USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Boothbay > The shipping days of old Boothbay from the revolution to the world war : with mention of adjacent towns > Part 19
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Captain Wylie's interest was purchased by John, who arranged for his brother George to accompany him on the next voyage. He was a home-loving lad of fourteen with no strong inclination to follow the sea. Always eager to receive news from home, he wrote frequently and his letters chronicle his voyages in the barks Gan-Eden, Windward and the Dresden.
My Dear Sister
Wiscasset April 20, 1859
John arrived here at eight o'clock and I was Glad for I was lonesome. I was homesick at first and perhaps I shall be before we get to Havana and back home. I sleep in the second mate's room and eat with him. We are loaded and about ready to Start. Give my love to all the family and write to Havana.
Good-bye George G. Emerson
My Dear Mother
April 25, 1859
I thought I would answer your Kind letter before we left Wiscasset. I
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have Concluded to go with John. He and Charlie McCobb have gone ashore and I am here all alone. The second mate is real Good to me and gets me to read his love letters, as he can't read in our language. Mr. Sparks has just arrived from home - his wife is Sick. I have exhausted all my Stock of news - it isn't much either - so I must close. Good-bye, from George
At Boothbay Elizabeth Blair noted in her diary:
Tuesday, April 26, 1859. Very rainy. Wind east. Went to Mrs. Emerson's to carry Sis's coat home. The Windward was just coming in. We went up in the attic and spied her. John Emerson was in to-night.
Wednesday, 27th. Beautiful morning. The Windward went out this morning.
On a calm sunny morning the brown hillsides and lofty palm trees of the Cuban coast were sighted and slowly became plainer and plainer. Soon they were passing the narrow entrance guarded by Morro castle with its dark gray rocks, entered the landlocked bay and anchored at Regla, berth for foreign ships, amidst a veritable forest of masts and picturesque surroundings.
Dear sister Mary
Havana May 21, 1859
I received your letter and was very Glad to hear from home. Yes, I was seasick for a few days. We arrived the fifteenth, the Rainbow also has ar- rived and Sumner Tibbetts is here in the bark James E. Ward. Tell Mother that I like the Sea pretty well and shall go the voyage with John till he comes home. I will answer Sis's letter:
Dear Sarah
You asked how I liked the life of a Sailor. I like it very well as far as I have been and we have a real clever set of men. I haven't been ashore yet because I don't want to get Sick, but I think that I shall go on board the Rainbow to-morrow to see Charles Corey and William Mckown. We should have arrived before but got becalmed off Key West. We are about half discharged [of lumber and sugar box shooks]. We don't lay at the wharf, the lighters take the Cargo ashore. John is ashore and I will send his love for him. Write as quick as you can. George
Dear Mother
Havana June 7, 1859
You asked about seasickness and how I felt in a storm. I was seasick but not very much. We had a very pleasant passage and no storms at all; was
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only sixteen days out. It is too warm here to be comfortable but we lay in the coolest place here. Mr. Sparks is fanning himself with his hat and says: 'It is as hot as the Devil.' He is a real funny man and keeps me alive with his Jokes. The American consul died a few days ago and I saw an iron coffin sent aboard the bark Hamilton, right astern of us and bound to Boston. John has not taken up yet and is ashore after freights. [He chartered to load at Matanzas.]
George
Dear Mother
Matanzas July 4, 1859
To-day is the Fourth and I suppose you are having a good time at home. How I wish I were there to Enjoy it with the rest of the folks. Here, it is just the same as any other day. The Golden Gate is most loaded and is going to Philadelphia, but Ben [Blair] says he will not go home from there. The bark James E. Ward is here, and the Hesper[us] went to Cork for orders.
We finished loading [2710 boxes sugar] to-day and will go to sea to-mor- row morning [bound to Falmouth for orders]. I am glad of it for I am sick of the West Indies. It is too hot for me and yellow fever will be along bye and bye. It is in Havana now and a Ship's whole crew was sick and five of them died. Her name is the Marengo, I believe. John said he wrote home and wanted me to write too.
Good-bye, Mother George
Nothing untoward happened until one night an emergency arose which might easily have had a more serious ending. Out of the dark- ness a ship appeared suddenly and grazed the Windward, scraping and chopping the port side and carrying away rigging and spars. Neither seriously damaged, the stillness was broken by the crash, hoarse cries and curses as the compliments of the sea were exchanged betwixt the respective watches. At daylight a passing vessel signaled and on arrival in Havre reported the bark: 'with damage to stern and larboard side, apparently having been in contact with Don Juan Gallet.'
Dear Mother
Bristol August 14, 1859
I received letters from Mary, and Charlie Greenwood in Falmouth. We were there two or three days and got our orders for Bristol. I don't know whether John wrote or not about our accident. We were run into by a Ship when about halfway across and she stove us up more or less. It was dark and foggy at the time and we did not see her until she was so near that we could
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not keep clear of her. She struck us midship and took away the main and mizzen rigging, the mainyard, maintopgallantmast and mizzentopmast, stove the rail and a small hole below the rail which went nearly through. The Ship was bound north and John don't know her name. We were going before the wind and arrived safely after all. Love to all. George
Dear Mary
Bristol August 26, 1859
We are well and happy here. We have discharged and now are in the drydock repairing. We have a freight for New York and you can't think how glad I am that we are going home. I hope I shall be there in time to go to school; it is hard to study at sea. I did not know the mail went to-day until Mr. Sparks told me, and have no time to write a long letter. · George
Dear Mary
Bristol 2d September
Since my arrival in Falmouth I have received two letters only from home, and you know I wish to hear what is going on at Boothbay. With exception of a little seasickness George has not been sick for the voyage. I have not in- dulged in a smoke since the fourth of July, what do you think of that? This is a fine place and I am having a good time. My love to Mother and I shall write her before leaving - we are bound to New York. More anon.
John
Dear Mother
Bristol, England, September 29th
We are well and hope this will find you all at home the same. Since I have been here I have not gone around much but what I have seen of the town I like. There is a place called Brandon hill from which the whole city can be seen and in the evening when lighted up by gas it looks especially fine. Do Sis and Sue go to prayer meeting as often as ever to get the fellows to go home with them? I forgot to write in other letters that we were to load rail- way Iron [bars]. We are most loaded and will go to sea in a few days. Good- bye till we get to New York. George
Dear sister
Bristol October 6th
I will write one more letter before we go to sea. We are loaded and have a fair wind and are waiting for a pilot. John says we will go to sea to-day and get to New York in thirty-five days or Bust, so you see he means to get there as quickly as he can. I am in hopes of a short passage so that I can get home and go to school. I am tired of being away so long; we have been in Bristol seven weeks and I am real glad to get away from here. We are lying twelve miles from the city, right off from the land and nothing going on to write
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about. The pilot is coming and I must get this ready to send ashore by him. John says he has had so much business to attend to that he has not written, and now he is too much excited to do so. The anchor is almost up and the towboat has got hold of us and I must close.
Good-bye George
Dear Mary
Boothbay October 9, 1859
I will write a few lines to ease your mind since you will feel anxious to hear from your brothers John and George. We have not heard from John yet, the steamer will get in this week and we shall have news. Capt. [Peter] Lennox has had no letter lately, so by that means we shall hear this week.
This Sabbath day I have gone back twenty-two years in deep thought thinking what a beautiful little daughter [Mary] I had a few hours old, and a darling little son [John] two and a half years of age. I felt happy with them, but could not help crying to think their dear Father had so soon to take leave of us and go to sea for the first time since my acquaintance with him; that was a sorrowful time with our little band. Those scenes with others more afflicting are hovering over me now. Your mother
Before the breeze our voyagers sped down the Channel, ocean winds freshened and the ship, deeply laden, did not readily rise to seas kicked up by strong westerly gales so prevalent in October. Indeed, it was at that time that the noted Royal Charter storm occurred, so called be- cause an inbound steamship of that name from Australia was over- whelmed near shore on the Welsh coast and toward morning broke into three parts, hurrying 450 souls into eternity. No one was saved. Not on a lee shore but far at sea the Windward encountered the hurricane force of that storm, and they soon realized that in all likelihood 'Bust- ing' was more to be expected than the desired length of passage. Wind- ward's log notes:
Sunday Nov. 26 1859. Commences with heavy Gales from North West, at ten A.M. Double reefed fore and Main Topsails, brailed up the Spanker and hauled Down the Mizzen Staysail; at 12 Noon shortened all Sail to a close reefed Main Topsail and put a jumper on the Main yard. At two P.M. furled the Weather Clew of the Main Topsail; ends the same.
Sixty-six days out they arrived safely at Sandy Hook. The good news was flashed to Maine.
The Windward voyaged to New Orleans where cotton, rosin and sugar were loaded for Trieste, and after a long passage the bark arrived
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in that important and picturesque seaport, having crossed the Ionian Sea of Golden Greece, on whose shore in ancient times an epitaph read:
An unknown sailor Wrecked upon this shore Bids you 'Set sail!' For many a ship When his was lost Weathered the gale.
On the return passage Captain Emerson passed the Strait of Messina a fortnight before Garibaldi, 'eluding the vigilance of the Bourbon Squadron, landed with his companions ... August 19, 1860. On ac- count of the difficulty of crossing the Strait, this was one of the most im- portant events of the Garibaldian campaign,' notes the London Post. Here were located Scylla and Charybdis, the latter a tide-rip or whirl- pool. The magnificent towering rock of Gibraltar was passed and the ship headed across the broad Atlantic.
Due west the helmsman steers with skilful arm, His ship is staunch, the sea untroubled, calm. Far, far from land, no other vessel's light, A cloudless, moonless, star-bespangled night!
Six bells ring clear! - the Dipper's suns now blaze Below the Polestar's fixed and faithful rays, Which sparkle gem-like in the darkling dome As westwardly a good ship sails for home. -C. N. HOLMES
On arrival in New York the Pittston-built Bullion, Captain Alex- ander Hodgdon, was in port. November 1 1860 John wrote: 'I bet a hat with Mr. Hall that the Windward would be at the Levee in N. Orleans before Ship Bullion.' How the wager was decided is unknown; their arrivals came the same day-the thirtieth of November. January 18 1861, with cargo of 1441 bales cotton, 1750 pigs of lead and 500 hides, the bark sailed for Boston.
Meantime George had remained at home attending school; made a summer fishing trip to Bay Chaleur in 1860; attended the winter term taught by William M. Smith who, the boy wrote: 'Kept a first-rate school.' Later he left for Boston to rejoin the Windward.
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Dear Mother
Havana March 14, 1861
We got in this morning, John has gone ashore and I expect letters. We had a passage of thirteen days which is very good, but it was a very rough one, our decks were not dry two days out of the whole time. I was not sea- sick at all. Sailorship comes a great deal handier to me than I expected and I am not so green. I have been Idle so long the work comes hard but shall get used to it.
George
Dear Mother
Havana April 7, 1861
I received your letter last night, it is a great Consolation to have news from home in a place like this. I shall be glad when we get to sea again. John Henderson is out here in the Ship Grotto; his father is mate of the Ship. Tell Mary we have only Seven Cats on board, can't move without stepping on a Cat. The Brig Havana just came in and lies alongside of us. We are about half loaded [with sugar and cigars] and probably will get away next week. Write often to Cronstadt.
Love to all George
As the Windward passed the Morro with the proud flag of Spain waving a farewell, the hostile shot at the star-spangled banner, destined to arouse the North, had been fired at Charleston, and the crimson flood of war burst forth. In Maine the feeling was shown in a maritime way by naming two new schooners Major Anderson and Fort Sumter. After arrival in the Russian seaport of Cronstadt in June, the bark Tanaro caught fire one night, and as red flames licked the black hull and cast fitful shadows over the water with gleams of light penetrating the darkness, all combined to create a vivid scene of interest to our voyagers. In England they viewed the burning of ship Sea Eagle.
Dear sister Sarah
Cronstadt July 21, 1861
It is a splendid Sunday and how I should like to be at home, would have given most anything to have been there the Fourth, was thinking all day of the nice times you were having. You must write all about the war for I have not heard a word about it since we sailed. When you see Ed. Sargent ask him if he remembers a certain day when Captain Dodge's boots were hoisted up to the masthead. I work hard all day and at night am too tired to write. You all write to Bristol.
Good-bye, from George
The bark touched at Elsinore, Zealand Island, and anchored in a safe roadstead of the Bristol Channel, Penarth. At the entrance of the
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channel lies Lundy Isle, whose southern end of high walled granite forms a natural breakwater against southwest gales. Thereabout, a · galleon of the Invincible Armada, the Santa Catharina, returning to Spain was said to have been lost with every soul on board. The isle and Hartland Point, the nearest land on the coast of Devon, are described in Kingsley's Westward Ho!
Dear Mother
Bristol September 8, 1861
It has been raining hard all day, so I was obliged to stay on board the Vessel and keep Sunday. I am here all alone and homesick. We have been here a week and have not begun to discharge the deals yet. There are a great many American Ships here either laid up or going home in ballast. I think we will go home too. How does the [temperance] Division prosper? I am afraid they will have to discharge me, for I have drank ale two or three times. Now you must not write me a long lecture about it George
Dear sister Sarah
Bristol September 22d
I have received the letters from home and was real glad to get them. I am so provoked because we are not going home, but when I do I will have enough good times to make up for it. I was at work all day the Fourth, but you don't catch me to do it again. We are going up the Strait to Alicante, in Spain. I was introduced to one of Josephine Mcclintock's old beaux, Mr. Eaton of Wiscasset. He is Mate of the Bark WV. A. Platenius and is going to the same place we are, so I shall have some company there. John Henderson has been in Bristol and I was very sorry to miss seeing him by a few days.
I read in an English paper that the Southerners are going to cross the Potomac with 150,000 men to attack Washington. If it is true the Northern- ers should try and do a little better than they have done. I hope old Abra- ham will spunk up and give them a good whipping. I heard that old Abe has sent for Garibaldi to take command of the Army; tell the Doctor [Rice] that he must not praise him any more if that is true. The Little Giant [Stephen A. Douglas] would have shown the Southerners their places if he had been elected.
I have enjoyed myself pretty well in Bristol. Became acquainted with three or four pretty girls but shall not tell you their names, for I never would hear the last of it. We are having new Masts put in, then we are going down to Cardiff to load with coals. I shall be glad when we get away; I don't like such long Voyages. Now Sis, I want you to write to Alicante as often as you can. Give my love to all the Girls.
Brother George
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The sailor lad was so disappointed that John, recalling his own brief schooldays, arranged for George to take passage with Captain O. Line- kin, ship Sandusky, then on the point of sailing for New York. Thus unexpectedly the boy's wish was fulfilled. In Windward's accounts for that year appears an item, 'for expenses searching for ship Equal Rights.' Possibly for a rescue at sea, an Englishman once presented to John an expensive fowling piece.
On a thick, murky November night, a little west of Lundy, the Hamburg ship Elise collided with the Windward, and both sustained damage to bows and bulwarks and leaked badly. To prevent sinking, the bark was laid upon the Swash and later towed from King's Road to Bristol to be discharged, drydocked in the Great Western Ship Yard and repaired. Costly repairs, long detention with board of mate Blas- land and eleven of crew proved to be a very expensive mishap.
Not until mid-February of 1862 was the Windward ready to start from Lundy for Havana with 700 tons of coal, partly discharged there and at Trinidad de Cuba. Thence she carried sugar to Europe for orders, which proved to be Bristol; loaded coal at Newport for Boston, put in at Falmouth for a new rudder and on account of stress of weather touched at Bermuda for stores and slight repairs. Soon the bark was stretching out to clear the coral reefs and in February 1863 arrived safely in Nantasket Roads. The vessel was sold immediately to Thayer and Lincoln, of Boston, who placed Captain R. S. Randall in com- mand.
John went home; and in July came the high-water mark of the war. Vicksburg had fallen, and the Mississippi was open from Cairo to the sea. Sad news came to Boothbay; a favorite son had given his life for his country, a friend and shipmate of the Captain whose journal notes this epitaph:
Charles Sullivan McCobb Lieut. Fourth Regiment Maine Vol. Killed at the battle of Gettysburg. Peace to his soul.
Later the Windward went under British registry, voyaging in 1865 from Boston to Melbourne under Captain H. K. Eldridge; underwent extensive repairs in New York; and in the early 'seventies, still owned
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by Thayer and Lincoln and commanded by Charles N. Dixon, hailed from Nassau. According to Boston Marine Museum records the bark . was wrecked in May 1897, easterly from Amangansett life saving sta- tion, New York. The crew was saved.
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In 1863 Cephas Reed wrote Samuel Miller Reed:
Glad to hear from you and that you are going to build a new vessel. I would rig her as a bark by all means for they are much handier than a brig of that size. If I were you I would let the after-house go right aft and have the storeroom in the forward-house, and you would have more room for cargo and trim your vessel better; let the wheel come on top of all, and then you would get all forward of the mizzenmast for cargo in the poop-deck. I would put in short masts and long yards. That is my plan for building a vessel of that size [494 tons].
The suggestion of rig was adopted, and Charles Murray was engaged to construct a double-decked bark at Calais. Employed there as a rigger, in December Benjamin F. Blair wrote:
Had a fine launch yesterday [12th], but it snowed nearly all day. She is chartered to load laths for Philadelphia and probably will drop down four miles below here to finish the rigging, which will take about a month. I believe they intend to call her the Sea Mirror.
Capt. S. M. Reed, Calais Boston December 10th 1863
Yours of the 7th came to hand this morning. We wrote you the 27th No- vember as follows: 'In regard to the name of the Bark, our Mr. Bridge would like to have her called the Dresden, the name of the town in which he was born. Dresden, the capital of Germany, is a large city, celebrated for its insti- tutions of learning, having the most extensive Gallery of Painting in the world; it is also a short word easy to pronounce and no vessel now of that name, there used to be a Schooner of the same name which was a very fortunate vessel. If that name is satisfactory Mr. Bridge will give her a suit of colors. Please write us who are to compose her owners and when she is launched we want to notice it in the papers.' ... If you adopt the name of Dresden write us what flags you wish Mr. Bridge to furnish.
Yours truly N. W. Bridge, T. H. Lord
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The vessel was christened Dresden and in February of 1864 dropped down the Saint Croix to the sea and coasted along:
Beneath the westward-turning eye A thousand wooded islands lie - Gems of the waters with each hue Of brightness set in ocean's blue. -WHITTIER
She put in at Boothbay with her new set of colors flying in the wintry air. 'At the time the Dresden was in the harbor,' wrote Flora, the Cap- tain's daughter, 'the weather was so cold that father thought best for us not to go on board. Sister Carrie saw the Dresden from a distance and she looked very large and attractive.'
The maiden voyage began, and in May Captain Reed, in New Orleans, called on Captain John Brown Emerson and found him with health impaired by imprisonment, because of loyalty to the Union. That autumn the bark was again in Philadelphia, newly coppered and in fine condition from keel to truck. Since the Captain's eldest daugh- ter was ill he wished to return home, and sent for his nephew, John B. Emerson, to relieve him. John was named for another uncle, the loyal- ist of New Orleans. After leaving the Windward George had been in the Gan-Eden, became mate of a coaster and on return from a mackerel cruise in Bay Chaleur decided to ship on the Dresden.
Dear Mother
Philadelphia November 17th 1864
I had a hard time finding where the Vessel lay, finally Abiel McCobb directed me. He is well and is going to visit Boothbay this winter. Uncle Miller is here yet, but will be home soon. I shall lose some good times by being away this winter, but shall have the advantage over some of the boys of earning money while they are spending it. I suppose my school days are over, I never expect to go any more. Write me how much I made off my mackerel; tell Char not to forget to get that little chest I left on board the A. M. Nash.
There is a second Mate on board the Vessel and John don't want to dis- charge him, as he is a good man. John said that if I would go before the mast this time, that next Voyage I could have the first Mate's berth. I live in the cabin, have a stateroom to myself and get $45 per month. Sailors are scarce here and we will have a hard time to get a crew. We finished loading
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to-day and now lie off in the stream to leave as soon as a crew is shipped.
George
- Dear Mother
New Orleans Christmas 1864
I received a letter from Mary the day we arrived; had about thirty days from Philadelphia with light head winds the first part of the passage but was five days only performing the last half. I was up street last night and everybody seemed to be having a good time buying presents. I would like to take dinner with you to-day. Poor Uncle Miller; I was ashore with him when he received the telegram in Philadelphia, he could not seem to believe that Emma was dead.
We shall commence to discharge to-morrow morning and it will take ten days or more. From here I think we shall go to New York or Boston.
George
Dear Mother Charlestown February 23rd 1865
We came over to Charlestown to take in Ice, have the lower hold full and shall go back to Boston to-morrow to take in general cargo between decks; are bound to New Orleans and probably shall get away next week. We have had quite a lot of company since we arrived; Mary, Carrie, Lucy, Ann Blair, Charlie, and Capt. Jacob Auld were on board, also Aunt [Char- ity] Parker to see Uncle Miller [her brother]. Mary has been over twice, mended my clothes and made red curtains for my stateroom; it seems like home to see her here. I had a firkin full of pecans that I got out of the cargo, but they soon disappeared when the girls came aboard. I suppose you were glad to see John home again; I should have liked to have gone but have en- joyed myself here.
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