 1899 the opportunity to serve the
Herald and its proprietor personally |
came to us, and it was a most pleasur-
able experience. The Marine Journal
had been in existence twenty-o one years
and during that time the Herald had
given it many boost into prominence
until our Indebtedness in favors had as
sumed large proportions. This is how
we reduced the debt little. 1t will be
remembered by many of our readers who
were our guests that the writer chartered
tho twin ccrou staapchin ia Grondo