Page 30. MAINE COASTAL NEWS November 2008
Maritime History:
Various Articles from the 1890s
Continued from Page 29.
Cape Elizabeth. After an inspection they PERIMENT. She sailed from Bucksport on 23 build it someone else would. He explained, “I
discovered that she was leaking badly and October 1813 and arrived at Charleston, SC perfectly regard a seven-master as perfectly
quickly went to work, but the schooner kept this forced the captain and his lone crewman on 25 May. She sailed from there for Boston feasible. Look back at the progress of ship-
taking on water. The Howell & Ross tug to abandoned ship. About three hours later on 7 June and was captured by the British building in the past 20 or 30 years. The work
DELTA arrived at the scene and began pump- they were picked up by the schooner WILL- warship TENEDOS. She was later released carried on in this yard shows well the in-
ing. A line was run from the mainmast so that IAM KEENE and were taken to Portland. The and continued on to Boston and then sailed crease demand in tonnage. A number of
the vessel did not heel over. The pumping DAVIS was built at Brooklyn, NY in 1869 and onto Bangor. On a voyager from Boston to years ago I built the ANNIE JONES, the
continued until noon when the PIERCE was was owned at Bangor by Charles E. Chick. Bangor she was captured by the British second three master ever launched. She
nearly all pumped out. An interesting article was titled “Joseph privateer MATILDA, who stole about $200 proved a success and I followed her with the
It was announced that the small schoo- Leavitt, Bangor Merchant.” Before 1800 most worth of merchandise. While making a voy- JONATHAN BOURNE, the second four-
ners who had made a living carrying lime, business in the Bangor-Brewer area was in age from Bangor to Boston she hit a rock in master ever built. A couple of years ago I built
would have to find another cargo soon. It Brewer. However after the turn of the century the river and her captain became discour- the JOHN B. PRESCOTT, which I expected
was stated that barge owners had decided to the merchants of Brewer moved across the aged and sold his interest back to Leavitt. It would be the first five-master ever to leave
enter the business and that six steel barges river to Bangor. Leavitt, who resided in New was Leavitt who would master the vessel to the stocks. They got a little ahead of me,
were nearly complete at Harlan & Hampshire, heard of Bangor and moved there Boston, but on the way she was captured by however, over at Bath and the PRESCOTT
Hollingsworth Co. at Wilmington, Delaware. in 1810. At that time there was about 20 the British privateer WEAZEL off St. was the second instead of the first five-
Each barge will carry 16,000 barrels of lime families there and very little navigation was George’s Island. They took the crew and put master to go into the water.
from Maine and return with 1,800 tons of coal. owned there. At about this time the lumber them ashore at the mouth of the St. George’s “When I commenced the construction
The tug to be used will be the F. E. RICHARDS, industry began. J. & J. Carr sent a schooner River. When Leavitt arrived home he learned of the PRESCOTT, shipbuilders in all sec-
which is under construction at Philadelphia, to Europe loaded with hewed pine. Another that the EXPERIMENT had been recaptured tions of the country laughed at me and said
Pennsylvania. company sent a 200-ton ship to Liverpool, by the American privateer SUPERIOR and I was overdoing the thing. The PRESCOTT,
15 September 1900 – It was announced England. Leavitt did not think much of some taken into Camden. Leavitt went to Camden, however, proved a complete success and
that the shipyards in the United States had of the citizens of Bangor, adding that the paid the salvage and expense fee and sailed carried more coal than any vessel ever
plenty of orders and that it would take about people in the back settlements were more the vessel back to Bangor. Leavitt was not launched (you understand I am referring to
two to complete all the vessels on order. It industrious and that the only industries were pleased with the attacks on his vessel and wooden sailing vessels until the GEORGE W.
was also said that more and more ocean lumber and fish. Leavitt went into business decided to fit out his own privateer. She was WELLS went into commission. Finding the
freight space was needed, and that the rates with James Bartlett in Portland, but this busi- a 50-ton schooner and they armed with two PRESCOTT so successful Captain Crowley
were also increasing. One factor was the ness was moved to Bangor. Leavitt then four-pounders from the artillery company of of Taunton, one of her principle owners,
railroads who were trying to operate a line of made a deal for 264-ton ship to be launched Bangor. Forty men crewed the schooner, determined he build a six-master and as a
trans-ocean steamships. Also the steel and in 1811. He sold half interest in her for a piece under Captain Cary, down the river and out result, the WELLS was launched from my
iron companies felt that they needed to grow of land in Boston. Here he built a block, two in the bay in search of British prizes, but there yard this summer. Again all the builders said
their export trade and thus they should own stories high, which would later become the was none, just a small smuggler, which was I was overdoing the thing and that the WELLS
their own ocean-going and Great Lakes fleets. offices of the European & North American of little to no value. In 1814 Leavitt also would prove too unwieldy to be a success
The six-masted schooner GEORGE W. Railway Co. The ALPHA sailed out of the founded the first bank in Bangor, the Ranger financially. I am, however, happy to state that
WELLS, Captain J. F. Crowley, was towed Penobscot River on 13 January 1812 and Bank. the contrary has proven the case. While the
out of Camden by the tug BISMARCK for headed for Alexandria, Virginia, where she 22 September 1900 – The three-masted PRESCOTT carried over 4,000 tons coal, the
Delaware River, where she would wait for loaded flour for Cadiz, Spain. However, when schooner ISAAC ORBETON, Captain Elisha WELLS can carry 5,000 and demands but two
orders. It was thought that she would load she was ready to sail the British had block- M. Trim, went down in Long Island Sound extra men in the crew. She has proven a very
coal, but there is a strike in the coal regions aded the port. She was forced to remain in after a collision with the LEORA M. fast sailor, passing many fast ones on her
and this may mean that she loads something port and when the British sailed up the Chesa- THURLOW of Bath. The ORBETON was recent trip and is strong and staunch in every
else for her first voyage. peake and captured Washington the AL- carrying 521 tons of coal and was making a way. The additional masts and larger number
It was learned that the schooner MARIA PHA was captured and burned costing passage from Port Reading, NJ to Bangor. of sails, keep the sails smaller and they are
L. DAVIS, Captain P. G. Quinn, sailing from Leavitt about $10,000. During this time he The THURLOW was carrying a cargo of easier to handle and less apt to be lost. It was
Boston to Bangor, began leaking when off either built or purchased the schooner EX- lumber and was making her way from the understood at the time the WELLS was
Kennebec River to Newark, NJ. The launched that is she proved successful a
OBERTON lies in about 160 feet of water and seven-master would be next on the docket.
TOOL OF THE MONTH
will be a total loss. The THURLOW suffered The WELLS has proved a success in every
damage to headgear. The ORBETON was way so I shall not be surprised to see a seven
built at Newcastle in 1870, but hailed from master started most any time.” When asked
Bangor. She was owned by John Cassidy what the limit was, H. Bean said, “It is difficult
and others. to say in view of the unexpected develop-
The schooner SUSAN STETSON, Cap- ments of the past decade. Still I am inclined
WHILE
tain Perkins, was 30 miles south of Seguin to believe that the limit will be reached with
SUPPLIES
Island when she was hit by heavy wind. the construction of a seven-master. I shall
LAST!
During this blow she lost her foremast, jibs not be surprised to see the length run up to
and main-topmast. The mainsail was also a 335 foot keel, a length which will certainly
torn and the decks were swept clean. The require seven masts. Such would add in the
Milwaukee 0824-24P
crew abandoned the STETSON and were neighborhood of a 1,000 tons to the carrying
Includes
0824-20 - 18V 1/2" Hammer Drill
rescued by the Gloucester schooner FLO- capacity of the WELLS. While an even larger
0881-20 - 18V 1/4" Hex Mid Size
RENCE, Captain Slade. Captain Slade placed vessel might and very likely would in other
Milwaukee 6176-20
Impact Driver a crew on board the STETSON and towed her ways be successful as a freighter, she could
Metal Abrasive Cut-off Machine
2 - 18V Lithium-Ion Batteries
into Boothbay. She would later be brought to hardly be accommodated at the docks. Yes,
1 - 1 Hour Charger
$139.95 REG. 169.95
Bangor by one of the Howell & Ross tugs. I should imagine that seven masts would be
1 - Carrying Case
$299.95
There was mention of the two-masted the limit.” The article stated that Bean was
schooner SUNNYSIDE under the command probably the largest individual builder
Bath Industrial Sales, 56 New Meadows Rd. West Bath ME
of Captain Eaton of Deer Isle. She had been 22 December 1900 – Shipbuilders
(207) 443-9754 WWW.BISTOOLS.COM
built 35 years before as a yacht. Her owner McKay & Dix launched the four-masted
would bring her to Deer Isle and cruise the schooner GEORGE C. THOMAS on 22 De-
coast of Maine. Her owner fell on hard finan- cember. She is a sister to the EDWARD S.
Buying a Boat? cial times and the boat was left at Deer Isle. STATESBURY, with the only real difference
She was kept up, but nothing had been heard being the THOMAS one ton larger due to the
Be SURE Before You Buy!
from the owner for years. Those that had change in position of a bulkhead. The spars
been taking care of her sent the owner their are of Oregon pine and spread the same
Over 20 years of marine experience
bills, but he did not have the money to pay so amount of canvas as her sister. Her master
he gave them the boat. Captain Eaton ended carpenter was Josiah H. Partridge. After her
means you’ll know if it’s sound...
up her owner and he added a mast and altered launching she loaded shooks and will sail for
the interior so she could carry a cargo. the Mediterranean under the command of
or NOT. 19 November 1900 – It was learned that Captain E. L. Kent of Brewer. The yard work-
Camden shipbuilder, H. M. Bean, would start ers headed to Parrsboro for Christmas and
on a seven masted schooner next year. Bean would not return to the shipyard until Febru-
Reasonable Rates Power or Sail had been the first shipbuilder to construct a ary or March when the yard would begin

Wood & Fiberglass to 60 feet
six-masted schooner, the GEORGE W. work again. A few men stayed at the yard so
WELLS, which had been launched earlier in alterations could be made to the yard and
the year. When asked about building a seven- blacksmith shops. Mr. Dix would be heading
Kent Thurston ~ Marine Surveyor
master, Bean was non-committal, but when to New York; Mr. Eaton was heading to his
Phone/Fax - (207) 948-2654
pressured further said that he would not be eastern home; and Mr. Holden was head to
E-mail: marinesurveyor@thurstoncreative.com
surprised that one would be built within the Augusta where he was the postmaster to the
next few years. He added that is he did not Senate.
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