Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-03
Maine Gossip
The Sea.Eiqht Today.

The Sea-Fight Today.
Oon G seitz in n. Y. World.l
Gone are the ways of the well-fought
And Of pike and cutlass free.
Where s.d the muzzles meet in the fighting
Broadside on the rolling sea!
Yard;arm and yard-arm no more inter-
| lock
In the grip Of the ocean fray,
For the sea dogs bark at their distan,
| mark
| Two leagues and half away.
No glory here in the long-range reach,
No Blake or Nelson's fame
But screeching yells of lyddite shells
| And death In their yellow flame!
Charles G.. Pinkham, Boothbay
produce and poultry man, was dis
playing a web-footed rooster while
on his last weeks trip to town. The
rooster had two toes on each foot
almost completely webbed. 1t is not
recorded that the bird was ever
swimmer.
| Henry ]. Hosmer Of Bangor has
given to the Historical society a
necktie slide made in Libby prison
from an uncooked beef bone, by
means of an OLD file and case knife
by German engraver formerly in
the United States mint. The engraver
was taken prisoner at Balls Bluff,
Va. Oct 81, 1861, and gave this SOU
venir to his fellow prisoner, Mr.. Hos
mer. Christmas, 1861. Also a. ring
made from a cooked beef bone in
Libby prison by a prisoner This, too,
was a Christmas present to Mr.. Hos
mer in 1861.
When the rush for the gold fields of
California commenced in 40 three
brothers from this city, says the Port
land Argus. Alonzo, George and Philip
Simmons. were amongst the first to
start. The first two have died some
time since: the latter passed away
but four years ago in Pasadena, Cal,
reputed to be worth 100000 or con-
s!derably more. Philip Simmons was
brother to Mrs. Pamela West, who
now lives with her daughter, Mrs.
James York Of South Portland, and
who is the mother Of Mayor Charles
E. West Of that city. Several weeks
ago Mayor West went to California
to represent his mother at the set
Ting Of the estate. He has just re-
turned, hut in reply to inquiries sun
day night he refused either to deny
or confirm the rumor that the estate
left by his uncle Philip Simmons was
worth upwards OF 100000. He said
however, that part Of the estate was
divided amongst over 80 cousins. Perry
E. Simmons of As William street, who
| is also a nephew of the late Philip
Simmons, accompanied his cousin,
Mayor West, on the trip to California
to look after his interests in the es-
tate.
The Methodists of the Plummer
neighborhocd, South Auburn, who lost
their church by fire last Thursday
evening, are not discouraged. but have
pluckily decided to build place Of
worship on the site of the old church
and work on the chapel will be start
ed in the spring.
Water from the MaXfield Crossing
springs has been turned into the
mains at Calais, much to the salts
faction of the users, who have been
afraid of the st. Croix river water
which they have been using for some
time. 1t was pronounced unfit for do
nestle purposes and every bit had
TO he boiled before using.
| Nelson Carnage of the Summit House
has a store of old-time stories and leg
ends at his command says the South
Bristol correspondent of the Damaris-
Gotta Herald. One of these which re-
Gently came to your correspondents no.
tice concerns the naming OF the ledge
to the east Of Gem Island. known as the
Corvette" This name has it's origin
in the reputed incident of the struggle
between the British and the French for
the possession of the Notifications at
Pemaquid. A British sloop was pursued
by a French corvette a much larger and
more powerful craft. The canny captain
Of the British vessel estimating shrewd-
ly the draught of the two vessels with
his knowledge of the depth of the water
in the vicinity of this ledge craftily led
the pursuer in this direction and safely
scraping across the shallow places lured
his enemy grounding on the rocks
while he escaped. From that time this
reef and shoal has been known as THE
Corvette
One of the best collections of auto
graphs in the State of Maine is that
of Edward Corning of Bangor, says the
Commercial, who has been interested
in this hobby for years, and who has
obtained many signatures of the IA
nous men Of the 18th century. Part
of his collection is now on exhibit in
the cases Of the Bangor Historical So
ciety in connection with the display of
historical material relating to the war
Of 1872. of which the Tooth anniversa-
ry of the close has just been observed.
Daniel Webster, the great American
statesman, is included in the collec-
ton, mis- autograph being signed to q
document regarding the counting Of
votes in Congress, in which the name
Of John Quincy Adams is seen. While
not a graceful hand by any means, the
Webster writing is legible and the pa
per is an interesting souvenir Of the
orator. Other signatures are those of
Aaron Burr, Washington Irving, Mrs.
| Hnn11uv Madison 1y,ifn of Dvoc