December 2009 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 21.
Maritime History:
Various News 1889
For those that have followed the couple enough not to expect me in, if they were out cargoes. In 1839, it opened January 28
th
. Maine, was 36 years old, and a few years ago
of history articles, which have been derived having the same kind of weather.” In the winter of 1841-42, the river was was on the government Rogers. Prior to that
from the pages of the Bath Daily Times for Captain Humphreys landed at St. Tho- closed only ninety-six days, closing Decem- time he was employed on a brig running
January 1889 it is easy to see the amount of mas, and the ship proceeded in; charge of first ber 1
st
and opening March 20
th
. The next between New York and Hayti.
incredible historical information these news- officer Clifford. During the whole passage winter, 1842-43, saw it closed one hundred * * * * * *
papers contain. Captain Humphreys was in very poor health. and forty-one days, from November 28
th
to A Thomaston Vessel.
* * * * * * On his arrival home he received the sad news April 19
th
. The winter of 1841-42 saw but Steamship ALAMEDA, just arrived at
THE MISFORTUNES OF TREAT. of the death of his mother. sixteen days of sleighing, while 1842-43 fur- San Francisco from Australia, brought Cap-
[Bangor Commercial.] * * * * * * nished one hundred and fourteen days. The tain Timothy Murphy and 19 of the crew of
Charles H. Treat, formerly of Frankfort, THE HYDE WINDLASS. winter of 1839-40 was a contrast to the two the American ship JOHN BRYCE, of
one of the candidates for United States Sena- What a Veteran Shipmaster Thinks of it. following, as the river was closed one hun- Thomaston, Maine, which sailed from Port
tor from Delaware, to whom we have previ- The powerful Hyde windlass, manufac- dred and three days with only sixteen days of Ludlow, Puget Sound, October 6
th
, with a
ously referred, has had a rather rocky finan- tured at the Bath Iron Works, has long since sleighing. cargo of lumber for Melbourne, Australia, but
cial experience. He was formerly a member of established its reputation among sea cap- * * * * * * was waterlogged in the hurricane of Decem-
the firm of Treat, Lang & Co., who were tains and shipowners as a most satisfactory A RICHMOND MATE MISSING. ber 6, and was abandoned about 800 miles
extremely in manufactures and in foreign and and durable machine, but the following letter New London, Connecticut, January 19. – east of Jamaica Islands. One man was lost
domestic trade in Bath. The firm went down from Capt. O. St. John, of Norwalk, Connecti- E. H. Cooper, mate of the lighthouse steamer overboard and the remainder of the crew
in the terrible panic of 1873. Every partner cut, coming as it does from a man whose long CATCUS, is missing from that vessel, and proceeded in open boats to the islands,
surrendered every dollar he had; and more experience among vessels qualifies him to there is good reason for believing that he has where they arrived after being out eleven
than that, when it was ascertained that speak with authority on these matters, will be been drowned. The CATCUS is in Winthrop days and nights. The second and third mates
$42,000 of unsecured debts remained unsat- read with especial pleasure by every friend of Cove awaiting repairs. Cooper was aboard and the steward remained at Apia when the
isfied, each partner made a settlement by the “shipping city:” – East Norwalk, Con- and in his berth Wednesday at midnight, but others left on the ALAMEDA.
giving his individual notes for one-third of necticut, January 14, 1889. Thursday morning at 7 o’clock he had disap- * * * * * *
the amount. These notes were never paid in Mr. Thomas W. Hyde: peared, leaving a light burning. His watch, MARINE NOTES.
full by any partner, but when settlements Dear Sir: - I have used three of your chain, rings, etc., were in the place where he The new four-masted schooner
were ever made, the creditors accepted a windlasses. The first one was on the schoo- usually deposit them, and his clothing was DOUGLASS DEARBORN, built by A. Sewall
compromise payment. Mr. Treat subse- ner W. H. JORDAN, from which we took a also in his room. A pair of slippers, a pair of & Co., by whom she is owned, is loading at
quently went into bankruptcy in Delaware. Providence windlass, which was not satis- old trousers, and a coat are missing. He prob- Boston by Sydney, N. S. W. According to the
There seems to be no end to his grit, however. factory; the second on the schooner EVA L. ably arose in his sleep and walked overboard
* * * * * * FERRIS, built at Newburyport in 1881, and the from the vessel. He belonged in Richmond,
Continued on Page 22.
Rough Passage of Ship B. P. CHENEY. third on the MINNIE ROWEN, Capt. C. C. St.
A Brunswick Captain Rescues a Crew John, built by Smith & Townsend in 1854, in
from an English Bark. which I am an owner. I take pleasure in saying New England Fiberglass Company
Captain Humphreys, of the Bath ship B. that they have all given me perfect satisfac-
P. CHENEY, arrived home from St. Thomas tion, and I shall have another on the vessel I
last Wednesday. He left his ship in St. Tho- am about to build. I have given them hard
Yacht Repair/Restorations
mas on account of his health, and came home trials and I believe there is no better windlass
by steamer. We obtained from him a brief afloat. Truly Yours, O. St. John.
account of the passage, about which, a few * * * * * *
58 Fore Street, Portland, ME 04101
weeks ago, everybody was interested and BROKE ADRIFT.
(207) 773-3537 Phone (207) 874-7926 Fax
worried. He said, “We were loaded with Several Thousand Dollars’ Worth of
www.nefiberglass.com email: newenglandfibe@conversent.net
hemp; was 83 days out from Angier, and on Spars Afloat.
the 20
th
of November it commenced blowing The big boom of ships’ spars of Oregon
a heavy northeast gale at one o’clock; it then pine in the dock next south of the Maine
increased to a hurricane; took the hurricane Central wharf, was broken about eleven
Saturday night at 12 o’clock. I was fifty miles o’clock this forenoon, by the high wind that
PAUL E. LUKE, INC.
east of Hatteras. It was blowing a steady gale prevailed at that honr. There were three hun-
on the morning of the 27
th
from the northwest; dred spars in the boom, some of them valued Fireplaces - Automatic Feathering Propellors - 3-Piece Storm Anchors
rescued the crew of the English bark SHEILA, at $300 apiece.
which was bound from Rio Janeiro to Norfolk; When the break was discovered nearly
Full Service Boat Yard
she was light. There were fifteen men and one hundred of the spars had already drifted
15 Luke's Gulch, East Boothbay, Maine 04544
officers and captain and wife and little boy. out by the end of the Maine Central wharf,
TEL. (207) 633-4971 A. Franklin Luke FAX: (207) 633-3388
The SHEILA was about 1,000 tons; the cap- into the river, and were set up past the
tain said he was within two or twelve miles off wharves by the stormy current and southerly
Cape Henry, when the gale struck him. When wind. The whole boom was fast moving out
the crew was taken off, the vessel was 125 of the dock when it was discovered that a
RALPH STANLEY, INC.
miles east southeast of Hatteras. The bark break had occurred.
WOODEN BOATS
was dismasted, rudder gone and seven feet of The owners of the spars, A. Sewall &
for work and pleasure
water in the hold. The crew were all played Company, were at once notified. Steps were
out. immediately taken to arrest further progress
Captain Humphreys was all day taking of the spars towards the river by a temporary
CUSTOM-MADE
the crew off. Set her on fire and the last I saw boom of two logs place across the foot of the
INDIVIDUALLY DESIGNED
of her was at eight o’clock that night. After dock. Before this was done at least one third
laying off the coast twelve days and not of the logs had gone beyond the end of the
Southwest Harbor, Maine 04679 (207) 244-3795
seeing a vessel or steamer of any description, wharves. To pick up the spars with small
the provisions got low and the crew were boats was impossible at the time of the break,
pretty badly used up. So I started for Ber- owing to the high wind, and heavy sea on the MAINE COAST LUMBER, INC.
muda, but couldn’t get in, owing to heavy river. When the wind abated this afternoon
westerly gales. Never saw a vessel until the boats were put out after the spars adrift, and
day before arriving in St. Thomas, the 19
th
of at two o’clock it was expected that they would 4 Warren Ave.
17 White Birch Lane
December. We had thirty-five people aboard be recovered before nightfall. Westbrook, ME 04902
York, ME 03909
for twenty-one days. * * * * * *
(207) 856-6015
(207) 363-7426
“It was a severe storm and since I have THE KENNEBEC’S RECORD.
(877) 408-4751
(800) 899-1664
been going to sea, I have never seen it blow [Lewiston Journal.]
Fax (207) 856-6971
Fax (207) 363-8650
M-F 7:30am-4:00pm
so hard for such a long time. During the storm In 1700, the Kennebec did not close till M-F 7am-5pm
Saturday 8am-12pm
I had no anxiety for the ship, the yards and January 5
th
. In 1806, it closed during the same
masts being new inside of five years. For 12 month. Again, in 1808, it opened January 25
th
,
days after the 27
th
I tried to get in but the ship after a solid freeze, closed once more and
was so crank I couldn’t. It was only for six finally opened March 29
th
. In 1826, it opened
*HARDWOOD LUMBER*SOFTWOOD LUMBER*
hours that I could carry any sail. January 1
st
. In 1827, the river had a series of
*HARDWOOD PLYWOODS*MELAMINE*MDF*MARINE
“When I asked the steamer to report me freezing spells, closing November 10
th
, 24
th
PLYWOODS*MDO*PARTICLE BOARD*SLATWALL*LAMINATE*
*EDGE BANDING*VENEER*HARDWOOD MOLDINGS*
all well, I expected to be in Boston in a few and December 7
th
. 1829 was another year of
*CUSTOM MILLING*DOVETAILED DRAWER BOXES
days. I spoke the steamer at nine o’clock and freaks, November 27
th
, December 3d and 17
th
,
at one the gale struck me and for twenty days being the dates of closing. In 1830, it closed
we had heavy weather. I did not think the December 13
th
and 17
th
, then skipped into
We Deliver www.mainecoastlumber.com
folks at home would feel alarmed about the January 1831, before finishing the job. During
ME, NH, VT, MA, RI mainecoastlumber@yahoo.com
We Ship UPS
ship, for I knew my wife had been to sea the month, vessels came up the river and took
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