Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-13
AT DAMARIScOvE
Visit to Island and Coast Guard Station
Was Delightful
(Boothbay Register, Sept. 2Sl

The first call the writer mas made
at Damariscove Island in seventeen
years came this week and was a truly
delightful one. In Claude Foss'
small boat the trip to the ISLAM was
made in an hour. There Coast
Guardsman Austin Snowman took
the party in his larger boat and pilot
ed them to the ff.hing gropods, where
fair catch Of pollock and cod was
made before noon and the return to
Damarscove.
The visit to this extraordinary
island with its pretty little. but deep
harbor, and it's splendid life Saving
station was a delight. Once before.
when the writer was in college, he
had the pleasure of a visit to this is
land as the guest Of Capt. Greenlaw.
then the milk dealer at Squirrel Island.
The station and the big farmhouse
were both very interesting and the
delicious lobster, clans and corn with
all the other things made dinner not
ever to be forgotten. Capt. Greenlaw
has long gone but the big farm is
operated by Poole Brothers. who raise
a great deal Of produce. besides keep
ing a herd of over 80 cows and lot OF
sheep The milk produced is chiefly
supplied TO the Squirrels in the sum-
mer and for the rest Of the year goes
into great supplies Of delicious butter.
This visit we were the guests OF
Capt. w H. Godfrey and his crew
at the Coast Guard Station for the
captain and all the boys insisted that
we come ashore and try the green
beans. AZ we suspected, there was
a great deal more than green beans
on the big table at which the men
eat. The men at the station may
get lonesome at times. especially IN
the bitter cold winter days, but al
ways they are we'll supplied with
provisions and never likely to be
starved The dishes are heaped
high with the good things we'll
cooked, even if by the hands OF
man. And the boys are always IN
appetite for they live much in the
omen. on watch for their regular
periods and fishing or working about
their traps. boats or something else
when at liberty There is of course
a certain routine at the station
splendidly well maintained under Capt.
Godfrey, and comprising drills and
WHJCneS, UuL liiS iihN 40 heAAA O-'
and the men are so agreeable! 1t is
,,wavs n1easant. The station is a
we'll built structure and we'll equipped.
The modern self-bailing power Aia
boat Abuilt from designs by our own
summer visitor, Capt. Charles H. NC
Lellan, makes the drills and the ac-
tual rescue work easier and more c1-
fcient. Men are stationed on watch
day and night at vantage points on
the island and everything Is noted. III
good weather there is not much can
for rescue work. but let one terrible
storm sweep our coast and these men
might be the means Of saving many
lives and a great deal of valuable
vessel property and cargoes. They
could and would do it at great DAN
ger to their lives and possible
sacrifice, for they are men picked
from the best and trained to the
finest Of discipline.
Now that war Is on the coast guards
men receive no summer vacation leave
hut must be ON hand every day. "
course they have their liberty Gays
inst as in the regular period, but
now always some Of the men are on
watch. Capt. Godfrey is kept CLOSELY
10 the island. for he must report
bv telephone four times a day to the
government offices.
The new telephone line is great
safeguard to our coast and real
comfort to the men at the station
and the people Of the island. In case
Of necessity 1t could be used. we be-
lieve. 10 get into quick connection
with our village and thence all the
mainland. It's presence on the Island
gives added comfort and security.
During the spring, summer ana
fall the island Is visited by many
bcaAing rartios. and at times all the
houses are we'll filled. In the fishing
season manv'visit the island on their
wav in or out to the fishing grounds
II is always a dehehtfnl SPOT on our
coast. except perhaps. in the dead OF
winter. Then the guardsmen ana
wearing heavy clothing. heavy rub
her boots and handling frozen lines
and crawling over fey boats IN rough,
stormy, freezing weather trihe
morotonous. But these things are
mart Of their sacrifice to the public
safety and the boys are uncomplain-
ing