Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-17
VETERAN GUIDE OF
MERRYMEET|NC BAY
Samuel O. Ward, Aged 81 Years,
Falls and Breaks Leg-For
Years He Was Guide for Duck
Hunters-Liked Old-time Guns
the Best

Samuel O. Ward. 81 years Of age. who
has been troubled for some time with a
lame leg. recently fell. fracturing his hip
on the hardwood floor of his kitchen The
doctor believes that the patients age is
against renewal of the fractured bone.
Mr.. Ward is the oldest son Of the late
Charles Ward, who was one of the noted
guides on Merrymeeting bay. entertaining
such men as the late General Paine OF
Boston in the old times when few gun
ners were after the birds on the bay. the
general stopping at the Ward homestead,
near Wards cove on the eastern shore
Of the bay.
From his father the son. "Sam,' as he
is best known TO Bath sportsmen. in
herited a love of hunting and became
noted guide and good shot on his own
account. being the first guide to be given
the title of king of Merrymeeting Bay
With the old muzzle-loading cannon"
which had been presented his father by
General Paine, Sam Ward has brought
down probably more geese and ducks
than any other guide or sportsman on
Merrymeeting bay. He keenly enjoyed
ing others up to the birds. the best man
in cunning float perhaps who ever
sculled in the bay. Until a dozen years
ago this great Eimrod was on the bay
every spring and fall and his services
were in great demand by duck hunters
seeking Merrymeetng during the open
seasons OF late years his age and his
rheumatism have prevented such sport
and work for the old king"
Sam" Ward had little love for pump
guns as they came in, and whenever
the king would blame either the TOY
guns or the "good-for- nothing modern
POWDER
He always preferred his patrons
using the odd cannon as he called
the Paine doublebarrel shot gun, when
firing into flock and then would al
low the man in the bow to use his
modern weapon in diSpoSng of the
"cripples" left on the surface Of the
Bay after the smoke of the black pow
der cleared away. The writer recalled
many split fingers and calloused ones
caused by the use. by tenderfeets, of
TIE DIS cillc gun It's iCootAtS 'Ai
these sunny days of September and
the brown ones of October with the
thatch first green and then ripenlnS in
the frosts of autumn a golden brown,
with the birds plenty on the feeding
grounds and before the thrush of late
years Of men and boys. with the per
ricious pump guns. every morning at
the crack o. day Sam Wards float
might ge seen pushing through the
thatch and wild oats, or sent SKIM
mingly toward flocks of ducks or divers
in the open water and with the spicy
sun settings returning with boat load
of feathered game birds for future
roval feasts. That vas before the
ducks became college larnt'' to use
one of King Sans farorite expressions
During the dinner hours at midday on
Brick Island or Pleasant Point. no
stories of duck shooting or legends OF
Bay that were told were
so interesting as those of the King S.
All the duck hunters agree that IN
those days. the days of the prime OF
King Sam and his brother Charles. !
Fred Willis and William Freeman, OF
Cush, his son. and the rest of those '
hearty, strong-armed and merry
guides, they passed the happiest days
&C their lives on Beautiful Merrymeet-
ing Bay.
All extend their sympathy to the
King in his old age and latest trouble +
and hope that he may get the better
of his painful accident.