Page 28. MAINE COASTAL NEWS January 2009
Maritime History:
Various Articles from the 1800s
By Jon B. Johansen * * * * * them to Bremen, Germany. Captain Lowell pumps. That afternoon there was from two to
The following is a variety of newspaper 23 September 1899 – One of the most said that they could have last only a few three feet of water in the hold.
articles from the Bangor Daily Commercial common visitors at the Port of Bangor is the hours more. He also added that the previous “At 6 o’clock that night the foregaff and
from 1893 to 1903. Italian bark VEGA, Captain Porzio. She had accounts were not accurate. foresail went. The wind was southeast by
1 February 1893 – The Portland schoo- spent almost a fortnight at Fort Point, before The WILLIAM H. CARD was owned by east and was blowing a gale. I headed straight
ner BERTHA WARNER, Captain George heading up river to unload her cargo of salt Frank H. Arey of North Bucksport. She de- out to sea under a reefed jib. We ran for 36
Locke, was going from Barbados to St. Jago at High Head. She will then load fruit boxes parted Bangor with a cargo of lumber for E. K. hours and then the wind died down. It was
and discovered a man adrift in a yawl boat 175 for her return voyage. The mate of the VEGA Greer, Wareham, MA on 5 November. Cap- perfectly calm but the sea was terrific. I
miles from the nearest land. He was a Russian is Captain Porzio’s brother, who is 20 years tain Lowell said, “We left Bangor about 10 managed to patch up the gaff and foresail and
Finn that had departed a German bark by older. He was the former master, but he got o’clock in the morning with a tug. My wife at 1 o’clock we sucked out for the shore. A
jumping into the yawl boat to escape nine sick and was replaced by his brother. When and 11 year old daughter were with me and little later we sighted the steamer ARKAN-
days previous. He had just a flying fish and he was healthy again he assumed the mate’s the crew was composed of Chester A. Varnum SAS. The CARD’s colors were hoisted, union
a few drops of rain as his only nourishment. position. Over the career of the VEGA it has the mate, and three men. My wife had been down, and I set the signal. In distress for want
* * * * * been thought several times that she was lost, shipwrecked three times before I married her, of water.’ The ARKANSAS ran down to-
4 April 1896 – The following is some only to appear later. One time she took 108 but she wasn’t looking for anything of that wards us, lowered a boat and brought us two
additional shipbuilding history. The first days to cross the Atlantic. sort on this voyage. We got down to Fort barrels.”
known vessel built at Belfast was the JENNY * * * * * Point about noon and filled away from the tug At 4 o’clock in the morning a northwest
MILLER, which was built by Robert and 29 September 1899 – The bark HARRY for Rockland, reaching there that night. In the gale struck the schooner and blew for eight
James Miller and launched on 26 October MERRYDAY, Captain James, was making a morning we started out with a light northeast days. Captain Lowell headed the schooner
1793. passage from Jacksonville to New York. On wind and made Seal Harbor at Muscle Ridge southwest, at times with just ten feet of jib or
The first vessel built on Islesboro, at the 21 September they sighted the wreck of the that night. bare poles, heading back out to sea. At the
time known as Long Island, was the WILL- schooner HERALD OF THE MORNING, “The next morning we started out about end of eight days the wind died down, but the
IAM, which was built by the Pendleton Broth- which was going from Bermuda to Jackson- 8 o’clock with a light north-northwest which seas were running high. This calm last two
ers in 1792. ville. As they neared the wreck they were able shifted to southwest about 11 o’clock. We days and they worked their way back to-
The first vessel built in Orrington, was to see that there was a person at the mast ran for Boothbay Harbor under a light wind wards shore. Again the wind rose and the
constructed by Captain Samuel Bartlett at head, who they took off by boat. He was until 8 o’clock that night. It was about then schooner began breaking up. The first to go
Bartlett’s Cove, just above Bald Hill. Captain Horace Wellman, 15 years old, of Hamilton, that the squall struck us. I headed south was the mainmast steps followed by the jib
Bartlett and his ship SALLY, was detained in Bermuda. He was exhausted and could only southwest and tried to make Boothbay har- stays parting and if this was not enough she
France during the French Revolution from say that his shipmates were missing. He said bor in two tacks. We had single reefed every- started leaking badly. It then got worse. They
1794 to 1796. that the bark capsized six days out of Ber- thing but couldn’t make it and at 11 o’clock could not light a fire so the interior of the
* * * * * muda. She remained on beams end and gradu- were still running south southwest with a schooner was as wet inside as out. The
21 September 1899 – The 1,172 ton schoo- ally settled upright with just her mast sticking double reefed mainsail and a single reef in captain’s wife and daughter stayed in their
ner MARY T. QUIMBY, named for the daugh- out of the water. both foresail and jib. cabin, which was extremely cold and wet. All
ter of Dr. A. S. Thayer of Portland, was The 198-ton HARRY MERRYDAY was “It was about 4 o’clock the next morning the food had been soaked with salt water and
launched from the yard of Washburn Broth- built at Bath in 1890 and presently hailed from that my wheel gave way and my steering gear the only food available was a few cans of
ers at Thomaston. She is modeled after the Brooklin. went to pieces. Almost at the same instant my meat. As time passed the food was gone and
JOHN B. HAYNES, which recently departed * * * * * mainsail split and I commenced to realize that they began to grow weaker and weaker.
Port Tampa, FL with a cargo of phosphate for 23 November 1901 – Captain Frank H. we were in a pretty bad way. I fixed up the On the evening of 23 November the
Baltimore and to date has not been heard Lowell, his wife and 11 year old daughter wheel as best I could but by 10 o’clock in the captain and his daughter walked the deck as
from. The dimensions of the MARY T. were rescued from the 124 ton two masted forenoon most of our deck load had gone. An he tried to reassure her that everything would
QUIMBY are length 185 feet; beam 41 feet schooner WILLIAM H. CARD by the North hour later we had lost it all. We commenced be fine. Awhile later the captain was on deck
and depth 19 feet. German Lloyd liner FRANKFORT, who took leaking badly and I sent all hands to the with the mate and they sighted lights two
Help Save this 102 Year old former Reading Railroad Tug
Donations are tax-deductible
We have moved to Brewer where she will spend the winter and have some minor work done at Kustom Steel. Sitting in pure fresh water is
a plus, little to no electrolysis. Plans are also being developed for next summer and what we can do to get her up and running. We need your help!
SATURN is a 117-foot railroad tug built for the Reading Railroad in 1907. She is one of the last railroad tugs in existence and should be saved
for future generations to enjoy. For further information : (207) 223-8846 or make out check to: Friends of SATURN, P.O. Box 710, Winterport,
ME 04496.
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