Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-03

-Four years Of spare time belong
ing to William Mathews of the Cony
road, bose carpenter at the Augusta
State Hospital. have not gone to
waste, for that time has been occu-
pied by MIR. Mathews in constructing
full rugged four-masted schooner,
miniature, feet three inches over
all and a 14-inch beam. The schoon-
err Is copy of one he saw in the
Machias shipyards, where he work
ed for many years. About $4,000
is the price that full sized craft of
that style would bring in the ship
market. The details of an honest
to goodness ship are carried out in
most particular method. Not Il
thing is forgotten in the construc-
ton and the rigging of this trim
little craft. She'll even sail
straight course, being so constructed,
and Mr.. Mathews is going to try her
out. some day next summer at Lake
Cobbosseecontee. At the present
time. the schooner. which by the
way, bears her name on her bow,
Dorothy NJ, is on exhibition at FL
field Bros. Co., where small boys
and small girls, as we'll gather about
and sigh and where older boys and
girls, with love for the ocean, also
look longingly at her and crave to
possess her.
Peekng and picking around and
wondering what that thing was for
and what was the name of that jig
ger and what that thinG-a-na bob
did, the reporter fell right into luck.
Friday morning. while investigating
the schooner model. Norman Dow,
who by the way is a member of
nf
there and looking over the boat with
much approval. Mr.. Dow has a Ii
censc as first class merchant for any
port in the world. For years Ae fol-
lowed the sea. His father was
master for many years and his
grandfather also was Seafaring
man. 1t was luck for the humble
scribe to be able to ask questions
and have them answered.
She, the Dorothy NJ, is framed
and planked like a regular schooner.
Lifting up a wee hatch cover. the
hold was revealed to look for AL the
world like a regular size one. Every
piece of the boat was made by hand
and the automatic steering gear in
sures straight course for her, when
she Is set into the water.
A small life boat swings from the
stern. The sails are all hand made,
being the handiwork of Mr.. Mathews
with the exception of one, which his
wife made. Otherwise than that.
every bit of it was made by Mr.. Ma
thews. Turn-buckles. small but eff
ficient, with true to use threads are
used and the pulleys are made of
cork, but exact copies of larger ones.
On the rigging. tiny and regular, are
the small side light boxes. The
chain plates, each in proper order
are fastened onto the hull. The
mast head, the spring stays, all are
there.
No crows nest graces the top of
the mast, as a schooner of that type
doesn't use them, so Mr.. Dow ex-
planned. The coach house and the
companionways are there and the
forecastle is also cleverly construct
ed. The matches, three in number,
opened, reveal the hold.
An anchor of the Rabbits stop
less variety. swings from the bow
of the boat. Tiny chaulks are in
their proper places and clets Tor the
head sails, also in proper proportion,
are in place. The tiny ratlines on
the riggings seem almost countless
in number and like dainty lattice
work in construction.
A regular sized boat of that make
would carry a mast at least 14o feet
high. All the romance of the sea
asserts itself in this wonderful lit
tie craft. Crouching down on your
heels and not needing the aches and
kinks that come from such a posi-
ton, one can almost picture tiny
figures, going about aver the boat.
A trim little captain, in a natty suit
of blue, n trig cap and bright brass
buttons, stands on the bridge, look
ing ahead. Perhaps the crew is
swabbing the deck, perhaps they are
having a short time of leisure and
are playing with the schooner's
mascot, every ship has them. The
Dorothy MS mascot will be a white
and silky goat, who knows the ropes
and who takes undue liberties with
everyone. He nibbles the mates
coat tails and he sucks the cooks
apron strings. He causes all sorts
of merriment for the crew. Maybe
the captains bride is taking this
trip with him and as she comes up
through the companionway, the soft
summer sea breeze blows her kinky
bobbed hair about. She losses 1t
back and a CLEAN of live light comes
into her pretty dark brown eyes as
she spies her captain brave. But. my
goodness, this isn't getting news for
the paper. SILVER my timbers. but
we're getting old. such a kink in our
knee, editorially speaking.
The Dorothy NJ. occupies goodly
portion of the space in Fif1eld Bros.
Co, display window and she has a
gay background of bright colors. She
is much to be admired and coveted.
Ship ahoy!