January 2014 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 21. HISTORY FROM THE PAST - Bangor Daily Commercial - Early 1900s


18 July 1904 Bath’s Biggest Five Master Schooner GRACE A. MARTIN Launched From Percy & Small’s Yard. The big five-masted GRACE A.


MARTIN was sent overboard from the yard of Percy & Small at Bath at 2:40 o’clock Saturday afternoon. The weather was ideal for such an event and excursion parties came from all nearby resorts to witness the launching. It is estimated that upward of 2000 people saw the MARTIN slide gracefully into the water, while about 500 lunched on board.


She was handsomely decorated, with


long streamers fl ying from the mast peaks, while the fl ags of the international signal code were strung from mast to mast, making a pretty spectacle. The vessel was named in honor of the daughter of John Martin, a wealthy dry goods merchant of Gloversville, New York, and as the vessel commenced her long journey down the ways to enter the water she was named with a mammoth bouquet of roses by Miss Martin, who repeated the words, “I christen thee GRACE MARTIN.”


The MARTIN is the largest fi ve-masted vessel in the world and ranks next to the ELEANOR A. PERCY, the largest six- master afl oat. She is 302 feet long, 48 feet


beam, 29 feet deep, and has a gross tonnage of 3100 tons. She has a keel of oak, frame of hackmatack and other hard woods, while the planking is of yellow pine and the three decks of white pine. In her construction the greatest care was exercised to get only the best selected stock, and she is considered one of the staunchest vessels that was ever launched from a Bath yard. Each of the fi ve masts is of Oregon pine, measuring 121 feet in length, and the topmasts are 56 feet long, while the vessel is rigged throughout with wire.


The cabin is fi nished in quartered oak and mahogany with a little birdseye maple. In the drawing room is a beautiful crayon photogravure framed in ebony. Capt. William F. Harding of Wollaston, Massachusetts, formerly of the CORA F. CRESSEY, is going in command and the vessel which is designed for the general carrying trade will be ready for sea in about a week.


The MARTIN is the 18th vessel built


by Percy & Small during the past ten years, and will be managed by them. They were the builders of the six-masted ELEANOR A. PERCY, the largest wooden vessel in the world and also of the ELIZABETH PALMER, now of William F. Palmer’s fl eet, which was formerly the largest fi ve-


United States Navy News Continued from 9. have that ‘new car smell’.”


After hundreds of practice landings on shore, the launch and recovery of the E-2D onboard Theodore Roosevelt begins VAW- 125’s fi nal transition process from the E-2C to the E-2D.


Future USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) Chris- tened and Launched, Marks Production Milestone


From Program Executive Offi ce Littoral Combat Ships Public Affairs MARINETTE, Wis. (NNS) -- The Navy, along with the Lockheed Martin-led indus- try team, christened and launched the future USS Milwaukee in a ceremony at the Mari- nette Marine Corporation shipyard Dec. 18, marking an important production milestone for the littoral combat ship program. The ship joins the future USS Jackson (LCS 6), which launched Dec. 14 following construction at the Austal USA shipyard in Alabama. These ships are the fi rst vessels procured under the block buy contract awarded in 2010 and represent the true be- ginning of “serial production” for the class. With serial production, the Navy is able to realize benefi ts such as improved cost struc- ture per vessel and reduced construction time.


“Milwaukee will be an exceptional ship and I am pleased with the progress being made,” said Rear Adm. Brian Antonio, program executive offi cer, Littoral Combat Ships. “With serial production lines now in full swing at both LCS building yards, we are looking forward to each new ship joining the fl eet on a regular and consistent timeline. This is a signifi cant step for the program and the Navy.”


As is tradition, ship sponsor Sylvia Panetta struck the bow with a bottle of champagne, offi cially naming the ship. LCS 5 is the sixth U.S. Navy vessel christened in tribute to the Wisconsin city. Panetta, wife of former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, has been a tireless supporter of the military and longtime advocate for public service. “It is a true privilege to serve as the sponsor for this ship as it begins its journey


of service and commitment to our powerful fl eet,” said Mrs. Panetta. “I am proud to support the ship’s crew members over the course of her service to ensure it leads with strength and protects our freedom. My con- gratulations to the city of Milwaukee as this ship assumes its name.”


The christening ceremony was fol- lowed by a dramatic side launch of the ship into the Menominee River.


Milwaukee will continue to undergo


outfi tting and testing at Marinette Marine. The ship is expected to deliver to the Navy in early 2015 following acceptance trials. The LCS Class consists of two variants, the monohull design Freedom variant and the trimaran design Independence variant. The ships are designed and built by two industry teams, led by Lockheed Martin and Austal USA, respectively. Milwaukee is the third LCS constructed by the Lockheed Martin team.


Both variants of the LCS are fast, agile, focused-mission platforms designed for operation in near-shore environments yet capable of open-ocean operation. They are designed to embark specialized mission packages to defeat “anti-access” threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines, and fast surface craft.


The Navy has been able to incorporate much of the knowledge gained in the con- struction, test and operation of LCS 1 and LCS 2, the lead ships of the class, into follow on ships. Many of those are currently in var- ious stages of construction, and will deliver to the Navy over the next few years. These include Milwaukee’s sister ships - Detroit (LCS 7), Little Rock (LCS 9), Sioux City (LCS 11), Wichita (LCS 13), and Billings (LCS 15).


Program Executive Office Littoral Combat Ships is affi liated with the Naval Sea Systems Command and provides a single program executive responsible for acquiring and sustaining mission capabili- ties of the littoral combat ship class, from procurement through fl eet employment and sustainment. Delivering high-quality warf- ighting assets while balancing affordability and capability is key to su pporting the na- tion’s maritime strategy.


master afl oat. The vessel was docked about 6 o’clock, after which Percy and Small entertained a party of about 100 guests with a banquet at New Meadows Inn. There was a large party of guests present from Gloversville, New York, who were the guests of Mr. Martin. Massachusetts people who were the guests of Myron D. Cressey, included the following: Baylies Wood of Whitman, S. E. Hyde, Albert Mentzer, L. O. Mentzer, Dr. R. M. Cole; Amos T. White, E. H. Tansing, F. J. Munson, J. S. Donnell and Charles Dunn of Boston, M. H. Innes, James F. Chisholm, W. E. Emerson of Malden.


21 July 1904 On the Rocks


Schooner OLIVE BRANCH Went Ashore Off Ayer’s Mill Probably Total Loss


She was One of the Oldest Craft Coming to this Port and was Built in Franklin in 1848.


The old schooner OLIVE BRANCH has been a subject for many an exciting yarn among Bangor shipping barons, has probably sailed her last voyage out of Bangor or any other port, for that matter. She went ashore late Wednesday afternoon near Ayer’s mill and is probably a total loss, which, by the way, will not be heavy. The OLIVE BRANCH has been in this port for some time looking for a charter but shipping men generally regard her as about the biggest kind of a risk. She is very old and was not strong enough to stand a stiff storm. After being here for some time and not succeeding in getting a charter it was decided to go to Winterport to try there. So Wednesday afternoon she left her moorings and set out downriver. Capt. John Young, who has sailed many a voyage on her and who has sailed many a voyage on her and who has weathered many a blow, was on the poop and her owner, Horace M. Thayer of Stonington was at the wheel. Everything progressed all right with the old schooner until off Ayer’s mill, when Thayer brought her too sharply into the wind and the next thing he knew she was on a rock hard and fast.


She commenced to fi ll rapidly and on Thursday part of her deck was under water. She is in a bad position and slipping men who have viewed her say that she will be a total loss.


The old schooner is one of the oldest craft that has been coming to this port. She


22 July 1904 With the Ships


The Wrecked Schooner OLIVE BRANCH to be Stripped Capt. Haskell in Port


Former Coaster Master was in Town Friday on a Handsome Yacht – Other Notes.


The JAMES W. PAUL, JR., with 2912 tons of coal for the B. & A. railroad, and the F. C. PENDLETON, were the most important arrivals here Friday. The PENDLETON is going to load lumber for Lowell & Engel. The MARION DRAPER, New York, Ashland Mfg. Co.; MARY WILLEY, Boston, Lowell & Engel; NILE, Boston, Morse & Co.; STONY BROOK, Cambridgeport, Sargent Lumber Co., and the bay coaster KITTIE LAWRY, were the sum total of the clearances. The schooner ABBIE INGALLS, coming to load lumber for the Ashland Mfg. Co., and the JULY FOURTH came up Thursday in addition to three bay coasters. All of the clearances for Thursday were reported in the Commercial of that day. The GOV. AMES has finished


discharging and will get out either late Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. Capt. E. L. Haskell Here The yacht CORANTO belonging to down-river parties was in port Thursday on a cruising trip. After spending the night here, she left Friday morning for down-river. The CORANTO is captained by Capt. E. L. Haskell of Deer Isle, and his friends think he is the best man afl oat. Capt. Haskell used to be a familiar fi gure in shipping circles here years ago as he used to come here on the schooner SUSAN PICKERING, but it has been some time since he was here last. While in port Thursday, he called on many of his


was built at Franklin in 1848 and has seen almost continuous service up to the present time. She is of two-masted rig and is of 91 tons gross tonnage and 87 tons net tonnage. Her dimensions are as follows: Length, 80.8; breadth, 22.6; depth, 7.3. She had a crew of three men.


The OLIVE BRANCH seemed to have been pursued by a hoodoo during the past few months as last spring she went ashore near Bald Hill cove and shipping men thought that was the last day they would see of her. But like “the old cat,” she was brought upriver and was repaired. Since that time she has been in this port several times.


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