Page 22. MAINE COASTAL NEWS April 2015 HISTORY FROM THE PAST - Bangor Daily Commercial - Early 1900s 17 October 1913


Recognition of Humane Deed that Came Too Late


Beautiful Watch Awarded by Pres.


Taft to Bangor Captain Has Just Been Received by His Estates; Rescued Crew of Sinking Ship


A beautiful and costly gold watch that was awarded to the late Capt. Temple Fickett of Bangor of the British ship ERNE, for humane action in rescuing the crew of the disabled schooner EDGAR C. ROSS, January 13, 1910, but which was never presented to him on account of Capt. Fickett and his wife having been lost at sea before it could be given, has just been received in Bangor by the administrator of Capt. Fickett’s estate Terence B. Towle. The watch bears an inscription telling of the reasons for presenting it, and its arrival here called to mind memories of two thrilling events on the high seas – one in which the Bangor captain was the means of rescuing, and another in which he went to a watery grave with his beloved wife.


The watch is an excellent example of the highest skill in the making of chronometers. It is of the hunting case pattern, bearing on the front cover a fi nely engraved seal of the United States, an eagle, beaing an olive branch in one claw and arrows in the other with the usual descriptions. The chain is of massive gold, resembling in construction an anchor chain, with a straight bond in the center of each link. Attached in it are a small gold belaying pin, and a compass enclosed in a miniature ship’s wheel.


On the inside of the cover is the following inscription:


From


The President of The United States To


Temple A. Fickett,


Master of the British Ship ERNE. In Recognition of His Humane Service


In Effecting the Rescue at Sea. On January 13, 1910, Of the Master and Crew Of the American Schooner, EDGAR C. ROSS.


President Taft made the award of this watch about the time that Capt. Temple Fickett sailed for England, late in January 1912. The timepiece would have been presented to him when he arrived in England, in all probability, as it was to have been presented to him through the English government, and has in fact, been in England for some time since. But fate was not to allow the brave mariner to receive the reward of his deed. The ERNE was lost at sea on February 5, 1912. Part of the crew was rescued, but Capt. and Mrs. Fickett were never heard from again. Terence B. Towle, Esq., administrator of the estate, took up the matter of obtaining the watch through Sen. Charles F. Johnson, who secured it from the British embassy at London after some correspondence, and forwarded it to Mr. Towle at Bangor. Now the question arises as to the disposal of the watch. Capt. Fickett left ten brothers and sisters, and how to award the watch is a matter that is not easily settled. The Rescue at Sea


The events of the rescue at sea are best told in the following poem, written by Mate Thomas Gibbs, who commanded the party sent by Capt. Fickett to the disabled schooner EDWARD C. ROSS. The manuscript kindly loaned to the Commercial for the purpose of publishing by Oscar A. Fickett was penned by Mrs. Temple Fickett, wife of the deceased captain as follows: On the North Atlantic broad expanse, When the wind and sea ran high, The good ship “ERNE” of Boston Before the wind did fl y When a schooner on the horizon Our lookout did espy.


And Union down the Stars and Stripes dog,


And took them to the “ERNE,” Soon safe on board that noble ship And speeding before the breeze. Left the EDGAR C. ROSE to her


fate


And to mercy of the seas. Don’t lose heart, young Capt. Quillin,


From her mizzen truck did fl y. Our captain cried, “Call out all hands! There is a vessel in distress; Brace up the yards and get to her; We will do our level best.” Then down upon that disabled craft Our good ship slowly bore. Our captain through his megaphone These words did loudly roar; “What is the trouble?” And the answer came” “We have been swept by wind and sea. Our provisions and our water gone, And we cannot keep her free. Our vessel’s slowly fi lling up; The crew are all worn out


From pumping day and night as well


To keep our craft afl oat. “Our sails are torn and useless, Our lifeboat washed away. Our cabin doors and windows Have been broken by the sea.


We have had to scud before the wind For many a weary day.


We have lost all hope of making port, So take us off we pray.”


Captain Fickett standing on the poop, Looks hard at the foaming waves, And calls aloud for volunteers The weary crew to save. “I’ll take you off,” the captain cried. “If such a thing can be,


Come clear away our port lifeboat And lower her in the sea.” Six stout seamen and the boatswain, All with a determined look, Their places took in that swinging boat That would soon be set afl oat. The boat was lowered without mishap Into the dashing waves And bore away to the schooner’s ice, An anxious crew to save. Through the swelling waves At the schooner’s aide,


We saved them one by one; Seven worn out men and a collie


Such things happen day by day. Every monument mast crumble And like earthly hopes decay.


Like man’s life is every vessel. In its youth and its old age, When grown old and over-burdened, Seeks a rest beneath the waves. Capt. Fickett Lost at Sea


The British ship ERNE, lumber laden, called from Boston the last of January, 1912, bound for Buenos Ayres. On February 5, 700 miles from Boston, she struck a terrifi c storm. For several days she was battered about in the troughs of the waves, wholly at the sea’s mercy. Without food or drink, the sailors clung to the rigging, two of them dying, one from exposure, and one by falling overboard. In the height of the storm, according to the rescued sailors, Capt. and Mrs. Fickett disappeared; just how, no one knows.


Watch on Exhibit


Bangor people will have an opportunity to see the watch. Saturday, and for several days after, in the window of Bernahrd Pol, jeweler at 1 Main Street, where it will be on exhibit.


21 October 1913 No More Tattooed Sailors Customs of Decoration on Wane Among Seafaring Men


Tattooing, that barbaric form of personal adornment borrowed from the uncivilized people of the South Sea Islands, is decreasing not only among civilians, but also in the United States navy, according to Lieut. C. C. Krakow, naval recruiting offi cer at Kansas City. “Twenty years ago bluejackets believed that they were not full fl edged men of the sea until they had red and blue designs inked into their skin. Their cruises to far Eastern ports were partly responsible for this,” said Lieut. Krakow. “In the Orient nearly every man is tattooed on some portion of his body, and there are thousands of experts who are willing to lend their art for a small price. Then too a large number of men in the service became adept in tattooing and made a comfortable sum in addition to their pay by decorating the breasts, backs, arms and legs of their companions.


“The spread eagle is perhaps the most popular design among the bluejackets.


Research Submersible ALVIN Completes Certifi cation Continued from Page 9.


DISCOUNT POWER TOOLS CORDED POWER TOOLS CORDLESS POWER TOOLS FUELED POWER TOOLS PNEUMATIC POWER TOOLS FASTENERS HAND TOOLS


MATERIAL HANDLING


POWER TOOL ACCESSORIES SAFETY SUPPLIES WELDING SUPPLIES


tions for WHOI and served as the expedition leader for the certifi cation mission. “The certifi cation dives accomplished a detailed set of sea trials developed by NAVSEA and WHOI,” Strickrott said. “The excellent re- sults confi rm that the upgraded vehicle and the WHOI operating team are ready in all respects to continue science and exploration to the submersible’s full 4,500meter depth rating.”


“I am delighted Alvin passed this fi nal milestone for resuming operations at the full design depth,” said Brian Midson, the NSF program manager responsible for the Alvin upgrade project. “I know there is exciting science planned that will benefi t from work- ing down to 4500 meters.” The upgrade of Alvin involved a num- ber of key systems including a new, enlarged titanium personnel sphere, the addition of two viewports to bring the total to fi ve, a new command and control system, new syntactic foam fl oatation, new lighting and imaging systems and improved ergonomics. The designs, testing protocols and operational procedures were made in accordance with NAVSEA standards and subject to rigorous


audits and performance metrics. “Although WHOI has been operating


Alvin for over 50 years and completed 4,787 dives, every dive is a serious undertaking requiring attention to detail and focus on safety,” said WHOI Vice President for Ma- rine Facilities and Operations Rob Munier. “Our collaboration with NAVSEA provides a rigorous system of checks and balances that ensure our record of safe and productive Alvin operations will continue for years to come. I am extremely proud of the Alvin team – including the at-sea operations group as well as the engineering support staff ashore – for their hard work and dedication that enabled this signifi cant milestone.” The Woods Hole Oceanographic Insti- tution is a private, non-profi t organization on Cape Cod, Mass., dedicated to marine re- search, engineering, and higher education. Established in 1930 on a recommendation from the National Academy of Sciences, its primary mission is to understand the ocean and its interaction with the Earth as a whole, and to communicate a basic understanding of the ocean’s role in the changing global environment. For more information, please visit www.whoi.edu.


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