USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Boothbay > The shipping days of old Boothbay from the revolution to the world war : with mention of adjacent towns > Part 17
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After a brief stay a two-day run carried our voyagers to Port Casilda, about three miles due south of Trinidad de Cuba, where the cargo was discharged by lighters. The change to a warm climate had loosened the rigging, consequently it was 'set up' and the last of May the brig sailed for Boston with a cargo of sugar and molasses. That night Isle of Pines, ancient haunt of pirates and supposed Treasure Island of Stevenson's tale, was passed, and on rounding the west end of Cuba at Cape San Antonio three vessels, the barks Kingston and Mazeppa and the ship Empire Queen, were spoken. Following the course of the. Gulf Stream the brig arrived, discharged and the Fourth of July anchored in 'Townsend harbour,' wrote mate Daniel H. McCobb.
Short trips followed, on one of which the mate 'found that the brig had lain very uneasy threw the Knight, and sprained some of her butts, and caused her to leak badly.' After loading at Wiscasset in the fall came a voyage from Boothbay to Matanzas. The brig Royal Sailor was
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spoken 'All well' and they coasted along the seventy-mile-long island of Abaco within a mile of shore, then 'ran off the banks and spoke ship John Holland of Warren, Maine, bound to New Orleans.' Spanish port regulations then forbade vessels to enter after the evening gun was fired, consequently the Rainbow stood off and on through the night, and in the morning entered in by Punta Maya. Discharging gave the men a good appetite, and they 'abroached on a beril of beaf,' and later were 'imploid in takin in balast and geting redy for Sea.'
The sails were spread to trade winds from the eastward, the brig coasted the deep-water shores of northern Cuba, and as the breeze died down the following evening the light on the Morro at 'Avannah' was passed. The course was set northwest, the new brig Emeline of War- ren, Captain Edward Watts, was spoken, and on a quiet Sunday after- noon the lighthouse at Northeast Pass was sighted. The bar was passed and the long river passage to the city started under sail, but the wind failed, and they hauled in alongside the river bank and made fast for the night. In the morning 'the second mate and two of the crew bift,' not uncommon aboard ship, since his berth is often a hard one as go-between with the mate and sailors. The row ended when a steamer approached to tow them up river, where the cook 'abroached on Another beril of beaf.'
The original harbor of New Orleans lay at the angle of a deep three- sided bend in the river, and from the long curving water front comes the name Crescent City. A new custom house was building, the corner stone having been laid by Henry Clay. Provisions were loaded for New York, and before Christmas the brig was towed to sea.
New Year's Day was cloudy, the sea was calm and with studding-sails set the vessel glided quietly on her course. Memory Rock was passed at a distance of six miles, followed by a week of thick weather which culminated in a bad storm. The old log book is stained with sea-water and parts have rotted away, yet it yields the following 'Remarks' Janu- ary 10 1849:
Coms. moderate breezes inter Mixed with Calms; at 1 P.M. sit all sails; at 6 P.M. took in the light sails and Try sail; at 8 P.M. appearance of a Squall from NW., lored down the topsails; took out the reef takles; hauled up the M. Sail; hauled down the Jib; all hands on the F. Top sail yard reefing top-
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sail; the wind Struck from NNW taking us aback with voilance of a huri- cane; we got before the wind as soon as possable; clued up the top sails as . soon as we could but they blue from the yards in 1000 pieces, both Top sails, F. sail and ... all blowed away totally lost.
we [kept] before the wind [making ten knots] till 1/2 past 9 P.M. com- pletely buryed in water. ... come too She lay on her side [the sea making] a complete breach over her ... kege anchor and spars ... the Gale did not abate all [night and when it] struck her broke our try [sail spar, while at- tend]ing it George Dunton ... but ketched a rope and saved himself; 3 water Casks washed [overboard] and loose several barels .. . stove to Pieces.
January 11. these 24 hours fresh gails and Snow Squalls from the North and a very hevy Sea runing which caused her to make some water; at 4 P.M. got close Reaf Try Sail on her and got the Deck load secured as well as we could; saw 2 Sails hove to heding to the West; all these 24 hours hevy gails and snow; juging the curent siting NE 2 miles per hour. Latitude by D. R. 36°.
One of the vessels seems to have been the bark Cordelia, which later reported seeing in this latitude, and position hereinafter mentioned, a full-rigged brig with painted ports and lower masts of a whitish color, spars alongside and vessel full of water.
Under small sail the brig thrashed to windward for days in thick and heavy weather, 'Spoke the Pilot boat Washington and then bore up for New Port with fresh breezes from the West.'
My dear wife
New Port R. I. Jan. 21, 1849
This is to inform you that I am Still alive and well with the exception of sore hands and feet. I sailed from N. Orleans on the 21 ult. and nothing oc- curred on my passage worthy of notice till the 10th inst., and then I had the severest gale of wind that I ever experienced. I lost all my principal sails beside meeting with other damage to the Vessel, all the canvas I had loose was blown away like chaff and we were as if buried in water for about twelve hours. Our cabin was half full of water. At the time the Gale commenced I was on the inner edge of the Gulf Stream about sixty miles to the north of Cape Hatteras.
Since the storm I have had a tough time of it I assure you. I tried hard to get into N. York but could not and I put away for this port and by the as- sistance of the N. Port R. Cutter I got in here this evening. Anybody that wants to know what suffering is let him follow the sea. I may be here a week
L
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repairing damage and having new sails made before I can proceed to N. York. William S. Emerson
A CARD
The undersigned Master of Brig Rainbow of Boothbay, for himself, Officers, Crew and owners, expresses his grateful and kind acknowledgements to Capt. Walden of the Reve- nue Cutter Jackson, his officers and men for their prompt aid and efficient services rendered him and his Vessel in his perilous situation by coming to his Rescue when in a dis- abled state (from the perils of the sea) and assisting him safe to anchor in R. I. Harbour. William S. Emerson
After his first voyage John remained at home to attend school. Meantime another West Indian voyage had been made; on return the Captain wrote:
My dear Son John
New York May 2d 1849
Since I last saw you I have not seen a sick day- I enjoy very good health. Where is Daniel McCobb, what is he doing and what are you doing? If you are not at school I wish you were with me, but I hope you will never be so unwise as to choose a Sailor's life; if you do you will rue it when it will be too late. You must be a good boy, mind your mother, try to be useful and as soon as I can I will send for you.
Since Mr. McCobb left me I shipped a mate to go to Puerto Rico; he was on board four or five days and ran away; got $25. advance beside filling his trunk with Stores from the Vessel. I did not lose his advance; his landlord lost that. Then I got another fellow for a mate who was not worth his salt and as soon as I got in I turned him on shore. I have no one now but my 2d Mate on board to keep ship. We get our meals ashore and sleep on board. I shall commence discharging to-day; what I shall do afterward is uncertain as business is dull.
Wm. S. Emerson
Any description of the Emerson voyages would be incomplete with- out reference to 'Aunt Sarah,' the Captain's wife, to whom his letters were so often sent. She was a thin wiry woman of great energy, of Scotch-Irish Presbyterian forbears on both sides of the house, shrewd and keen in business matters, yet kindly withal and devoted to her large family of children and foster-children. In addition to rearing seven sturdy children of her own, she was known as 'Aunt Sarah' to the eight
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orphan children of a brother and sister: so that the big Emerson house with its fourteen rooms, seven fireplaces and brick oven was a home to . them as well as to her own. She was destined to lose many of her kin at sea and in severe storms was accustomed to brood over the fate of absent ones. Her husband's death seems to have been foretold to her in a dream of ill omen.
My dear Daughter Mary
New York May 11 1849
John and I had a fine time at Bath, took the Kennebec for Boston; it was a beautiful night, calm and quiet. I lay thinking about home and the dear Children. We left Boston on the cars for Fall River, boarded the steamer Bay State and I never before saw anything so elegant and her furniture was enough to dazzle the eye. I went in my stateroom and awoke in New York, this great City of noise and confusion. We left the boat and went on board the Rainbow and it looks quite natural. I have been arranging things and John is in his element and good natured. We had no cook on board and John cooked a good dinner. I feel in good spirits and courage; I haven't repented yet about going but don't know how soon I shall. Try and keep my Children happy. Your loving Mother Sarah A. Emerson
Dear Sisters Charity and Nancy
New York May 11 1849
I have made up my mind to go to Europe. Will says he can perform the Voyage in three months; he is engaged to go to Oporto in Portugal to Carry out a load of stores and Bring back a Cargo of wines. William says it is a beautiful Voyage to go this season of the year. I feel very sorry to be gone so long from home but I feel that my dear Children will be taken good care of [by Rebecca Emerson Rogers]. Yours truly Sarah
Dear Daughter Mary
New York May 17th
We will be loaded the 19th and at sea when you get this letter. I hope to hear from you Monday morning for that is our sailing day. I shall cross and recross the ocean before I see you again and I never would have left you if your Father had not wanted me to go with him so much. We have three men from Maine, our mate is James Adams of Portland; our 2d mate James Campbell of Cherryfield, and they appear to be fine men.
Sarah A. Emerson
PS. Mary, this is Sabbath the 20th, and we shall go to sea to-morrow; we are already to go now. We have been to church to-day, it was a Presby- terian; the church itself was most splendid and the organ was enough to
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raise you off your seat. I have been to your Uncle John [Brown Emerson's] in Pearl Street. Now I am here on board the Rainbow bound away on the ocean.
Dear Mary
Oporto June 26 1849
I am happy to inform you that I am well and still in the Land of the living. We left New York the 22d of May and arrived here the 22d-just a month on the passage. The first two weeks out we had cold weather and very rough indeed; the last two weeks were very pleasant, most delightful on the water, gentle breezes and very smooth. I was not seasick at all. When we first came out John was very seasick but got over it in a few days and now is very smart.
We made the Land early in the morning, your Father discovered it first; I thought it was a cloud. When we came up with it the first building we saw was the convent of St. Clair. I had a fine view of it with the spyglass as we sailed near-by. We sailed along a little farther, I sat on the deck with the spyglass in hand looking at everything and spied something that looked like a great mountain covered with snow; when nearer it proved to be the City of Oporto and no way to get to it as we thought. A Flag and a signal for a Pilot was hoisted and soon saw a boat coming from a little passage just wide enough for a vessel to pass in through a sand bank; the boat came alongside with the Pilot and fifteen officers and men, they boarded us and examined the Vessel's papers and left. Then came three other boats with thirty-five men to take us up to the City which lay up the river about three miles and now we are unloading at the Queen's Wharf and just above is Doña Maria Bridge. It is a beautiful place; your Father says he has been to a great many places and he never saw so beautiful a place before.
Good-bye dear Children until I see you and accept this from your Mother.
Dear Mary
Oporto June 30th
Letters from here go by mail steamer to England before going to America, so I sent you a lengthy letter by the Barque Guilford, bound to New York. The weather is very fine and ripe fruit is abundant. I have had a great deal of it given to me, also some Splendid Flowers. We shall be unloaded Tues- day and as soon as we get the Wine in we shall be on our way home; we have to do as the Custom house Officers say in unloading and loading and no work is done after three o'clock. Your Father has to endure a great deal in mind and body on the water and when in port has to have a great deal of patience. In August you write me at New York, care of Nesmith and Walsh.
Sarah A. Emerson
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The approach to the winding fiord-like estuary of the river Douro then was obstructed by a sandy spit of land, enlarged by deposits of silt washed down by the current. About sixty miles up river lay a hilly sheltered region where the vine was cultivated extensively, hence the rich red wine known as Port, from its being shipped at O Porto, 'the port.'
My dear Daughter Mary
Oporto 15 July 1849
I write by Brig Celestina, Capt. Petingill, bound for N. York, which is to Sail on the 17th, and I expect to be ready to leave on the 19th. I hope the Lord in his mercy will favor us with a safe and speedy passage home and bring us again to see our dearly beloved children, all well and happy. I had no idea of being gone so long or I should have made different arrangements for you. If you receive this you will know, if nothing happens to us that we are not far off. Tell Aunt Rebecca she must not be discouraged, but pray for our safe return and be assured we feel as anxious to get home as you are to have us come. We are and have been well.
Your affectionate Father William S. Emerson
Dear Mary
We thought to have been on our passage home before now but our Cargo comes very slowly; on our part we have done all we could to get away but our Merchant does as lie pleases. I hope and pray that we shall get in at N. York August 20, for I am homesick enough to get out of this place. When Sabbath comes the bells will be ringing, the Flags flying and Cannon rat- tling, the skyrockets and drums beating and parties Sailing and the Feasts; it sickens me and I want to be home in a Christian land and where duty calls me.
Yours truly Sarah Emerson
Aunt Sarah, separated from her children by the Western Ocean, was very anxious to start. Arrival followed before mid-September, and all anxiety was dispelled by letters from home.
Dear Mother
Boothbay August 9 1849
We are all well. William has been pretty good this summer, has been to school most of the time; Sister has been a real good girl to go to school; George Gilman has been a good boy, his hair is hanging in curls around his head; Charles Henry the best of all. I was over to Aunt [Catharine] Reed's and I told her that we had a letter from you and she was so glad that she said that she must take two or three pinches of snuff. When you come home,
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come from Bath in the Phoenix, she runs here twice a week. Ben Blair sends his love to John. Mary C. Emerson
Aunt Sarah and John hastened home and for many, many years a picture of Oporto hung in his mother's room. That was her last voyage and thereafter, for any length of time, she never left Boothbay.
In October the brig sailed for Bermuda and, after a stormy passage over the Gulf Stream, the landfall was pleasing with green-clad hills clothed with a heavy growth of cedar. This light fine-grained wood was used extensively in boats. A description of the islands, in 1847, notes: 'For durability and sailing qualities there are no vessels that excel those built in Bermuda.'
My dear Son
New York 2d Decbr. 1849
John you must banish Idleness and do all you can for the family, obey your Mother and you being the eldest I hope you will be a good example for your younger brothers and sisters to imitate. Mr. Campbell continues with me as first Mate, he is well and often speaks about you. Wm. S. Emerson
Dear Friend [John]
New York Dec. 6th 1849
According to your request I write to let you know my whereabouts. My health is good as usual and I am hearty as a pig. I expect you are having a fine time amongst the Girls in Boothbay; as for myself I was as lonesome as a hermit after you went away. We have not seen dear Old Stocking, Gov- ernor Wheeler, since you left here. I expect that his Annah has eaten him up. We have made one long voyage to Bermuda and are about to make an- other with a cargo of live beef and potatoes. The good brig Rainbow has been coppered which I suppose you know. Give my regards to your Mother.
Your truly James Campbell
The new year found the Rainbow at Great Harbour, Bahamas. She proceeded to New Orleans; and illustrative of its shipping, on a single day, there were 327 vessels in port, about half full-rigged ships. The brig sailed for Philadelphia and Boston.
During the summer the vessel carried a cargo of lumber from Rich- ibucto, New Brunswick, to England. John accompanied his father, and off the Old Head of Kinsale a pilot guided them past its bluff rocky point to the Cove of Cork. Obtaining fresh provisions and mail at Queenstown, the voyage was resumed to discharge at Whitehaven,
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scene of John Paul Jones's attempted raid in 1778. The next port of call was Beaumaris in Wales, near the northern entrance of Menai · Strait, where the first King Edward constructed a castle on low land so that the fosse might connect with the bay and vessels unload under the walls. Passing southward through the strait, they touched at Bangor, where gravestones were loaded from the Bethesda slate quarries, fa- mous for their fine-grained hardness and durability. Some in Boothbay are still in excellent condition.
My dear Husband
Boothbay Oct. 21 1850
As Mr. Greenwood wrote, your Father died the 17th of June, and just four weeks to a day my poor Father [Alexander Reed] expired and in four weeks after that Esq. Maxwell Reed died, so you see we all go one after an- other. The children are well and want to see pa and John. I haven't heard a word from him, or about him, since he left home, but from your letter we took it for granted he was well.
In your last you wrote me to meet you in Boston but you have to sail a great many miles and may have fifty days' passage, so I don't know when to go. I am sitting by the window looking at vessels putting in for a harbour, the wind North East, and I wish I could see you coming in, too. Methinks you are a great ways off trying to get in. I hope you will have a safe and pleas- ant voyage across the Atlantic and arrive home safely, for I long to see you.
Sarah A. Emerson
During 1851 Captain Emerson made three rounds to the West Indies, and in the fall a Captain Wylie took the brig to Savannah. In port at the time was the John Randolph, owned and operated there and said to have been America's first iron vessel. Her plates were made by John Laird (builder of the Alabama), and shipped to Savannah, where she was constructed and launched in 1834.
My Dear wife
Port Casilda, Trinidad Cuba June 17 1852
I am still detained at this port waiting for my Cargo and I may not be ready for sea before the 25th. On my arrival at N. York I shall expect letters from you, directed to care of Messrs. Nesmith and Sons. I am anxious to get through this voyage as soon as possible. Manage affairs according to the best of your good judgement. We are well. Wm. S. Emerson
Capt. Wm. S. Emerson
Boothbay July 13 1852
Sir- Yours from Trinidad Came to hand and you Request me to write to
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VESSELS AND VOYAGES OF THE EMERSONS
you at N. York and Come and take your Vessel. I Can Not Come very well now but if you Could Go one Voyage more, I would Like then to Take her A Spell. If coal freights are good you might get Coal and Come East.
Yours Saml. M. Reed
Captain Reed's suggestion was carried out by a Captain Plummer, then the former took the Rainbow to the coral-reefed shores of Cura- çao. On his return Emerson resumed command, and early in January sailed from Boothbay for the West Indies, in which trade he continued until July 1853, when Captain Samuel M. Dodge took the brig to Georgia for timber for the shipyards of Boston and Portsmouth.
Dear son John
Boothbay July 24 1853
I hope you will be very careful of yourself and not get sick; it will not be prudent to be exposed to the night air nor sleep where the dew falls. I got home on the Fourth and have just finished getting in the hay. The ship- builders are prosecuting their business with alacrity and I hope they do a good business, but I think the prospects look rather dark for them to make much this Year. W. S. Emerson
My dear John
We are well at home. The weather here is cool and pleasant; where you are I suppose it is unhealthy. I hope you will be careful and not get the fever, that is what I feel the most afraid of, for I think you will be faithful in your duties. I hear you are chief mate of a Brig, I think that is quite a respectable office for my boy at your early age, and I hope you will perform your task cheerfully and faithfully and learn enough this voyage to take charge of a vessel bound to any part of the world. Willis Carlisle went one trip with Capt. Race, since that he has been at home walking round with Lottie Adams. [Carlisle died that fall, aged twenty-three.] Your Father is walking the room with a pretty little boy in his arms [Ralph], three months old; and you write every chance you have. Your Mother
Dear Father
St. Marys August 24 1853
I received your letter to-day and was very glad to get news from home, as I am about tired of this long voyage. We arrived down to St. Marys to-day and shall proceed to sea the first opportunity. Coming down river we carried away our Jib Boom that had been in use six years, but have rigged it for temporary use to Boston. I have done my best to look out for the Rainbow this voyage but everything seems to work right ahead. As it happens we have
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a good crew. I have not been sick since we left New York, it is healthy here and no one from the vessel has been sick while here. John B. Emerson
My Dear wife
Portsmouth Oct. 12 1853
With great reluctance I am compelled to take charge of the Rainbow again. I wanted to be at home till you were comfortably provided for winter. If I live I do not think I shall follow the sea much longer, the more I stay at home the harder it is to break the tie that binds me to you. I have sent Woodbridge Clifford a check for $243, and you will pay Marshal Smith Forty-eight dollars earnings 1/8 Brig Rainbow. I am going out to Philadel- phia in Ballast and shall take a coal freight to Portland, if I can obtain one at a fair rate. John is well. You will write me how you like a Widow's life.
Adieu my love, adieu. Wm. S. Emerson
In November the Rainbow entered Boston in company with the fine packet ship Daniel Webster, and ten days later, coal discharged, departed for Boothbay as the new ship Don Quixote sailed for San Francisco. Since the next voyage was disastrous, it is described in de- tail. Cases of salt fish and shooks (3948) helped to make up the cargo under deck and the brig proceeded to Hodgdon's Mills for a deck load of lumber and sailed shortly before Christmas.
To my Dear wife and Children
Havana Jany. 21 1854
By the time you receive this I presume you will despair of ever hearing from me again, but thanks to God I am permitted to address you and the account I have to give is melancholy indeed. Nothing occurred after I left home worthy of notice until the 24th of December at 8 A.M. I was scudding in a tremendous Gale from NNW. and received a sea inboard that took the round house, two men at the wheel, broke the wheel post off, split a plank off the cabin-house, stove in the cabin window shutters, broke the trysail- mast off and hove us on our beam ends. The deck load, cook house, boat, Trysail and everything from deck were taken from me. The cabin was half-full of water with Stores, clothing and everything in it mixed together in the water. Most painful of all to relate: two men, Robert Osborne and Ebenezer Albee, were never seen after. Albee was at the wheel and a man named Blair with him. Osborne was standing by the Main Rigging. Blair by some means or other got lodged in some rubbish to leeward. I hauled him out badly injured and unable to do anything the whole passage. That Gale lasted two or three days, blowing with tremendous fury.
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