USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Freeport > Three centuries of Freeport, Maine > Part 10
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Whoever this Book receives will be pleased to forward it to Mrs. Susan R. Mitchell (my Dearly beloved Wife) at Freeport Maine, U. S. A. Boat At Sea June 1866.
It was intended that the last survivor should place this diary in a bottle and cast it adrift, hoping that it would be picked up.
Thursday, May 3 7 A.M. Latt 2.20 Long 112.10 At 8 left Hornet in 3 boats. Ship on fire and envelopd all over, just time to launch boats and get a little provisions. - At 9 Mast went overbd Stay round the Ship in the boats hoping some ship would be attracted smoke and take us off - Latt 2.04 Long 112.00
Friday, May 4 Begins ship still burning. No relief. At 6 P.M. divided the men in the boats 9 men in each yawl and 13 in long boat with water & provisions. At 5 A.M. Ship went down still burning. At 6 A.M. kept off N by E for Clarion Island hoping to reach it as nearest land. Latt Obs 2.50 Long 112.45
Saturday, May 5 Run North by E. 5 Knts until 6 P.M. Night dark, Calm and rainy filld up everything with water. At 6 A.M. breeze from SE fresh, a good deal of Cobbling sea, run N by E. Cloudy and rainy in the doldrums, hot. Latt DR 4.00 Long 111.30. Half a biscuit a Man.
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Captain Josiah A. Mitchell
Sunday, May 6 Strong breeze from South and rough sea run- ning N by E until 12 midnight, dies, torrent of rain & awful doldrum. Bread and everything soaked. Boat very uncomfort- able. At A.M. breeze from SSW fresh. Hard chance. Latt Obs. 5.11 Long D R 111.25
Monday, May 7 Winds light & baffling with Calms and Cob- bling sea. Latter strong breeze from SW a good deal of sea from NW. Soaking rain at intervals, very bad sea - doing the best one can in a crowded boat. The three boats still attachd - Made N by E when we could. Have to go easy. Latt Obs 6.12 N. Long 110 - Steering E N E.
Tuesday, May 8 Light breeze fst part. Steered NE towing the small boats - Night, wind light - All round the compass, per- fect torrents of rain latter part Calm, had both boats alongside and had a good talk Men cheerful and hope to be taken out. for myself I see & feel no prospects. Ends hot Calm and Cloudy. No obs Latt 16.21 No Long -
Wednesday, May 9 All well as yet. Doing best we can. Men all cheerful, steered when we had a breeze N NE & N. All the first part calm. turned in until 7 P.M. I got a nap of 2 hours last night the first I have had We are now on the 7th day, since leaving the ship. The prospect of being saved is small - God be Merci- ful to us - Latt Obs 6.50 Long about 108 -
Thursday, May 10 Calm & Hot Afternoon caught 2 dolphins, through the night breeze from NW. Steerd by the wind, boats fast together. This is the 8th day - Men begin to look famishd and despairing. Almost out of resources for encouraging them. Latter part calm & scalding sun Got a sight with Chro. 110.32 Latt. 7.03. The diet begins to effect us all. 2nd Mates Boat very improvident & troublesome.
Friday, May 11 Begins Light Airs and scalding sun, and calms through the night, slow drizzling rain. Wind light from North, could not succeed in catching any water. 6 A.M. Calm. My own strength failing fast, Never can get anywhere in these calms - Ends hot & Calm, we are all failing fast - Latt Obs 7.00. Long 109.3 -
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Saturday, May 12 Latt 7.00. Long. 109.00 Another day of Calms, burning Sun baffling Airs Rain drizzly, &c alternately with a good deal of Cobbling sea - Nothing gaind - Shall be obliged to separate the boats. all very crowded. I feel tolerable well yet for which I am truly grateful - God preserve us.
Sunday, May 13 Suffered much fm thirst. Very dark squally rainy weather. Awful Hot - Midnight clears up, wind S which lasts through the day. Steerd N by E, boats still together - Chances dark - Ends squally aff. O for More rain, this thirst I cannot stand. Latt Obs 8.08
Monday, May 14 Condition not bettered. Still alive and to- gether. Same doldrum weather. Squalls & baffling winds & Calms. burning sun. And nights. Torrents of rain, thunder and Lightning, crowded this boat - no room to move, 1/2 biscuit per day, can anything be worse. God is our only help. Latt this day 9.06. I pray continually -
Tuesday, May 15 Still the same dreadful weather. steering North whenever I can to get out into a breeze for this is getting awful drenchd thro' & thro' again last night. Thunder & Lightning terrific. would that we could get a breeze. Still I am truly thankful we are preserved. What our fate is to be God only knows. No Obs. Ends Calm
Wednesday, May 16 Comes in very light Airs from North Opd S&B tin. 14 good dinners All getting hungry - No rain today. Middle & Latter very light Airs from NE. Caught a Dolphin. Got a sight this morn. chronometers running, very hot and scalding. About 1/2 bushel Bread Crumbs left. What are we to do then? God in thy Mercy help us. Ends very light fr. N. E. hot & cloudy - Latt 10.16 Long Ch 110.18 - I want to reach Clarion Island. its our only chance - God be with us -
Thursday, May 17 An awful day & worse night. Wind & Squalls from all quarters, a good deal of sea. Much thunder & Lightning and perfect torrents of rain. Everybody & every thing drenchd. the most anxious night I ever passd. dark as Erebus. these three boats together. If had but this one It would not be so hard - but I cannot cast them off No Obs Dark & rainy 109.30 10.40.
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Friday, May 18 God in his goodness has preserved us another day, boats still together. First & Latter part calm, a good deal of Sea weather Cloudy very sultry thro the night, nice breeze from E to S. Steer North whenever I can get out of doldrums. All well yet. Latt Obs 11.12 N 109.10
Saturday, May 19 Calms & light rain squalls & hot scalding sun burning us up & no progress -The Mate with Eight men cast off this morn by himself, divided the Water & Provisions. Ends calm burning hot - We are too weak to pull and unless we get a breeze soon must all perish - No Obs.
Sunday, May 20 First part calm and hot - thro the night Cool & light breezes baffling, steering N. 2 Knots - at daylight Mates boat not in sight - God grant some of us may be pickd up - Sabbath. O how Glorious if one could be anywhere else - A lovely day but O what a place to pass it in - Very little hope, I am getting very weak. Ends hot sun and Calm Latt 12.10 N - Monday, May 21 Begins light air from NE, increasing to steady breeze. All hands encouraged by it. Middle rough & squally. Wind NNE to NE very uncomfortable. Latter part strong squally trade, heavy sea - Boat pitching & rolling fear- fully, pitched away mast, - reduced mast & sail - Cloudy and fresh with heavy sea. Ends. No Obs Lat 13 no Long. Caught several boobies.
Tuesday, May 22 Took one man out of second Mates Boat. Begins strong trade & Rough sea - Winds NNE Very rough night. Daylight saw the Mates boat ahead, thot it a sail and we saved, the dissapointment was bitter, came up and spoke him, all well & cheerful, At 8 A.M. divided Water & Stores with 2nd Mates boat, bid them farewell and left them. God have us all in his keeping. A beautiful day but what a situation to enjoy it. Lat 13.20
Wednesday, May 23 Comes in fresh trade & rough cross sea. boat jumping a good deal Caught a booby, God seems to pro- vide for us. Middle & Latter part sea smoother and trade Mod- erate. Sky overcast, a great relief to us. Men getting weak and sleepy. Steering by the wind all the time. Hd'g about NW go- ing 3 knots - Read prayers in boat today. God send us relief - Ends cloudy, No Obs. sea making and wind increasing.
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Thursday, May 24 Fresh trade & cloudy all this day. Showrs, Wind strong NW, stood East - Latter part strong from NNE. Standing NW. All getting very weak, rations insufficient. 15 dined on 5 small oysters apiece (1. Can) Provisions failing, a few more days & then what, providing we are spared. God care for us Latt Obs 14.18 -
Friday, May 25, 1866. This day very rough Sea, strong trade and cloudy weather. Boat pounding into the sea by the wind; seems impossible she can live a great while. The hand of God is over us, provisions getting low. Men despondent. It's terri- ble O God in Thy Mercy send us relief. No Obs - Our pros- pect of being saved is very Gloomy - O My Dear Wife & Loved Ones - pray ever -
Saturday, May 26 We are still preserved. All this day fresh trade and rough sea. First & Middle fine rain & Misty, what with seas slopping over rain & Mist. very wet & Uncomfortable. Latter part sunshine, pleasant. A Booby & flying fish came on board which Makes our dinner for 15 men. I feel very thankful and hope we shall be preserved until taken up. Latt. 15.50
Sunday, May 27 Afternoon pleasant, less sea got a Chro. sight putting us in Long 118.30. Can't be right. I judge 115. First part night very rough. Latter grows smooth, day ending very pleasant. O how many thousands are worshipping God this fine day. And how utterly wretched are we, thankful for the day, and our wonderful preservation. Growing very weak Good sight Latt. 16.06 - 17.24
Henderson Isle 128-24
Monday, May 28 Moderate NNE Winds and smooth sea all this day comparatively. Stores small, growing very weak - Thankful for fine weather want to live as long as possible hop- ing to fall in with a ship. O My Dear Wife & Children if your Father has ever given you offence forgive him as he hopes to be forgiven. O could I but see you once more. God have mercy on us Latt. 16.24
Tuesday, May 29 Very weak today can hardly stand -Latt 16.44, Long 119.20. Have been favd with smooth sea & fine weather. Mod breezes. Reduced allowance to 14 biscuit a day
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hoping to live to be rescued. Have about 2 qts bread crumbs left, 1/3d of a Ham & 3 small tins Oysters, 20 gals Water, O My God send us relief.
Wednesday, May 30 Broken trades all this day from N to E Squally & Moderate alternately, Misty Showers. A good deal of Sea, breaks into the boat. Cold wet & very disagreeable. No sleep & very weak, no exercise, blood stagnant. Still we are wonderfully preserved, And God is Good in him we trust. Latt 17.17
American Group - Gave up Henderson
Thursday, May 31 At 1 PM this day Kept off West - for the Am Group Cluster of Islands. 16 to 17 N & in 133 to 136. Moderate trades, smooth sea & cloudy weather which greatly relieves our thirst two meals a day. 11 raisins and a piece of bread the size of a cent for Tea. Morning a piece of ham & bread each the size of a cent & a gill of water. O I am growing so weak. God have mercy & send us despairing ones relief before its too late we praise thy holy name. No Obs.
Friday, June 1 Strong squally trade very rough high seas Wet & extremely uncomfortable, hardest day yet Water flying in the boat keeps us continually wet. Can't write, All very weak par- ticularly myself, Cold and hungry - Great God have us in thy keeping & preserve us. No Obs. still running for uncertain Is- lands 30 ds in the boat and No Sail Gladdens us
Saturday, June 2 Very high sea all this day and dangerous run- ning. Yet we are miraculously sustaind By Gods protecting care - very wet from the sea & very cold, so near the water, yet we are all better than could be expected. 30 ds today, in this boat with 2 ds more supplies of the scantiest measure 10 raisins apiece and a little piece of bread - the sun shines and God is Merciful Latt 18.09 -
Sunday, June 3 Obliged to Keep off on Acct of sea. Very heavy sea all day and very dangerous running, have spent most of the day in prayer to God and thinking of my beloved family. I Must give them all up & Commend them to Gods Mercy. O My Father Spare me if its thy will otherwise prepare me for Death Lat 17.54
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Monday, June 4 We are still preserved by Gods Mercy - First & Middle part of this day very rough & high sea, running before it. Wet & Cold - Latter part pleasant sun shine. & Worth try- ing to get dry, Bread & Raisins all gone - Everybody very weak & praying for relief. Hope we may fall in with some ship before its too late. Good sights to day Latt 17.06 Long 130.36
Tuesday, June 5 First part of this day pleasant with a high rolling sea, Night fine, Latter part cloudy sea still large wind light dryer in the boat than for many days We are getting very weak. Bread gone a little piece of Ham & a gill of water. A con- spiracy formed to Murder me. Minds unquiet - God is over all Latt 16.46
Wednesday, June 6 Another day has been allowd us first & middle thick & Cloudy Latter very pleasant sky good deal of sea & fresh wind - daily growing weaker. Allowance very small & but three meals left - American Group not there. Must run for Sandwich Islands and trust in Gods Goodness for food - Latt 16.30 Long 134 -
Thursday, June 7 5 Weeks in the Boat, provisions all gone but 1 small can. A little water left. Beautiful June day, running all day hoping to reach Sandwich Islands failing fast. Everybody very weak. A day or two more and all will be over. O God Mercy on us and forgive us our sins Latt 16.36 L 136 -
Friday, June 8 (1,000 Miles from Sandwich Islands)* Still Alive but very very weak. Another beautiful day Sea very high. Still we are wonderfully preserved - by Gods Mercy. Grant us contrite grateful hearts and peace in thee our God - No Sight Men quiet & All seem resigned. A better feeling prevails.
Saturday, June 9 We still live. Divided the last of a tin of soup and Boulli. High sea and fresh trades running for Sandwich Is- lands. some of the men will be able to reach them, they are Young & Strong. I never shall except for the Great Mercy of My Heavenly Father -
Sunday, June 10 Another Beautiful June Sabbath finds us still alive in this boat. O May the day be blessed & Sanctified unto us to the Salvation of our Souls. As nearer approach to heaven
* Written in another hand. Probably added at a later date.
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Captain Josiah A. Mitchell
- How much we think of dear ones at home this sacred day & their privileges - We are fast starving to death God have Mercy on our Souls. Latt. 18.36 Long 142.30 -
Monday, June 11 A lovely June day, everything that is pos- sible to eat is eaten, living on 3 gills Water per day I am grow- ing very weak indeed don't feel that I can possible last to the Islands except by the special Grace of God who has been very merciful to us My head troubles me today for the first I trust and pray that my conversion is truly sincere & that My sins may be forgiven. Latt. 19.23
Tuesday, June 12 Still permitted to live & write. This is my birthday God grant it may be to me a new birthday for the soul, workd and made clean for the Kingdom of Heaven. Nothing to eat, sucking rags and leather hoping to be preserved to reach the Islands which may God in his great Mercy grant. We have been spared so long, 40 ds today, that we dare think we may ar- rive. God has been very merciful to us. Latt. 19.52
Wednesday, June 13 Still preserved by Gods Wonderful Mercy - Beautiful weather & fair wind, nought to eat this day re- duced allowance of water to 2 gills hoping to survive until we reach the Islands. O very very weak & so reduced cannot write more. Latt 20.10 Long 149.50
Thursday, June 14 6 Weeks in the boat today Still running, Nothing to eat, & Water for 1 day more yet I feel better than I could expect - too weak to write God has been very merciful We may yet be preserved
Friday, June 15 Saw Indication of land but dare not say it, for fear of disappointments. At 10.30 A.M. made certain of land. Landed on Hawaii at 4 P.M. A famished set of men. After being in the Boat over 43 days 8 hours. Not a man could walk. All taken out and carried up by the kind Kanakas who try to out- vie each other in doing all they can to lessen our misery. Now comes the trial whether or not we can be built up after such a trial. No passage of bowels for 23 days.
It had been a voyage of miraculous preservation, even to its very end. Henry told how on the last day the boat sailed di- rectly before the wind toward the island. With no food and in
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their enfeebled state they knew they faced the end if land could not be made. However, when they had nearly reached shore and had lowered sail, the appearance of the reef struck them unfavorably. But when they tried to hoist sail and go back their weakness prevented this being done and they could only drift toward the rocks. This must have looked like death to them all, but it was in reality renewed life, for they passed through an all but concealed opening in the reef to safety. Except for this nar- row way they could not have reached land, where they could have gone ashore, for thirty-five miles, nor found inhabitants. And for those thirty-five miles cliffs of over one thousand feet in height rose from deep water like sheer walls, and with noth- ing at their bases to permit of even a foothold.
The hand of Providence seems to have appeared again when, at the time of their separation and after the mate's boat had actually left, it turned back and desired to leave the man Cox with the Captain. And later, save for his warning, there is no doubt but that Captain Mitchell and the two passengers would have been murdered. The crew were unbalanced by privation and conspired to kill their Captain and the two Fergusons, in order to obtain a fancied one million dollars in gold and silver which they told Cox the Captain had with him. If Cox joined them they would divide this money with him, if not he should die, also. But he found an opportunity to warn the Captain and while the latter kept vigil with his hatchet beside him and Ferguson with his pistol, Cox also maintained sleepless day and night watch for his own life. No indication was given that these men were aware of the crew's intentions, but the Captain fre- quently dwelt on the fact that he alone was capable of finding land by chart and quadrant, and the danger of an attack was held in check until land was reached.
Upon arriving at Honolulu the crew dreaded a possible ac- tion against them by the Captain and passengers for conspiracy to murder, but all three of these men realized that the starved crew made desperate by hunger were not normal and nothing was done against them.
The place of landing was Laupahoehoe, on the Island of Hawaii, 3,360 miles in a straight line from the position where the Hornet burned, but 4,000 miles by the course which the boat followed. With but ten days' provisions a voyage of forty-
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three days and eight hours had been completed without the loss of a man and without touching or even seeing land until the Sandwich Islands were reached.
Mark Twain came from Honolulu to San Francisco on the same ship with Captain Mitchell and pays him this tribute: ‘A bright, simple hearted, unassuming, plucky and most com- panionable man. I walked the deck with him twenty-eight days - and I remember him with reverent honor."
The Captain is still remembered in Freeport by elderly people, who say that he was a fine gentleman - which is high praise. We believe that his line is extinct here. The Captain's father, Josiah W. Mitchell, was a prominent attorney in Free- port up to his death in 1852. Susan Kelsey, whose speech made when she presented the colors to the Harraseeket Cadets, is given elsewhere, was the Captain's first wife. His home still stands on the corner of East and Main Streets but not on the original site which was nearer the Centre.
XXI SHIPBUILDING IN FREEPORT
ECORDS of ships built in early Freeport are almost en- tirely lost, but no doubt nearly every place along the shore which was suitable for the purpose may have been at some time used as a shipyard. Moreover, some vessels were built miles inland and hauled to the water by ox teams, but there were no newspapers at hand to record the launchings and those who remembered the events have passed away.
Parson Nason says that three to four-hundred-ton craft were built prior to 1816, owned locally and employed in fishing and trade. About 1800 Colonel George Rogers transferred the hull of the Meteor to one Thomas Cross and in 1830 seven men, all residents of Flying Point, gave power of attorney as follows:
"Know all men by these presents, that William Mann, Isaac L. Mann, James Dunning, George Rogers, Alex- ander Rogers and Thomas P. Rogers and Jacob Rogers all of Freeport in said county. November 30, 1830 have con- stituted and made, in our stead and place put and by these presents do constitute and make and in our stead and place put William L. Stetson of said Freeport, mariner, to be our lawful attorney for us and in our names and steads and to our use, to sell and pass deed ordered to convey seven-eighths of the schooner Mentor of Freeport now ly- ing in Portland in said county."
Perhaps the shipyard in which the two were built was some- where on Flying Point and that the lumber came from their farms and the owners, themselves, were the craftsmen. Thus eight men came to own the vessel and to share equally in the profits of its operation or sale.
The assessors of Freeport years ago required a separate book in which to record vessel ownership. Shares were as small as one one hundred and twenty-fourth but sixty-fourths were more common. So many owned these fractions that each year a number of pages were covered by assessments during the palmy days when forty per cent of Freeport either built ships or sailed them.
We are told that vessels were built at Mast Landing and
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Shipbuilding in Freeport
Parson Nason mentions this as one of the places where build- ing was carried on. Two schooners, the Concord and the Ranger, built in 1796 and 1802 were perhaps constructed here, al- though there is a tradition that they were built inland and hauled by oxen to the bay for launching. The Ranger was of ninety tons' burthen and the Concord was larger. There are no figures to give her size but an old memorandum in the posses- sion of the Curtis family gives her cost and what she earned - probably on her first voyage. These items are set forth thus:
Building £216-10-4
From Work
47- 1-9
Spar & Mast Bill
6- 0-0
Blocks 16- 0-0
£288-12-1
Whole Cost
£1004- 3-1
Paid Separate 288-12-1
£715-11-10
Schooner Made £228-18-11
1/2 114- 9- 5 1/3 76- 6- 4
1/6 38- 3- 2
Mr. Rogers 1/2 1357-15-15
Mr. X 1/3 238-10- 8
Mr. Curtis 1/6 119- 5- 4
In round figures the schooner cleared twenty-two per cent, which would make it a fairly good investment.
A schooner of fifty tons the Martha Ann was launched in 1845, the schooner or brig Onaway, of five hundred and thirty- three tons was built perhaps in the 1860's, the Sarah Warren, which Captain Reuben Curtis commanded and the schooner Harriet Rogers are four which we believe were built at this Landing.
The Bartols are said to have built vessels further down the Harraseeket River, but we have found no records to substanti- ate this claim. On a map dated 1857 the village now called Porter's Landing is named Bartol's Landing, but as the present name was in use as early as 1816, this must have been unwar- ranted. The Bartols had a wharf nearby but from the coming of Seward Porter in 1782 until Rufus Soule began building in the Porter yards in the 1830's, the Porters built vessels here of which we have the names of a few. The Dash, built around 1812, is the best known of these. Master James Brewer was the actual builder of this noted craft, in whose design revolution- ary ideas were incorporated, resulting in greater speed, which was one of the reasons for her successful career. The Tippoo
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Three Centuries of Freeport, Maine
Sahib, built in 1814, was intended for a privateer, combining the qualities of the Dash with provisions for a heavier arma- ment. When she was equipped and ready peace had been de- clared so that she never served as a war vessel. The America, lost in 1815, was probably built here. In 1816 an unnamed brig was built in the yard, launched in August, and sold to Hoyt, Eck- ford & Brown. The next year another brig was ready for launch- ing, possibly the Globe of three hundred and eighteen tons, later captained by Capt. Joseph Dennison in 1832. Charles Porter wrote that he had ordered a bust of a Commodore for a figure- head and suggests the name of Morris for another vessel. It may interest some to know that the cost of the head was thirty dollars.
We have as the names of other Porter vessels the brig Abin- oam, Lady Gauatin, the ship Vigalent, the sloop Messenger and the Hickory. How many of these were built at Porter's Landing we do not know.
Rufus Soule rented the yard previous to 1834 and after pur- chasing, continued building there until he and his son, Rufus Cushing Soule, between them had launched at least a hundred vessels. The Soules, father and son, were not shipowners but built on order for others. Their product had such a good rating that it always commanded high prices. Rufus, the elder, is said to have celebrated his sixty-seventh birthday by launching his sixty-seventh vessel. It is regrettable that of the hundred craft mentioned we have the names of but a few and those of only the largest. There were the ships Incas, 577 tons, built in 1847; Cerro Gorda, 576 tons, in 1850; China, 726 tons, in 1852; Ocean Home, 517 tons, in 1853; and the Daniel L. Choate, their last, 1,150 tons, in 1859. There are also the barks Oxford, 517 tons, built in 1851 and A. B. Kimball, 1,597 tons in 1854.
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