USA > Maine > Waldo County > Belfast > History of the city of Belfast in the state of Maine v.I, 1770-1875 > Part 60
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An extension of their charter was asked for by the proprietors; but, being met by a large remonstrance, the petitioners had leave from the Legislature to withdraw. In 1866, the following enact- ment was made : -
An Act to enable the City of Belfast to build and maintain a Free Bridge over Tide-Waters.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, as follows : -
SECT. 1. The City of Belfast is hereby authorized and em- powered to build and maintain for ever a free bridge over tide- waters in Belfast, across the river or bay where the lower bridge, so called, is now located, or at any other place between that point and the foot of Main Street, as the city may deem for its interest and the public convenience.
SECT. 2. Said city shall construct and maintain a suitable and convenient draw in said bridge, for vessels to pass and repass, and shall see that the same is opened for the passage of vessels at all times, when application shall be made therefor.
SECT. 3. On and after the expiration of the charter for the lower bridge, so called, all right and interest in and to said bridge, with the appurtenances thereto belonging, which may vest in the State of Maine, are hereby granted to the City of Belfast for its use in maintaining or building a free bridge.
This Act was duly accepted by the city ; and at the expiration of the charter, Dec. 31, 1866, the bridge was duly surrendered, and became as it now is a free bridge, sustained by the public. John Stephenson was appointed the first draw-tender, at a salary
1 Journal.
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FERRIES AND BRIDGES.
of $170 per year. His successors were S. W. Pearson and Luther Perry. A new draw, swinging around in one piece instead of being raised in two sections, was finished in June, 1873.
BRIDGE AT CITY POINT.
The Legislature of 1836 authorized the County Commissioners to lay out a highway across the river at or near Russ's Point, and the town to build and maintain " a free bridge, with a suitable draw or passage-way for vessels, keeping open at all times passages and sluiceways for gondolas and rafts." The bridge was built in 1839, by Moses W. Ferguson and John Stevens ; three thousand dollars having been appropriated for that purpose, and for the " Point road."
TOWN LANDING.
Until within about twenty years, a part of Sandy Beach, at the foot of Main Street, south of Lewis's Wharf, was kept open for boats, and known as the "town landing." It does not appear by the proprietors' records that the town ever had any easement there. In 1807, Bohan P. Field and Thaddeus Hubbard were chosen a committee to investigate the title ; and a similar com- mittee, of which Rufus B. Allyn was chairman, made a like ex- amination in 1821, and their report appears to have been accepted. Two years afterwards, James McCrillis was allowed "for cash paid at the office of the clerk of the courts, for examining the records concerning the town landing, and for a transcript of the same." It was also voted to prosecute to final judgment the claim which the public may have to any easement. The reports and transcript have been lost in the general dispersion of the town papers. It is probable that the rights of the public were obtained by pre- scription.1
1 When public landing-places exist by immemorial usage, they cannot be discon- tinued without authority of the Legislature. 9 Gray's R. 527.
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HISTORY OF BELFAST.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
STEAMBOAT NAVIGATION.
Commencement of Steam Navigation in the State. - Steamboat "Patent." - First Steamer at Belfast. - The "Maine."- Captain Smith Cram. - Steam Brig "New York." - Collides with the "Patent." - Burned near Petit Menan. - Weekly Trips to Portland and Eastport. - Arrangements for Passengers. - Kennebec Steam Navi- gation Company. - Fares. - Description of the "Patent." -Owned at Belfast. - Lost at Sea. - Steamers "Eagle," "Waterville," "Byron," and "Connecticut." - Description of Steamer "Bangor." -Her History. - Lines upon her Departure. - Captain S. H. Howes. - The " Bangor " lands at Saturday Cove. - Dissatisfaction of the Belfast Public. - Steamer "Sandusky." - The "Independence." - Wrecked at Bangor. - Steamboat Wharf projected. - Eastern Steamboat Mail Line. - Land- ing at Foot of Allyn Street. - Captain McFarland's Signal Station. - Upper Steam- boat Wharf built. - Steamers "Telegraph " and "Express." - Opposition and Cheap Fares. - Steamers "Portland," " Jefferson," and "Huntress." - Railroad Con- nection at Portland. - The "Charter Oak."- The "Penobscot." - Wharf Company incorporated. - Propeller "Bangor."- Burned at Islesboro'. - Steamers "Ad- miral," "Governor," "T. F. Secor," and "John Marshall." - Five Boats in 1848. - Route to Ellsworth established. - The "Senator."- Her Successful Career. - Steamer "State of Maine."- The "Kennebec," "Boston," "S. B. Wheeler," "Creole," and "Ocean."- Route to Machias. - The "Secor" sold - The " Law- rence " runs to Ellsworth. - Steamship "Eastern State." - Sanford's Independent Line first named. - Sketch of Captain Memenon Sanford. - Belfast Pilots. - Exten- sion of Upper Wharf. - Steamer "Daniel Webster."-Propeller "General Knox." -Lower Wharf built. - Steamers "Rockland," "Eastern City," "Forest City," and " Nelly Baker." - Steam Navigation on Penobscot suspended during portion of 1862. - Accident to the "Sanford." - Barge runs from Bangor to Rockland. - Sale of the "Webster."- Steamers "Harvest Moon," "Katahdin," "Lady Lang," " Regu- lator," "De Witt Clinton," and " Milton Martin." - Description of the " Cambridge." - Lower Wharf purchased by the Sanfords. - Steamship "William Tibbetts."- Struck by Lightning. - The "City of Richmond." - Steamers "White Fawn," "Jersey Blue," and "Argo."- Steamship " Alliance." - First Steamer above the East Bridge. - New Route to Castine. - The "Pioneer."
S TEAM navigation in the United States was successfully at- tempted by Robert Fulton, on the Hudson River, in 1807. Several years elapsed before the invention became general, and it was not until 1823 that the first regular steamboat visited our State. This was the " Patent," which arrived at Portland on the 7th of July, in four days, from New York. She ran during the season to Boston, under the command of Captain Seward Porter,
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655
STEAMBOAT NAVIGATION.
who may be regarded as the pioneer of the new enterprise in our waters. The first appearance of a steamboat at Belfast was that of the " Maine," on the twenty-second day of May, 1824. Her arrival is thus described by the "Gazette :" -
" On Saturday last, there arrived here the steamboat 'Maine,' over one hundred tons' burthen, commanded by the enterprising Seward Porter. This is the first boat, propelled by steam, which has entered the Penobscot waters. It excited much attention among us, and makes a very interesting era in the history of our navigation. It is intended to run this fine boat as a packet be- tween Portland and Eastport, touching here, if sufficient encourage- ment is given." 1
The " Maine " came to Ladd & Morrill's (now Lane's) Wharf, and attracted a crowd of spectators. On the afternoon of her ar- rival, she took a large party on an excursion to Castine. She measured only one hundred and five tons, and was constructed from the hulls of two schooners, with beams across each ; both keels being retained. Her cost, with a second-hand engine, was thirteen thousand dollars.2 Captain Smith Cram, formerly of Montville, was her commander, and not Captain Porter, as stated above. During that season, she made weekly trips from Eastport to Bath, and back, touching at Belfast, and connecting at Bath with the " Patent," for Portland and Boston." This was the in- auguration of a steamboat line along the coast of Maine. But, even at that early day, the undertaking met with opposition. In June, the steam-brig " New York," Captain Rogers, commenced running three times per month from Boston to Portland, Belfast, and Eastport, and proved a formidable competitor.4 The fare from Belfast to Boston became reduced to six dollars, including meals. To Eastport, it was five dollars. Persons wishing to take passage from this place were "requested to leave their names at
1 Hancock Gazette, May 26, 1824.
2 History of Steam Navigation in Maine, by William Goold, in " The State," Novem- ber, 1872.
8 She went to Bangor occasionally, diverging from her regular route. It will amuse the steamboat patrons of this day, perhaps, to learn that, by the advertised notice of the arrival and departure of the boat, "passengers wishing to go in lier are requested to leave their names at the store of Haraden and French, where they will find the boat's book " -- Crosby's Annals.
4 On Sunday, twenty passengers arrived here from Eastport in the steam-brig "New York." Most of them belonged in the interior, and brought about fifteen thousand dollars in specie, obtained for cattle which they had driven to the British Provinces, and for labor. - Hancock Gazette, July 21, 1824.
656
HISTORY OF BELFAST.
the Maine Hotel (Sleeper's) ; for, as the boat would wait but a short time, it was necessary for passengers to make some arrange- ment for being called." Passengers could be landed at any inter- mediate point on the coast or rivers by previous agreement. The "New York " continued on the route during the summer, and dur- ing the following season until August, when she was burnt near Petit Menan.
In 1826, all the steamboat lines in Maine were controlled by the " Kennebec Steam Navigation Company," which purchased the "Legislator," a steamer of two hundred tons, and ran her through the season from Bath to Portland and Boston. The "Maine " ran from Bath to Belfast, and the " Patent " from Belfast to Eastport, all of them making only one trip each week. The next year, the " Legislator " ran on the same route, making two trips per week, and the "Patent" only one trip per week. This arrangement continued until 1830. The "Patent " left Portland every Tues- day evening, touched at Owl's Head, and reached Belfast Wednes- day afternoon, proceeding thence, via Castine, Cranberry Isle, and Lubec, to Eastport, where she arrived Thursday afternoon. Returning, she left Eastport on Friday afternoon, reached Belfast the next evening, Bath Sunday forenoon, and Portland Sunday evening. The fare from Belfast to Bath was three dollars; to Portland, five dollars; and to Boston, nine dollars.1
The " Patent " was a slow boat, although a writer in 1828 says : " We had a quick and pleasant passage, a little over three hours, from Castine to Belfast, twelve miles across the bay," in her. As she was the first steamboat brought to Maine, - and in 1835 be- came the property of Josiah Farrow, Philip Morrill, John Hara- den, William G. Crosby, and other citizens of Belfast, - a formal description of her is worthy of record. She was built at Medford, Mass., in 1821, and registered ninety-seven tons; being eighty feet long by twenty-one feet in width, and had two masts. Her boiler and engine were below, and, like all boats of her time, she had a heavy balance-wheel half above her only deck. Of course, her cabins were all below. The ladies' cabin was in the stern, and lighted by the stern windows : the entrance was through the gentlemen's cabin. The stern was square, and the quarter-deck clear. The " Patent" proved an unfortunate investment to her Belfast owners. She was wrecked on the Southern coast soon after their purchase,2 having been sold at a sacrifice to parties abroad.
The steamer "Eagle," a British steamer, which ran between 1 Eastern Argus. 2 Hon. William Goold.
657
STEAMBOAT NAVIGATION.
Eastport and St. John, touched here a few times during 1825; and, once at least, the " Waterville," a small boat built at Bath for the Kennebec route. The latter was here again in September, 1826, on her way to Bangor.
During the summer of 1834, the "Byron," a small boat used for towing vessels and for excursion parties on the Penobscot, made an occasional visit here.
On the 20th of June, 1833, the steamer " Connecticut," bound to Portland, touched here for a few hours. She was from Ban- gor, whither she had carried a host of land speculators, who had been there to attend a sale of public lands.1
In 1834, the rapid increase and business prosperity of Bangor demanded more extensive facilities of communication. Accord- ingly, the steamer "Bangor " was built in New York by a com- pany formed for the purpose, and came upon the Penobscot route early in July. Her first appearance here, on the 14th, when she brought a large excursion party from Bangor, was welcomed by a salute.2 She made one weekly trip to and from Portland and Boston, leaving Bangor at six o'clock Tuesday morning, remaining at Portland during the night, and proceeding to Boston on the following day; and, returning, reached Bangor Sunday afternoon. The fare to Boston was seven dollars and "found," which was not unreasonable, in view of the fact that, during the thirty-six hours employed, a passenger became entitled to five meals. A landing was made at Belfast until September, when, "owing to the short- ness of the days and the small patronage," she touched no nearer than Saturday Cove. Owl's Head, Bucksport, and Frankfort were the remaining stopping-places.
The " Bangor " was the first new boat, as well as the fastest, that came to Maine. Her advertisement gives the following de- scription : "The 'Bangor' is about four hundred tons; was built by Brown & Bell of New York, expressly for this route, and as a sea-boat has not her superior in this country. She is rigged with fore and aft sails, that can be managed as any other vessel in case of accident to the engine; is provided with two powerful forcing- pumps, and suction-hose; a fire-engine to be kept on her deck, in case of fire, to operate on any part of the boat; five large boats; a number of india-rubber and cork mattresses, one of which will sustain four persons on the water; and a large quantity of the celebrated india-rubber life-preservers." 8
1 Crosby's Annals.
2 Bangor Daily Courier.
& Waldo Patriot.
42
658
HISTORY OF BELFAST.
She was painted white, and had a square engine without a walking-beam, and burned wood. Her first commander, Captain George Barker, was superseded by Captain Samuel H. Howes,1 who continued on the route for several years. She ran until the 25th of April, 1842, when she made her last trip to Portland. After being fitted for a sea voyage, she sailed for the Mediterra- nean, where she arrived in October, and was first employed in carrying pilgrims to Alexandria in Egypt, on their way to the shrine of Mahomet, at Mecca. She was subsequently purchased by the Sultan of Turkey, and with a Turkish name became attached to his navy.2
1 Captain Howes was long a popular and well-known steamboat captain. He was a native of Yarmouth, Cape Cod, and died March 22, 1849. After leaving the "Bangor," he commanded the "Telegraph," "Charter Oak," "Penobscot," "Governor," and " State of Maine." "
2 The steamer "Bangor," Captain Dunn, left August 15th for Gibraltar and Con- stantinople.
Stanch old steamer! thou art going From New England shores away ; From her rivers swiftly flowing On their wild and rugged way.
From Penobscot's waters wide, Where thy fire-winged course was held Rapid o'er the sinnous tide, Thou art going, - fare thee well!
Thou art leaving Christian lands ! Where Marmora's brilliant sands Sparkle 'neath the Orient sun ; Where the Arda's waters run, Hasting gladly to the sea, There, henceforth, thy destiny.
Camden's hill and Monhegin, Owl's Head Point and Old Seguin, Thou art leaving far behind, On the wings of steam and wind. Pemaquid, and Belfast Bay Up where the borough islands lay, Duck Trap Cove, and Megunticook, All have given their last sad look.
Where the Black Sea's surges roar On the rough Romanian shore, 'Mid the galiots' gilded prows, Thou wilt force thy sturdy bows Up Bosphorus's narrow strait, To Byzantium's water-gate, From Belgarod to Ereklize, From Tartarian Oczakrow To the Grecian Haero.
Where the knowing Yankees sat, There the bearded Turk will squat ; Where erst speculators met On thy deck, to "guess " and "het," There Mohammed's followers grave, Turbaned lord and cringing slave, In solemn pomp and trowsers wide, Will thy native land deride ; While thy engine strongly works, For these lazy, bearded Turks, They will call thy builders "hogs," "Sons of Shitim, Christian dogs!"
Tough old steamer, fare thee well! We may never see thee more, Or hear again thy merry hell, 'Mid the fogs that veil our shore.
Great Cheheague, Hog Isle, and Peaks', Long will miss its pleasant tone, While 'tis glad'ning Turks and Greeks, .On the bay of Samasoun.
And when before thee thickly rise Byzantium's domes and minarets tall, Round St. Sophia's giant size, Where the Mufti's daily call Brings "the faithful " home to prayer, From thy steam-pipe loud and clear, Wilt thou, " Bangor,"'then and there, Puff one sigh for Portland Pier ? Portland Transcript.
659
STEAMBOAT NAVIGATION.
During the season of 1835, the " Bangor " ran as before, pass- ing by Belfast. The course of her managers, in receiving and landing passengers at Saturday Cove, caused great dissatisfaction. " On the last trip but one," remarked the "Journal" of May 21st, "fourteen were landed there, and the average number is ten. So long as our citizens will go to the Cove, so long the owners will refuse to come to the harbor. Let us agree not to patronize them." These complaints induced Captain Porter, of the steamer "San- dusky," which made a few trips in the summer, to afford the desired accommodation, on her way to and from Bangor and Bos- ton. She was an opposition boat, and soon left the route. In Au- gust, the "Independence," owned by the Bangor stockholders, commenced making one trip a week to Boston. She was four hundred and seventy-seven tons' burden, and originally cost one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. In the language of her advertisement, " her cabins are considered the most elegant and spacious of any American steamer; as a day boat, she can accom- modate five hundred passengers." 1 The old " Patent " made three trips each week between Belfast and Bangor, during a portion of the season. This year,2 proposals were solicited for building a steamboat wharf, five hundred feet long, to commence at the end of Durham's Wharf, which is now in Carter's ship-yard.
On the evening of Sept. 28, 1836, the "Independence " was wrecked on a sunken rock in the harbor of Bangor, afterwards called "Independence Rock." Her passengers were landed in safety. The boat broke in two, and sank. This accident left the "Bangor " in sole occupation of the route,8 where she continued until 1842, running as a day boat between Portland and Bangor, making two trips each week, and connecting at the former place with the steamer " Portland," which made a passage every alter- nate night to Boston. During 1836, all the steamers on the coast and rivers of Maine, five in number, were run in connection, under the name of the " Eastern Steamboat Mail Line." In November of this year, one of the boilers of the " Bangor " exploded, tearing up her deck, but injuring no one. She commenced touching at Belfast
1 Advocate.
2 Republican Journal. The project was not carried into effect.
D. Lane thinks that the "Connecticut " made a few trips in 1838. At the time the "Independence " was lost, she supplied the place of the "Bangor," which was disabled hy a broken shaft .. The "McDonough " afterwards towed the " Bangor " to Boston for repairs. The Bangor " Whig," Sept. 29, 1836, calls the " Independence " a boat of un- satisfactory character.
660
HISTORY OF BELFAST.
in 1837, rounding to at the entrance of the harbor, and sending a boat ashore where Captain Henry McGilvery's ship-yard now is, at the foot of the present Allyn Street, a rough road having been built to the landing from High Street. Up to 1840, the steamer passed down the bay on her western course without calling here, unless passengers were signalled by a flag hoisted for the purpose. In those days, if one wished to secure a passage, it was necessary to inform Captain Ephraim McFarland, who had charge of the flag- staff, at an early hour in the morning; and, unless fog or thick weather prevented, the applicant, by keeping a sharp lookout, was quite sure of being received from the slippery rocks, and safely deposited on board. As there was no telegraph and no steam whistle, the seasonable arrival of the boat was quite uncertain. In 1838, the fare from Belfast to Boston became reduced to four dol- lars and fifty cents.
The spring of 1842 introduced easy and cheap communication by steam. During the winter, the wharf, which in its enlarged form is known as Simpson's Wharf, was constructed by Daniel Merrill, and has ever since been used for several lines. The " Telegraph," which arrived on the 18th of April, first came to this wharf, followed by the "Express" on the 25th. Both boats made semi-weekly trips to Portland, the " Telegraph " continuing to Boston, and the "Express " connecting at the latter place with the "Portland." The competition was very warm, the fare being reduced to one dollar from Belfast to Boston. A large number of persons availed themselves of this cheap rate, and seventy-five to one hundred passengers were frequently taken from here. The "Express" was a fast boat which had been running from New York to Norwich, Conn. The "Telegraph " was older and larger.
The steamer " Jefferson," used as a tug-boat on the Penobscot, called here in July.
During the season, the steamer " Huntress" ran for a short time between St. John and Portsmouth, touching here on her re- turn trip.
In November, 1842, Portland was connected with Boston by railroad, and a rivalry for the eastern travel commenced early the next season. The boats running in April, 1843, were the " Tele- graph " and " Charter Oak," both on "the outside route," as it was then first begun to be called ; while the " Huntress," a swift New York boat of three hundred tons, which for five years had been on
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STEAMBOAT NAVIGATION.
the Kennebec, ran three times a week to Portland, connecting with the railroad. The new steamer " Penobscot " arrived for the first time on the 26th of June, 1843, and continued to make two trips a week to Boston, until September, when she took the place of the " John W. Richmond " from Hallowell to Boston, the latter boat having been burnt at her wharf. This year Thomas Marshall and successors were incorporated as the Belfast Steamboat Wharf Company.
In 1844, the " Portland " made a few trips. With the reopen- ing of navigation to Bangor, the "Charter Oak" returned, and continued on the Portland route through the season, connecting with the railroad twice a week. The fare to Boston was three dollars and fifty cents. While off the route in June for a single trip, having gone to convey delegates to the Whig State Conven- tion at Augusta, the little steamer " Frank" supplied her place, to the discomfort of the travelling public.
Three steamers ran in 1845 : the "Portland " early in the sea- son, being succeeded by the "Charter Oak," as on the previous year ; and the "Penobscot," which commenced semi-weekly trips to Boston on the 25th of June. An iron screw steamer, designed principally for freight, and called the "Bangor," made a few trips during August. On the 31st of that month, she was burnt at Dark Harbor, in Islesboro'. The next year, having been rebuilt, she ran a few trips, and was sold to the United States. With her, under the name of the "Scourge," Lieutenant Hunter captured Alvarado, at the commencement of the Mexican war.
The steamboat season of 1846 commenced with the " Portland," on the 16th of March, succeeded early in April by the " Penob- scot," the " Huntress," and the "Governor." Captain S. H. Howes commanded the latter. She succeeded the "Huntress," and con- nected with the railroad at Portland.
On the 18th of June, the steamer "T. F. Secor," a new and fast boat, commanded by Captain Thomas B. Sanford, inaugurated a new route from Belfast to Ellsworth, connecting with the " Pen- obscot." She continued her trips for several seasons, and was always a favorite boat. During the Rebellion, in June, 1863, while in Government employ, she was burnt off the coast of South Carolina. For a short time during the fall of 1846, the " John Marshall," a boat built two years before to run between Baltimore and Richmond, Va., ran from Bangor to Boston. She continues afloat, and in 1874 was a tug-boat on the North River.
662
HISTORY OF BELFAST.
During 1847, the "Governor," commanded by Captain Thomas G. Jewett, who about the 1st of July superseded Captain Howes; the " Penobscot," commanded by Captain Asa M. Sanford ; and the "T. F. Secor," - were the only regular boats. They ran as in the previous year. The " Portland " and " Charter Oak" made a few trips early in the season. After the river closed, the " Secor" ran to Portland.
In the spring of 1848, the " Admiral," running from Boston to St. John, touched at Belfast for a few trips. The " W. J. Pease," built by Captain M. Sanford in New York during the winter, was on the Portland route during April and May, and then, with the " Penobscot," took ber place " outside." In June, the "Senator," owned by Daniel Drew and James Cunningham, of New York, commenced connecting with the railroad, making tri-weekly trips. She was one of the best boats ever in Maine. At the commence- ment of the California emigration in 1849, she went round the Horn, and for several years ran on the Sacramento River, earning an immense amount of money for her owners. The splendid steamer " State of Maine," built in New York, through the influ- ence of Captain Howes, who commanded her, succeeded the "Senator" in July. She was found too large and expensive. The next year she was transferred to Long Island Sound, where she ran many years, and was finally sold to a West India firm.1
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