USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Boothbay > The shipping days of old Boothbay from the revolution to the world war : with mention of adjacent towns > Part 20
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George
Because of wind and rain sailing was delayed a few days and there was more visiting to and from the ship. Finally 'the superior packet bark Dresden' cast off from Long Wharf, spread her sails to. a favorable breeze and departed from the home port she was to see no more.
Dear Sis
New Orleans March 29th 1865
We arrived to town to-day, were fortunate enough to have another quick passage of twenty-one days. We had a very pleasant passage out, did not tack Ship once which is something rather uncommon. I like it a little better since my promotion, still I should choose some other business before going to sea. I suppose Mother thinks I am going to be somebody now. If we go to Boston I am in hopes of going home for a few days. Abiel told me how the
السوق
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baby [Emerson Rice] acted: striking his mother when she was asleep on the sofa and then putting his arm around her neck and kissing her.
There is considerable excitement here about the draft, they have been drafting since mid-February. Two men were shot for refusing to drill under a Negro officer, and not to blame I think. To-day I saw a boat carry away eight dead soldiers to be buried, a boatload goes about every day. John is well and fat and has a staving moustache. George
Dear Mother
New Orleans April 16th 1865
To-day is Sunday and I will improve the spare time writing you. I sup- pose you are rejoicing over the downfall of the Confederacy, for it has fallen at last. There are many here who rejoice and many that do not. Yesterday they fired a salute of two hundred guns in honor of the surrender of Lee and Johnston and the capture of Mobile, and to-day all the Vessels in port have their Flags hoisted. They are still drafting here-mostly negroes under guard. There have been many sick and wounded soldiers - mostly western men - brought here lately from Mobile. They are pitiful to look at - poor and thin; some have lost legs or arms and others are dead when they get here.
I was just interrupted by the appearance of Joe Averill on board, he is now second Mate of the Bark Emma F. Herriman. If she goes North from here he is going down to Boothbay. We shall be loaded in two days more, if we get the Cargo of flour. We have also dry hides, wine, lard, private freight and expect to get cotton to fill up the between decks. We shall be in good trim and ought to make a quick passage. I am sorry we are going to New York instead of Boston and don't expect to go home.
From George, Chief Officer Bark Dresden
Dear Johnny
Boothbay May 8th 1865
Yours from Orleans came to hand and was much pleased to hear from you and your doing so well. Mr. Bridge wrote me of your Remittances [$22,673 freight money]. Probably you will find Business very dull in New York. I can leave home now as well as not to go [master] and in case I don't I will want you to go again. I am going to Boston and you write me there in care of Bridge and Lord. S. M. Reed
Captain Reed resumed command and decided to go to Cuba. The time came for parting with John, farewells were exchanged and the Dresden sailed away. They never met again in this world.
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Dear Mary
Matanzas June 14th 1865
My heart was gladdened considerably this morning by receiving two let- · ters from home. You can't imagine how lonesome it is here, there is not a vessel nor a soul here that I know. We had a very long passage out owing to calms and light southerly winds. We made land away to the westward of Abaco and taking the wind southeast it took us three days to beat round Elbow Reef. But we got out here at last and found the Harbor full of light vessels and hardly a hogshead of sugar in the place. I think Uncle Miller was sorry he came out here. He has gone over to Havana to see what the prospect is and is trying to get a freight for Europe.
June 15th. Uncle Miller returned this forenoon and said that we are going to Trinidad de Cuba to load for Falmouth for orders. He takes box sugar at fifty-five shillings; said he was ashamed to go home in ballast and so took that freight. If I had known that the Vessel was going to Europe when we left New York, I would not have gone in her. Tell John that the Dresden sailed remarkably well for her on the passage out. Uncle Miller was around all the time trimming the sheets when we were in company with another vessel. I suppose she will not move though after we get loaded.
George
Dear Mary
Trinidad de Cuba July 9th .1865
We had an awful time getting round here from Matanzas. The day Uncle Miller came from Havana was a holiday, he could not clear and when we did the sea-breeze came in and the next day we attempted to beat out with- out a pilot and got ashore on a reef in the middle of the harbor. The fol- lowing day we got out and were two days running down to Cape Antonio and thirteen days from there to Trinidad, a distance of about three hun- dred miles. Uncle Miller laid it all to one of the crew - an Irishman who, he said, was a Jonah.
The first man that came aboard when we hauled in was our old darky cook, here in a Brig. I wish we had him aboard now, for the one we have is not good for much. We were at work discharging ballast the Fourth. All American Vessels had their colors up but that did not make much showing, for there are only two Brigs here besides us. I could not help thinking of the last Fourth when I went over to Bristol with Sis.
We commenced loading yesterday, took in one lighter's load of 150 boxes and have thirty lay days. I shall be glad when we get away from here and to England, and gladder still when we get to America which will be a long time, especially if we have such luck as we have had so far. There are no
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American papers here and the natives know nothing about the war except that there has been one and the President killed. I would like to know what . they are going to do with Jeff Davis.
George
Dear Mother
Trinidad de Cuba August 6th 1865
I suppose you think by this time that we are at sea. We have been here a month and three days and are not loaded yet. We had two gangs of steve- dores to stow and after stowing three tiers they left and we stowed the rest ourselves. The sugar is very light and we shall be in good trim, shall not draw more than fourteen and a half feet of water.
It is healthy and I have not heard of any Yellow Fever here yet, but I heard that it was in Cienfuegos. It is pretty warm here in the daytime, but would be quite comfortable in the evening were it not for a swarm of mosquitoes. We don't get much American news. The latest is about the execution of the [Booth] conspirators. It seemed to be hard but there was no doubt that they deserved it. Give my love to all the folks, write every chance you get and order Mary and Sis to do the same.
Monday evening, August 7. Finished loading to-day, have on board 2880 boxes; shall go to sea Wednesday morning. Good-bye George
Doubtless the beauties of that tropical coast made no appeal to the mahogany-faced mariners as they weighed and sailed from that sun- baked port, its town of Trinidad with narrow streets and medieval aspect visible amid the distant hills. With a fresh breeze they stood to the westward to round Cape San Antonio into the Gulf Stream to aid them on the ocean crossing. There, on placid summer seas, the voyagers are left for a time.
*
In the fall of 1856 an unnamed ship of 674 tons, constructed by Wil- liam Bradstreet, slid down the ways at Pittston into the Kennebec. Finally called the Uncle Joe, a friendly and familiar name about which sailors delighted to conjure up and spin yarns, she was the second ship of that name then owned in Maine. Her home port was Gardiner; she was owned chiefly by William and Peter G. Bradstreet, and first com- manded by Edwin Pinkham of Newcastle. In October she sailed from Bath to Saint Stephen, New Brunswick, to load for the first voyage; in 1863 the ship, under command of Henry M. Nickels, put in at Saint Thomas leaky and in distress; and in June of 1865 arrived in New
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York from England. Then John B. Emerson took command and, inci- dentally, among the ships in port were the famous packet Dread- naught, the Game Cock, and Metcalf and Norris's Damariscotta-built Queen of the East.
Dear Mother
Navassa Island 24th September 1865
I had a fine passage here of fourteen days, arrived the 7th September. I shall commence loading in about two days and as near as I can judge now, I shall be ready to sail by the 20th of next month. I am being detained here by poor facilities for loading, it is a contemptible place and I shall be glad when we are ready to sail. I have good officers and crew and am getting along pleasantly on board. My mate, Mr. Bailey, is a cousin to Mrs. Rachel Jackson.
I wish you to advise me of Miller's whereabouts. My being detained here is making it bad about catching the Valley Forge. I shall have to come home direct by steamer from England if I take her, and I hope to have orders to that effect on arriving at Queenstown. John
The 'contemptible place' came under the American flag in 1857 when a citizen named Peter Duncan landed there, discovered guano deposits and took possession of the unoccupied island in accordance with an Act of Congress passed the year before. About a mile in area, its high bold cliffs, bordering nearly all the shore, rise abruptly from the sea. There guano was loaded; the ship, sailing later than planned, in north latitude twenty-eight degrees, west longitude seventy-seven, ran into very stormy seas.
Rent was the sail, and strained the mast, And many a leak was gaping fast. -SCOTT, Lord of the Isles.
Pumps were manned, but in vain, and it became necessary to aban- don ship. The long-boat was gotten out, and went down with a chorus of squeaks from rusty sheaves. It was provisioned and watered, and master and crew, seventeen in all, tumbled in and shoved off. The ship foundered in mid-November. They were in an open boat exposed to the elements; the weather moderated and the sea subsided as the gale blew itself out. John decided to make for Nassau with the hope of being picked up by a passing vessel. A sail was sighted hull down on the horizon, but the boat was unseen. Alternately rowing and using a small
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SHIP 'VALLEY FORGE' OF GARDINER
RALPH W. EMERSON
SARAH WATTS EMERSON
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sail when the wind was favorable, they finally descried, at daybreak of the sixth day, the dim outline of low-lying land. Cheered by this, the sailors bent to the oars with renewed strength and landed that night at Nassau. Weary and worn and stiff, with difficulty they clambered out of the boat and stumbled about unsteadily. A week later the Captain took passage to New York in the packet brig John G., and the crew reached home in various ways.
Capt. Emerson
Portsmouth December 14th
I regret to learn of the loss of your Ship Uncle Joe from Navassa for Queenstown, but happy to hear all were saved. My object in writing is to ask if you can inform me when the Ship Portsmouth, Capt. [Robert] Board- man, sailed from Navassa. We have not heard from him lately and are some- what anxious about him; he expected to leave Navassa about October 10th, if so he is having a long passage. I shall be thankful to hear from you, as I am interested in said Ship and commanded her. If I remember rightly your Ship was at Callao with me last voyage, under command of Capt. Nickels. Very Respty Yours H. A. Tarlton
The last part of the year 1865 was a stormy period on the North At- lantic; marine losses were heavy and toll of life great. Captain Board- man, mate Horton Card, of Newcastle, and crew were given up later as lost. Of the Uncle Joe, the owners simply wrote: 'Was sorry to hear of the loss of the Ship and hope no one sustained any serious injury.'
The anchor rattles from the bow, The jib comes wrapping downward; And quiet rides the dripping prow, Wave-lapped and pointing townward.
Dear Mother Falmouth, England, September 27th 1865
I suppose you are worrying at not hearing of our arrival before. We had a rather long passage with good weather all the way. We did not escape the Yellow Fever after all; we had been out ten days and got up to Havana when one of the crew took sick and the next day I was taken sick with it, also two more of the crew. The men had it lightly and I got better after the third day, but went out on deck and caught cold and was very sick for eight days. I thought how you would have worried if you had known it.
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I am glad to hear that Otis [P. Rice] is back again and clear of the army; now that he is home I suppose you will lose Sis and Emmie. I was surprised - that John had gone to sea again and so was Uncle Miller. He has just come on board, has received orders for Glasgow and will sail early to-morrow morning. George G. Emerson
Rounding the granite promontory of Land's End in Cornwall, the Dresden proceeded to the Firth of Clyde and up the river of the same name by towage to her destination below Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland and famous for iron shipbuilding.
Dear Sis
Bowling, River Clyde, October 8th 1865
We have been busy since we arrived but to-day is Sunday. The place where we are now is called Bowling, it is ten miles below Glasgow and only a small village at the foot of a canal which goes to the back part of the city. We had to discharge here so that our cargo could go through the canal. We are half unloaded now.
There was a grand sight in the River yesterday. A towboat was coming up with two Schooners in tow and a large Liverpool Steamer coming down ran into one of the Schooners and sunk her in less than ten minutes; the men had just time to get into their boat without any oars and shove off clear. One man stayed on board and ran up the rigging. She was loaded with iron ore and went down stern first and water spouted out of the fore hatch ten feet high. She lies there now with mastheads out of water.
George
Dear Mary
Bowling October 12th
We have been busy discharging lately, and Monday we shall go up to Glasgow to load for good old Boston. We have eighteen lay days and our cargo is 450 tons of pig iron and general cargo between decks. I dread the cold winter passage but shall not mind it so much as we are homeward bound. I hope to spend Christmas and New Year's at home. The wind has been blowing a gale from the eastward since we arrived, and we would have had a splendid run home if we had been ready. The Ship Carlisle, the only American vessel in Glasgow, went down river today for New York.
The scenery on the river is very fine with Castles and Lords' estates. The rich people own about all the land in this country; the laboring class can't own much more than enough to build a house upon and are nearly as bad off as the slaves in the Southern States. Americans can realize what a good Government they live under when they visit other countries. There has been a good deal of talk about Fenianism here and hard feeling toward
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America. The people at Falmouth were down on Yankees, threaten great things if there is a war.
. Uncle Miller is well and enjoying himself, is up to Glasgow most of the time. He was in a church there that was 800 years old, older than the one I saw in Bristol. I wish John had got a freight direct to Liverpool, for he would have been there now. I am afraid he will be too late to take the Valley Forge. George
Dear Cousin
Glasgow October 19th
I was on board of a privateer that was built here about the same time the Alabama was sent out. She was a fine Steamer, built of iron with iron masts and yards and fitted out without regard to expense. She was ready to leave when an order came from the English Government to stop her and she has been hauled up ever since. Her name is the Pampero.
I have not been around Glasgow much but it appears to be a fine city. The weather is very disagreeable owing to so much fog. Sometimes it is so dark in the daytime that one can hardly see to read. Of the countries I have been in, I never have liked any half as well as America. When I get there I hope never to leave it again, but suppose I shall have to many times. We commenced loading yesterday and you may look for us in Boston in December.
To Charlie Greenwood
From George
Dear Mother
Glasgow November 1st
In a few more days it will be a year since I left home and the last half has seemed very long. In a New York Herald I saw John reported at Navassa. Mr. Gladstone spoke in the city hall to-day; Uncle Miller heard him but I could not go. Mates don't have much of a chance to leave in the daytime. I should like to bring Ralph and Emmie Shetland ponies; we are going to take two, they are three feet, two inches high with length in proportion, all covered with long hair.
The vessels on this coast have been having bad weather lately and several had to put back, but hope for a spell of good weather when we start. We shall not be very deep and have new sails, therefore we ought to have a quick passage. We have had so much poor luck that I am afraid it will follow us through the voyage. If we do have a long passage you must not worry any, for if we get short of provisions we have some cargo to live on, also a good strong Vessel under us. It is now ten o'clock and Ships are not allowed to have lights or fires aboard after that time, so Good night.
November 2d. It has been thick and rainy and nothing doing, so I took
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the opportunity to run up town to see what I could do in the shawl line. I bought three, for you, Mary and Sis. When you get this letter we shall be a great distance at sea; you may look for our arrival in mid-December and I am in hopes to be at home Christmas. Uncle Miller sends love to his family.
Good-bye George
Dear Mother
Belfast November 22nd 1865
You will be surprised to receive a letter from this place, when you are expecting us into Boston. We left the Clyde the 13th and had a good chance out the North Channel - though a pretty strong breeze. After we had been out about two days we discovered that the Vessel had sprung a leak. We had heavy weather and there was too much iron stowed in the lower hold. However we kept on, thinking we might get a chance to throw some cargo overboard to lighten her, but the weather continued blowy with very heavy sea and at last we were obliged to put back. We had to pump night and day for four or five days and could not keep her free. The decks were full of water all the time and I did not have a dry foot from the time we left till we got back again. We had a pretty tough time of it. We had worked our way so far along as Longitude 12° and 'twas too bad to have to put back, after getting off the coast.
After we got in we found the leak to be about the rudder case and shall have to have a new one; shall also have the cargo stowed over again. We lost a few old sails, shall replace them and shall have nearly all new sails. When we start again shall take a southern passage with warmer and better weather, though we may be a little longer.
The [former Confederate cruiser] Shenandoah left the Mersey yesterday for New York, 'tis a pity her Capt. and crew were not prisoners on board. I saw in to-day's paper that Wirtz was hanged; they ought to take Jeff now and serve him the same. I am looking every day for John's arrival. We have been having westerly winds lately and he ought to be in soon. Uncle Miller got thrown over the wheel while we were out and hurt his side; otherwise he is well. He says tell his folks not to be uneasy about him, and if they need money to call on Capt. Allen Lewis. Hoping that you will not worry about us, I will close now with love to all.
Your Affectionate Son G. G. Emerson
Messrs. Bridge, Lord and Co. Belfast Ireland November 26th 1865 Boston
I regret to say to you of this trouble: after being out from Glasgow a week of hard weather we were obliged to return to Belfast leaking badly. The
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lead got broken away from the rudder casing, caused water to come in and damage some of the Cargo. We discharged about 100 tons, caulked and had , a new rudder casing made and some new sails; therefore I draw on you for the bills here and the Charterers in Glasgow. Please notify Mr. [G. W.] Kendall, New York, of this obligation; we made the bills as light as pos- sible, noted Protest and extended before the United States consulate. The people in this Country take all possible advantage of strangers.
I am almost good for nothing. I got hurt bad at the wheel, hove in and broke some of my ribs so I can hardly walk. I am most discouraged, my luck is changed and if we get home safe it will be well to stop there and give up to someone else. Six months have passed and here we are yet. The caulkers are done, the carpenters finish to-morrow and we will be on our Voyage again. Hoping we shall see you soon. S. M. Reed
Heavy gales prevailed, the Shenandoah put back to the Mersey; but the first Sunday in December Captain Reed decided to sail on the morrow. The mate was eager to start and they sailed for home.
Death sat upon the prow, And no eye beheld him.
Christmas came with no news of arrival, then New Year's and daily Aunt Sarah scanned the shipping column for tidings of her son and brother, the master of the Dresden. Finally, when her name appeared captioned 'Missing Vessel,' another sea-tale ending in mystery and tragedy had brought poignant grief to loving hearts.
Ships arriving safely from Channel ports reported cold and stormy weather and high seas. The Sandusky put in at the Western Isles in distress, the Pittston-built bark W. H. Walls was lost. At New York in January 1866 the packet ship Neptune, from Liverpool, reported: 'De- cember 6, gale from westward; December 15, gale and extreme cold; December 22, gale and heavy sea; December 24, gale from the north- ward.' Doubtless the Dresden endured the stress of weather for a time and in a culmination of storms before Christmas, foundered in a veri- table tempest.
Captain Reed's career is described elsewhere. His chief mate, George Gilman Emerson, was twenty years of age. When nearly ninety a cousin stated: 'George was a good-looking boy with a pleasant freckled face
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and very light curly hair, genial and full of fun,' and, added the Cap- tain's daughter, Flora, 'Greatly beloved by all who knew him.''
Dear Sarah Ann
Thomaston May 14th 1866
I write to inform you of our safe arrival here, to remain one month, then shall take the stage to Newcastle and later proceed to your place. Since my arrival in Maine I have heard of the probable loss of your brother and son George which, after the misfortunes of John and all your other bereave- ments, I know must be almost unbearable. ... George visited us in com- pany with John when last in New Orleans, and called forth the admiration of myself, my wife and all present, but if he has gone weeping will not bring him back.
John B. Emerson
In the summer of 1871 Frank Malcolm returned home and met Mary. He had known George in the Dresden, but later had shipped in the brig Vincent. She had been in New Orleans on the last two occa- sions the bark was there, the first time moored alongside. With David Kincaid, of Wiscasset, they had been on shore leave, had a group pic- ture taken and their last evening in port attended theatre and dined in the French market. While George was in Scotland he himself was at Cronstadt and had heard from him, but letters and picture had been lost in a shipwreck. Time had softened sorrow, and Mary was pleased to hear of her lost brother.
CHAPTER XV VESSELS AND VOYAGES OF THE EMERSONS [CONCLUDED]
T HE Valley Forge was constructed in 1862 at Pittston, by William Bradstreet, and hailed from Gardiner. He and Peter G. Bradstreet, Captains William Cowell and Robert Norton were the principal owners. Under Captain John B. Emerson the ship's complement con- sisted of three mates and nineteen of crew.
Dear Mother
New York March 4th 1866
I shall tow to sea to-day, could not go yesterday on account of fog. Mr. [G. W.] Kendall said to me yesterday: 'Sam,' as he always calls Miller, 'will be in all right.' He is not anxious about him, and he is not insured either.
Good-bye J. B. Emerson
Dear Mother
Liverpool April 13th 1866
I would have written before and even now I am at a loss to know what to say to you. I have searched all the papers, but find no account of the Dresden. I fear we know all that we shall ever know of Uncle Miller and George. There is some hope that they may have been taken off by some vessel bound on a long voyage, and may God grant that to be true. But if they are lost we must make the best of it. We cannot have it otherwise, and it is true wisdom to be reconciled to the unchangeable decree of a wise Provi- dence. It would seem that we have suffered enough from affliction of this kind and yet the wound is kept fresh; but our loss is not to be compared with Miller's little children who most likely now have neither father nor mother. Oh, I so pity them! Brother George was a good boy and had he been spared would have made a noble man, but I will not give them up yet.
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