Historic Nantucket
The old Cranston Drum Cylinder Press which printed The Inquirer and Mirror from 1890 to 1964
JULY 1969 ANNUAL REPORTS NUMBER
Published Quarterly by NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS
NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OFFICERS President, Edouard A. Stackpole. Vice Presidents, Miss Grace Brown Gardner, W. Ripley Nelson, Albert F. Egan, Jr., Alcon Chadwick, Henry B. Coleman, George W. Jones. Honorary Vice President, Mrs. William L. Mather. Treasurer, Roger J. Roche. Secretary, Mrs. Austin Tyrer. Councillors, Edouard A. Stackpole, Chairman: Leroy H. True, Herbert 1. Terry, terms expire 1969; Mrs. J. Clinton Andrews, Richard F. Swain, terms expire 1970; Mrs. Albert F. Egan, Jr., H. Errol Coffin, terms expire 1971; Albert G. Brock, John N. Welch, terms expire 1972. Executive Committee, W. Ripley Nelson, Chairman; Alcon Chadwick, Henry B. Coleman, Albert F. Egan, Jr., George W. Jones, Edouard A. Stackpole, ex officio. Advertising and Publications, W. Ripley Nelson and H. Errol Coffin. Honorary Curator, Mrs. William L. Mather. Curator, Miss Dorothy Gardner. Editor, "Historic Nantucket", Edouard A. Stackpole; Assistant Editor, Mrs. R. A. Orleans. Chairmen of Exhibits, Historical Museum, Mrs. Elizabeth Worth; Whaling Museum, W. Ripley Nelson; Hadwen House - Satler Memorial, Albert F. Egan, Jr.; Old Mill, Richard F. Swain; Old Jail, Albert G. Brock; 1800 House, Mrs. Roy H. Gilpatrick; Fire Hose Cart House, Irving T. Bartlett; Oldest House, Mrs. J. Clinton Andrews; Franklin-Folger Seat and Memorial Boulder, Herbert I. Terry.
STAFF Historical Museum and Friends Meeting House Chairman and Receptionist M-s. Elizabeth Worth Miss Alice Crocker Librarian Miss Florence Farrell Assistant Oldest House Mrs. J. Clinton Andrews Chairman Mrs. Lawrence F. Mooney Receptionist Hadwen House Sutler Memorial Albert F. Egan, Jr. Chairman Mrs. Irving Soverino Chairman, Reception Committee The 1800 House Chairman and Receptionist Mrs. Roy H. Gilpatrick The Old Jail Chairman Albert G. Brock Receptionist Joseph LaVoie The Old Mill Richard F. Swain Chairman Receptionist Frank W. Ramsdell The Whaling Museum W. Ripley Nelson Chairman Administrator Walter W. Lindquist Receptionist Mrs. Elizabeth Lindquist Mrs. Sidney W. Thurston Receptionist, Craft Shops Bertram E. Morris Relief Clarence H. Swift Charles A. West Miss Lisbeth Taylor Sales Clerk Librarian Mrs. Reginald F. Hussey Mrs. Sterling B. Yerxa Assistant
HISTORIC NANTUCKET Published quarterly and devoted to the preservation of Nantucket's antiquity, its famed heritage and its illustrious vast as a ivhaling port. VOLUME 17
July, 1969
No. 1
CONTENTS
Nantucket Historical Association Officers and Staff
2
Editorial: Nantucket Historical Drive
5
First 150 Years
6
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Membership Report
12
Boys' Club Invitation to Members
15
The Editor Retires
16
Annual Reports
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17
Green Hand on the Susan
26
Legacies and Bequests
31
Historic Nantucket is published quarterly at Nantucket, Massachusetts, by the Nantucket Historical Association. It is sent to Association Members. Extra copies $.50 each. Membership Dues are — Annual-Active $3.00 ; Sustaining $10.00 ; Life—one payment $50.00. Second-class postage paid at Nantucket, Massachusetts. Copyright, 1969, Nantucket Historical Association. Communications pertaining to the Publication should be addressed to the Editor, Historic Nantucket, Nantucket Hstorical Association, Nantucket, Massachusetts, 02554.
Corner of Main and Orange Streets — always a busy spot — as it looked in 1873.
5 Editorial
Nantucket Historical Drive With the announcement June 26 by the Nantucket Historical Association, that a campaign for needed funds had been launched, a new era in the history of this important Island organization began. A goal of $750,000 has been set by the drive committee, an amount which is a minimum requirement for the future opera tions of the Association. This is the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of the Historical Association. Since that morning in 1894, when a small but determined group of Islanders and residents met in Mrs. Elizabeth Starbuck's west parlor, the Association has slowly but markedly become an important part of Nantucket's develop ment and growth. With the coming of the twentieth century the Association gradually acquired its present range of holdings. First, the little Quaker Meeting House on Fair Street; then, through the gift of Miss French, the Old Mill; followed by the erection of Fair Street's Museum; the acquisition of the Oldest House; then the renovation of the Old Candle House to the vitally important Whaling Museum; the gift from the Town of the Old Gaol; the acceptance of the Melhado's fine gift of the "1800 House"; the Hadwen House, presented as a memorial to the Satler family; and lately, through the generosity of the Nantucket Historical Trust, the taking over of the historic original Town Building. To maintain these varied and widely separated structures, the Association has been hard put to find the necessary funds. Not only are the physical aspects to be kept up, but the varied collec tions they contain must also be carefully preserved. This involves a considerable outlay of money. It also requires much planning and a great deal of direction. One of the urgent needs for the future is that of a trained staff. The Association has been supported by a membership consisting of Islanders, summer Islanders, descendants and inter ested friends of the first settlers, and visitors to the Island. It now needs full-time specialists, whose duties will be to regularly carry out the functions of the organization. The custodians of the several buildings have been constantly loyal, bringing excellent service to the public and the Association in the performance of their regular duties during the seasonal openings of the structures. As a vital part of the present economy of Nantucket, the Association deserves the support of the business community, the residents — which include year-'round and summer — and of those visitors who enjoy Nantucket's unique appeal. This is a campaign which involves not only the well being of an important organization, devoted to the preservation of a singularly definitive part of our American history, but the very future of Nantucket.
6
First 150 Years BY EDOUARD A. STACKPOLE
]N a period of our history variously characterized as the "Atomic," the "Technological" and "Space Age," we are all aware of the tremendous advances made in not only the pace of human life but in the outlook of the so-called average man towards his own part in the scheme of things. Where the thin line of spe cialists maintain the greater share of responsibility for keeping our modern civilization a going concern, most of us merely serve as onlookers, and a good deal of what we know of things in general we glean from the press — by newspaper, radio or television. To the historian, one of the most remarkable factors in our daily lives is the manner in which the social and economic changes which have occurred are reflected in the newspapers over the past half century. Fundamentally, however, these reflections are of the same pattern. This is particularly true of the weekly paper, which serves New England communities. We have gained in our daily press a wider coverage but a narrower point of view. Of course, even our weekly press has made remarkable strides in technical advances. But we must not confuse mechan ical improvements with journalistic progress. Freedom of the press is a guarantee but not guaranteed. It must be re-won, re-es tablished, and re-practiced with every publication of a newspaper. Despite the fact that we may boast of better news-stock, better ink, better presses, better type casting machines, we have not progressed in equal measure with the quality of the material we print. Most of the news stories today are apt to be over-drama tized, and many times the complete story is sacrificed for the sake of emphasizing a "story line." The Golden Age of journalism ended when wire-service reports, syndicated columnists, and radio and television coverage took over the role of the individual reporter. As much as we may sigh for the "good old days," they will never come again. A wise man once said that freedom of religion means nothing to an atheist; so, in comparable analysis, the freedom of the press means little to those who are unwilling to study the history of the press. :i: :i: It may come as a surprise that in a community as wealthy and as prosperous as was Sherburne (the former name of this town) during the years immediately preceding the Revolution there was no newspaper on this island. It is, indeed, a major loss that this situation prevailed, as Nantucket in those mid-eighteenth century decades had assumed an important role and was the lead ing whaling port in the Americas. The reason why Nantucket had no newspaper was chiefly because of the strong reservations which were held by the ruling merchant class. The Society of Friends on Nantucket could have
FIRST 150 YEARS
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supported one of the finest newspapers in the land. Instead, they chose to deliberately discourage such a public press. But with the second decade of the 19th century, a newcomer to the island, Abraham Tannant joined with Hiram Tupper, an islander, to launch The Nantucket Gazette. The little newspaper made its appearance on May 6, 1816 — one hundred and fiftythree years ago. It was a weekly, with a type-page measuring 20 x 12 inches and containing five columns. It lasted less than a year, giving up the ghost on February 1, 1817. Like all papers of its day, it contained columns devoted to national news, literary reprints , a variety of advertisements (mostly local) and a wide range of "miscellany." The island news was chiefly confined to marine notices, which was a natural condition. One of the paper's best claims to fame, however, was in its publication of the "Nar rative of the Robbery of the Nantucket Bank," a startling event which had occurred in 1796 and caused one of the greatest contro versies in the island's history. Apparently Tupper decided he did not care for the financial risk involved and retired in October of that year. Tannant contin ued the paper and went boldly into print criticizing the manner in which Great Point Light was being operated. He was sued for libel and the sudden ending of the Gazette's initial voyage may have been his way of resolving an untenable situation. A few months after the Gazette ceased publication, Tannant launched a new venture called the Nantucket Weekly Magazine, which made its appearance on June 28, 1817. Again, it never saw its first anniversary, ceasing its struggle for existance soon after 1818 began. The lack of support embittered Tannant and in his swan song he predicted there could be no newspaper on Nantucket since the islanders were completely indifferent to a local journal. But one of the Weekly Magazine's issues did contain an article with prophetic undertones. It was written by a young man named Samuel Haynes Jenks, who signed himself "Quidam," and was a vigorous arraignment of the town for failing to follow the public statutes which provided for public schools. Jenks be came the advocate of public schools for Nantucket who was to be reckoned a deciding factor. Three years later, on June 21, 1821, Samuel Melcher, another off-islander, issued a newspaper which he named The Inquirer. This paper has made its weekly appearance ever since, and com bined with The Mirror, in 1856. After a year of effort, gaining the public's acceptance, Melcher's work as a publisher might have gone for naught had he not had the good fortune to engage for his editor the services of a young Boston journalist, Samuel Haynes Jenks, by name, who had married a daughter of William Coffin of Nantucket. This remarkable man set a standard for Nantucket editors which will continue for some years to come. He was a skillful writer, a keen observer, and a worthy representative of the island's ruling merchant class.
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HISTORIC NANTUCKET
Editor Jenks' greatest contribution to island history was also a distinct contribution to American Whaling. This was a compila tion of American whalemen's discoveries of islands, reefs and shoals in the Pacific Ocean. Tannant went from Nantucket to publish the Hampden Pa triot. Melcher went to New Bedford where he published the New England Gazette, and eventually went to Martha's Vineyard to launch the Vineyard Gazette. Jenks was an ardent advocate of what he believed to be the public interests. He had a troubled tenure, and in 1824 he tem porarily retired. In his absence, William Coffin, Jr., John Thorn ton and Thomas J. Worth took over the helm. Worth subse quently removed to the far west, taking over the publication of a paper in Mooresville, Iowa. In 1830, Charles Bunker became the second island-born editor of The Inquirer. He changed the motto of The Inquirer to "The Liberty of the Press is essential to the security of Freedom." After two years, Bunker relinquished the reins again to Jenks. In the interim another paper was started — The Nantucket Jour nal — with William H. Bigelow in charge. Bigelow had an amusing habit of referring to his rival as The Enquirer to which Jenks remarked: "He'll find himself ill at ease putting out other people's Ts'." A few months later (June, 1827) the Journal's sup porters retired their venture. With the growing pulse of political life, and the cleavage which split the ranks of the once powerful Society of Friends on Nantucket, the island Democrats made it possible to launch a rival paper to The Inquirer which was called The Islander. The newspaper's editor was a young Bostonian named Charles Hazewell. He started to issue daily; The Inquirer followed suit. Within five years both papers were bankrupt, but before the end, The Islander became the Telegraph. (Jenks called the former the I-Slander.) In 1845, Edward Cobb purchased both sheets, and continued The Inquirer. Hazewell went to Boston to become fa mous with the Boston Traveler. But a former editor of that sheet, John Morrissey, started his own paper which he called The Mirror. The first issue was in June, 1845. In December of that same year, Samuel H. Jenks returned to the island and started a newspaper which he called The Warder. The Great Fire of 1846 destroyed the office of The Inquirer and The Mirror. Although The Warder survived the physical disaster, because Jenks published on Coffin Street outside the dis trict burned by the ravaging flames, the paper only lasted until the fall of that year. One of Jenks' outstanding feats at this time was the publishing of a map of the "burnt district" cut from a piece of leather, much like a linoleum block of today. In June, 1849, Morrissey sold The Mirror to Samuel B. Hussey and Henry D. Robinson. The great trek to California now dealt Nantucket its second great disaster and some four hundred of the enterprising young men of the island left for the gold fields.
FIRST 150 YEARS
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Editor Morrissey went out, also. Whaling was being gradually squeezed; ships were sold to rival ports; masters, officers and experienced men departed even before the ships. Gloom was like a depression, like a fog enveloping the island. Then came the Civil War, and Nantucket's young men responded as volunteers to the extent that this island community became the banner town of the Commonwealth. The exigencies of war added to the general concern of the town over its economic doldrum. Alexander P. Moore, editor of The Inquirer, decided to take part in the war effort. He left the island by steamboat, and was boarding the train at Hyannis when he fell between the cars and was fatally injured. During the War, Judge Edward M. Gardner became editor of The Inquirer, continuing throughout the years from '61 to '65. But the great economic changes brought about with the death of whaling from the island, the war, and the decline in general business brought about the consolidation of the rival newspapers. Hussey and Robinson, of The Inquirer, took over the ownership of both, and on April 7, 1865, The Inquirer and Mirror began its joint enterprise which has continued to this day. A decade later, Isaac Folger, a Civil War veteran, began publication of The Island Review which did well during the next four years, being issued as a weekly, semi-weekly and a daily. This was the period when Nantucket was emerging as a summer resort. In 1878, appeared The Nantucket Journal, an enterprising sheet edited and published by Arthur H. Gardner, an islander well qualified for his task. During the next twelve years, the Journal was a worthy rival for the older paper. Then Editor Gardner entered politics, and was elected to the State Legislature. He decided to stay on as Represntative and closed his paper in November 23, 1899. Later he became Tax Collector, a job he held until his death. The Twentieth Century found the island's fame as a summer resort gradually increasing, and it soon became its sole dependable industry. Only one rival appeared to challenge The Inquirer and Mirror in the newspaper field — The Beacon, which enjoyed a brief life in the 1930s. Following World War II, however, a stronger challenge in the field appeared with the publication of The Town Crier, edited and published by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Indio. The paper was issued from the summer of 1946 until 1963, when it was pur chased by The Inquirer and Mirror, Inc. During its decade and a half of publication the Town Crier made a name for itself in island affairs. In 1963, a tabloid-sized weekly, The Nantucket Light, made its appearance but did not continue5 after one year. SFC H Of course, the success or failure of any newspaper is as much a matter of economic and political condition as any other.
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HISTORIC NANTUCKET
This is especially true in the history of Nantucket's newspapers. No editor assumes the chair of his office with a presumption that he is an able man or woman for the job. Ability to assimilate local problems and to present a point of view; character in the community; competence in administration of ideas are qualifica tions which do not blossom overnight. A study of the editors of Nantucket over the years finds them reflecting in their editorials or news reports the tenor of their times. In the early days of the struggling Inquirer, Samuel Haynes Jenks revealed his superiority as a writer, but his alliance with the self-appointed "upper-crust" of Nantucket's social life reacted violently against him in the later years of his "term of office." However, it is credited to Jenks that he helped to influence Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin to launch and endow the Coffin School in 1827, and its schoolship Clio the next year. The work which Jenks did in recording whaling data has already been noted. He became a fast friend of J. N. Reynolds, the man appointed by Congress to make a study of the whalemen's discoveries in the South Seas, and the man to whom should be given the honor of inspiring our first U. S. Exploring Expedition. In the 1840s a new type of "press" appeared on the island. Due to the uncompromising political sentiments of The Inquirer, the "party of the common people," known then as the Democratic Party, started The Islander. As editor, they installed Charles Haswell of Boston, a writer who proceeded to espouse the rights of the common man as against "the inheritors of Federalism." It was a good thing for Nantucket, since it gave a voice to those islanders who came from families in humble circumstances. In advocating the candidacy of four men for the posts of Repre sentatives in 1843, The Islander declared them as well qualified to legislate as those "born amid affluence and wealth." The can didates, incidentally, were Captain Obed Swain, Captain Paul Chase, Dr. Nathaniel Ruggles and William Bunker. The Whig candidate was Obed Barney. Soon after the crisis of Democratic action ended, The Islander became The Telegraph. In 1845, another paper, The Warder, ap peared. But the Great Fire of 1846 and the Gold Rush of '49 brought economic disaster, and Edward Cobb of The Inquirer bought The Telegraph and The Warder soon felt the pinch of the times and ended. By this time The Mirror, under John Morrissey, had entered the local news field, and the conservative supporters of The Telegraph lent aid to the new entry. Morrissey sold out to Hussey and Robinson in 1849 to join the gold rush, but returned in 1855 to purchase his old rival, The Inquirer. His partner, Alex ander P. Moore, continued the paper following Morrissey's retire ment in 1858. In 1861, William H. Beekman became this paper's publisher, with Edward M. Gardner temporary editor, until 1863, when Alfred Macy occupied the chair. As has been noted, in 1865 the papers combined.
FIRST 150 YEARS
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One of the fortunate developments at this point was the invitation to William Hussey Macy to become an associate editor. Macy, a former whaleman and Civil War veteran, became a prolific writer. He wrote "There She Blows," a book on whaling which has become a minor classic. He contributed short stories to Ballou's Weekly, Star of Our Union, and other periodicals. He originated the Here and There column for The Inquirer and Mirror, a feature which has continued ever since. He wrote considerable verse as well as editorials and news stories. In later years, he became Register of Deeds for Nantucket, and although soon after election was stricken by total blindness, invented a frame and pencil device so that he could continue writing. In 1887, Roland Bunker Hussey succeeded his father in the partnership of The Inquirer and Mirror. He was an able editor for twenty years. In 1907, two ambitious young islanders, Harry Baker Turner, and Arthur B. Cook, became editor and publisher In 1925, Harry Turner took over both capacities. No editor ever worked harder than Harry Turner who passed on twenty-one years ago. His book "The Story of the Island Steamboats," published in 1916, and his centennial number of The Inquirer and Mirror in 1921, are both collectors' items today. His alert mind was always reflected in his paper's columns. There was a distinct style to many of his reportorial accounts, which had an island flavor. Over the years he showed himself as a keen observer. Once, on January 29, 1916, he scooped the world with his story of the coming to this country of the German sub marine Deutschland five months later. Having worked as a pressman, compositor, reporter, and editor with The Inquirer and Mirror of a first continuous period of twenty-six years, and recently for the past three years, I have had the rare opportunity to take part in at least three decades and a half of this town's history. It has been an opportunity also to study local history in the making. Writing of the humble happenings of this old town has presented moments of realization that, as a reporter, one has a duty and responsibility to write the story as a matter of history. Opinion is free but facts are sacro sanct. If I have learned anything at all from these years with a newspaper it is that the paper itself has a moral as well as a material responsibility, and that any effort to balance the two should be its aim and ambition. Let us hope that the chain organization will not continue in the field of weekly newspapers since monopoly is a danger as well as a delusion. Certainly, true freedom of the press exists best in the weekly field, and the true voice of America, as well as of New England, must always spring from them.
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Membership Report The Annual Meeting of the members of the Nantucket His torical Association is scheduled for Tuesday July 22nd at the Friends Meeting House, Fair Street, at 2 :30 p.m. To expedite the procedure, reports of the Chairmen and Secretary are recorded here: New Members — Fiscal year June 1, 1968 to May 31, 1969: Life: Mrs. Herbert Marache, Jr., L. Morgan Currie, Douglas P. Adams, Mrs. Diana R. Tanenbaum. Sustaining: Judy Lust. Annual
Robert F. Amarantes Lec and Glen Alderton Mrs. Ruel L. Alden Ruth and Irving August Heidi Andrus Marion Macy Biggs Mrs. S. E. Bennett Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Bloom Miss Evelyn Berglund John L. Bishop Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Boast Mrs. H. W. Beatty Jane and Ward Bourn Mr. and Mrs. John Benke Dr. and Mrs. J. L. Brayley David Brayley Mr. and Mrs. Edward C. Birch Rev. Henry Breul Elizabeth Boyd Mrs. Charles E. Balchin Dr. and Mrs. D. K. Burch Mr. and Mrs. David P. Beatty Mrs. Robert Bolton Virginia W. Baer Donald J. Baer Harriet Carter Robert G. Coffin Lorraine A. Champagne Mrs. Richard M. Colgate Miss Jessie Colgate Mrs. B. G. Clarke Mrs. William Caveness Bradford M. Coffin Albert W. Coote Kenneth Coffin, Jr. Mr. Andrew M. Dole Richard Denby Mrs. Ernest DeAngeles
Dr. and Mrs. A. W. Donan Mrs. Joseph Davis Mr. and Mrs. Harold K. Deutsch Michael Driscoll Mrs. James A. Downing Sumner A. Dane Donald Evans Mary S. Ewert Rev. and Mrs. James Edds East Carolina University Library Mr. and Mrs. Paul G. Flagg Mrs. Mary Forester Kathryn N. Folger Logan T. Farrier Mrs. Arthur H. Green B. J. Gurley Grace A. Gasser Mrs. Charles W. Griffith Vivian M. Gagnon Bruce L. Grenberg Mr. and Mrs. Hibarger Garrison K. Hall Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hugo-Brunt Betty Jo Harrell Mrs. Roger Henry Adam and Gladys Hanft Noah, Joshua, Edwin Hanft Winthrop D. Hodges, Jr. Charles Heventhal, Jr. Jacqueline Harvey Mrs. E. S. Johanson Sarah Judson Susan H. Jones Diane F. Korling Mrs. H. Karston W. Frederick Lucas Mrs. Louis Lualdi Anthea Lingeman
ANNUAL REPORTS Barbara and Darroll Lacock Dr. Byron S. Lingeman Miss Claire M. Little Mrs. Anna M. Levine Stephen K. Levine Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Lipscomb Mrs. Kenneth I. Laprade Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mitchell Camilla McCaslin Mrs. Evelyn R. Murphy Robert Meeker Mr. and Mrs. Stanley A. Miller Eloise Mills David Mai by Harrison A. Mitnick Leonidas Manolis Leila McKnight Mrs. William E. Neff III Mrs. Irving H. Norton Mrs. M. J. Norton Patricia A. Nesbitt Paul D C. Noonan Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Porter Miss Morrison Pretz Mr. and Mrs. Henry Petzel Marion and William S. Pettit Marjorie and David Perlman Mrs. W. W. Peters Randy and Danny Powell Mrs. Albert O. Porter Stavin Pochna Mr. and Mrs. Robert Quimby Charles E. Rounds Jr. Frank Richdale Anna V. Rex
IB
Mrs. John H. Rozendaal Nancy Snover Mrs. William B. Shore Dennis E. Stark Evelyn Schultz Mrs. W. Edwin Stevens Diane Samuelson Elizabeth A. Sergi Jane Stroup Mrs. Viola A. Stewart John C. Seedorff Mrs. M. L. Smith Robert Smelser Don Stewart Clarence H. Swift Mrs. John A. Stackpole Mrs. Horace J. Smith Dr. and Mrs. Gerry B. Schnelle Marilyn Thomaier Mr. and Mrs. Thomas D. Thompson Ruth Turner Elizabeth Taylor Susan and Robert Toland Mr. and Mrs. Robert Toland, Jr. F. P. Townsend Ralph G. Voigt Mrs. Howard M. Wert Constance Werner Mildred E. Wynne Mr. and Mrs. Harlan Walker Margaret Wolfe Mrs. Herman 0. Werner Glynda Warren Mrs. John H. Wallace
Totals: Life, 4; Sustaining 1; Annual 180. Total new members: 185. Total Membership, June 1, 1969, 1,270. Above figures represent the number of members in good standing as of June 1, 1969. We are saddened by the loss, through death, of the follow ing members: Grace Hutaff, Mrs. Kenneth Coffin, Mr. R. Aileen Reilly, Miss Isabel Starbuck, Mrs. N. Lester Troast, Dorothy Kerr, Mattie Empson, Lawrence Jenkins, Paul Maloney, Miss Edna Phillips, Miss Frances Palmer, Mrs. Lawrence W. Saunders, James Everett Chapel, Carl Stig, Mrs. George Morgan, George Lake, Mrs. Helen Tait, Mrs. Henry L. Whitney, Mr. F. R. Howe. Membership in the Association is open to anyone and we are always happy to receive new members. Membership in the
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HISTORIC NANTUCKET
Association entitles one to free admission to all the Association's exhibits and to copies of the quarterly magazine, HISTORIC NANTUCKET. It has been our policy that when no reply is received from a second notice and after a reasonable period of time, members are dropped from the registry. Reinstatement may be made, however, at any time, upon receipt of dues. Since it is our membership dues which help support our organization, we do appreciate any suggestions as to prospective new members. The postage has increased considerably on returned issues of HISTORIC NANTUCKET due to lack of current address and we, therefore, particularly stress the cooperation of all members to notify us immediately of any changes of address. Admissions to Museums 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 Fair St. Museum 2019 2415 2785 3030 2554 Oldest House 8011 7242 8543 7684 6868 1800 House 1208 1304 2050 1742 1441 Old Mill 4410 4313 4674 3914 3460 Old Jail 3229 2957 3499 3838 2862 Hadwen House-Satler Memorial 3958 3250 7750 6805 6478 Whaling Museum 31197 35957 38803 34977 31150 Total 54032 57438 68114 61990 54813 Elizabeth Tyrer Secretary
ANNUAL REPORTS
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Nantucket Historical Association Nantucket Massachusetts Gentlemen: The Board of Directors of the Nantucket Boys' Club has voted to extend the privileges of the club to your members, their families and guests for the 1969 season. The Boys' Club building on Sparks Avenue is open every afternoon and evening during the week and has weekend dances for the under-21 crowd. The basketball court, table tennis, pool tables and library are always popular on rainy days. With all best wishes for a successful season. Yours very sincerely, Robert F. Mooney President
Robert F. Mooney, President Nantucket Boys' Club, Inc. Nantucket, Mass. 02554 Dear Mr. Mooney: Your letter of July 2nd advising that the Board of Directors of the Club had voted to extend the privileges of the Club to our members, their families and guests for the 1969 season, is ac knowledged with grateful appreciation. The letter was presented to a meeting of the Executive Fi nance Committee which, by unanimous vote, extended its ap preciation and thanks for this generous offer. Efforts will be made to bring your offer to the attention of our members. •
Very sincerely,
W. Ripley Nelson, Vice President and Chrm. Executive Finance Comm.
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The Editor Retires After seven years of service, A. Morris Crosby, who has been Editor of HISTORIC NANTUCKET since July, 1962, requested that he be relieved of his duties, to which request the Council of the Association regretfully concurred. Mr. Crosby retired from an active career as an attorney in Boston in 1959, and came to Nantucket to take up permanent residence. This was, indeed, a natural step, as Mr. Crosby is a direct descendant of Matthew Crosby, one of the most prominent of the whaling merchants in Nantucket during the nineteenth century. A graduate of Harvard University in the Class of 1911, Mr. Crosby entered Harvard Law School immediately and was gradu-
ANNUAL REPORTS
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ated in 1914. He then entered upon a law career in Boston which has continued from that period to the present time — although he is no longer as actively engaged. He is one of those members of the Bar eligible to conduct cases before the Supreme Court of the United States. For many years, Mr. and Mrs. Crosby were regular summer residents of Nantucket, and their decision to retire to the Island resulted not only from Mr. Crosby's family alliance with Nan tucket but their mutual pleasure in being members permanently of this Island community. During the seven years in which he has carried out his duties as Editor of HISTORIC NANTUCKET, Mr. Crosby has continued to present a magazine fully in keeping with the traditions of Nan tucket and with the policy of the magazine. His efforts will always be appreciated by the Association's officers and members, and his retirement from this particular post is by no means to lessen his interest and support in the work of our Association.
The Whaling Museum BY W. RIPLEY NELSON, CHAIRMAN
The summer of 196,8 was far different from that of the previous year for Nantucket was blessed with real summer weather throughout the vacation season which resulted in summer business in normal volume. An increase in paid admissions over that of 1967 did not materialize, however, for a good and suffi cient reason, hereafter set forth. ADMISSIONS. Paid admissions for the 1968-69 fiscal year totalled 31,380 persons of which 26,116 were adults and 5,264 were children between 5 and 12 years of age. This record was below that of 1967-68 but that was anticipated for the admission fee for adults was raised from 50c to 80c with a corresponding increase in the charge for children from 5 to 12 years of age which is one-half of the adult admission fee. This increase was approved by the Council of the Association to bring the Museum admission fee more nearly in line with many other public exhibits of the same character. The increase resulted in $23,448.60 being collected from admissions which together with $4,747.58 from sales, an increase over last year, produced total earnings of $28,196.18 for the year as compared with $19,804.84 for the previous year. This certainly justified the increase in the admission fee. The "guest registry book" showed 47 states and the District of Columbia were represented this year as compared with 45 states last year. The three missing states this year are North Dakota, Oregon, and Wyoming. Registered visitors from foreign lands recorded 37 repre sented this year as compared with 43 last year, but still well
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HISTORIC NANTUCKET
above the previous year record of 23 countries. Those represented were: England, Costa Rica, Holland, In dia, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, France, Ireland, Bahamas, Cape Town, S. Africa, Virgin Islands, Italy, Australia, Norway, Israel, Iran, Venezuela, Switzerland, Japan, Lebanon, Denmark, Co lombia, Libya, Scotland, New Zealand, Thailand, Turkey, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, Vancouver, B. C., Ottawa, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island. We repeat the statement made last year that "while Nantucketers still roam and visit foreign lands, here is outstanding proof of how the tables have turned with respect to people from all parts of the world visiting Nantucket." Foreign visitors are not limited to the summer season for foreign visitors are also recorded during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday special openings. This places real responsibility upon the Association to extend to all Nantucket visitors, summer and winter, a cordial welcome and courteous and considerate attention. This is the policy the Whaling Museum staff endeavors to carry out at all times. ACCESSIONS. Numerous valuable and interesting exhibits have been added to the Museum collection through the donations of loyal friends. The most outstanding donation is the skeleton of a whale which is being assembled by a recognized authority in such work. Before the end of the 1969-1970 fiscal year, this skel eton, fully assembled and mounted, will be delivered to the Mu seum, which means additional space must be provided before delivery to house what should be an outstanding and most unusual exhibit of its kind. Every effort is being made to successfully solve this housing problem for the acquisition and display of this exhibit will further the renown of our Museum has of being one of the outstanding museums of its kind in the world. HEATING PLANT. Our heating plant, installed in 1967, again proved its worth during the past winter. The appearance of mildew and green mold on etchings, books, and other exhibits, during past winters, was noticeably absent during last winter. One valuable set of etchings was scheduled for special treatment to remove the green mold spots, but thanks to the uniform heat, the spots have almost entirely dried up and disappeared without spe cial treatment, excellent evidence of what the heating system means for the preservation of our priceless collections. In addi tion, we are able to continue our off season openings at Thanks giving and Christmas, as well as special occasions for visiting groups. This is proving well worthwhile, not only for the Mu seum, but also for Nantucket in providing entertainment for the growing number of off season visitors. PERSONNEL. The 1968-1969 fiscal year staff served loyally and constructively in handling our many visitors and in employing their spare moments to improve the presentation and preserva tion of our exhibits. The new project started last year to inven-
ANNUAL REPORTS
19
tory, cross reference, and catalogue the Museum's outstanding collection of books, documents, and other valuable papers, as well as the log books and journals, with a view to publishing the completed work, progressed satisfactorily. This special project will be carried to completion this coming year by Miss Helen Winslow, who started the work last year, and whose training and experience in this line of work, insures success for the proj ect. The completion of this work should make it possible for the Association to offer and sponsor summer lecture series in mari time history, especially whaling, such as are offered and success fully carried on by many of the leading historical associations and museums. Our loyal staff will return, for the most part, for the coming season. Mr. Walter Lindquist will serve again as Administrator, and Mrs. Elizabeth Lindquist will again greet visitors at the reception desk and will supervise the sales desk, the Counting room, and the scrimshaw room. As in past years, Mr. Bertram E. Morris will have charge of the whale craft shops and Mrs. Reg inald Hussey will be Librarian, continuing her constructive work in the Library. Clarence H. Swift will serve again as relief for Mr. Lindquist with respect to Sanderson Hall, the portrait and South Seas rooms, and for Mr. Morris, with respect to the Whale Craft shop. Mrs. Sterling B. Yerxa, Mrs. Karol Smith and Mr. Charles A. West will join the staff as relief personnel for the various positions. SUMMARY. The Museum Committee, as has been frequently stated, bears constantly in mind, that the Whaling Museum is the outstanding asset and earning power of the Association. Further, that it is recognized nationally and internationally as one of the outstanding Whaling Museums of the world. The Committee is constantly striving to protect and improve the Museum and its exhibits and to maintain its recognized na tional and international position. The Museum staff contributes its loyal, efficient and helpful cooperation to accomplish this goal. The need for additional space has been the foremost need of the Museum for a number of years. The situation is now really acute for practically no space is now available for exhibiting new acquisitions. A sizeable addition to the present building is the only answer. Ground area is available and tentative plans have been drawn up to cover the needed floor area and the housing for the whale skeleton previously described. Financing the cost of construction is the problem to be solved and with each year's delay becomes more difficult. Evidence thereof is found in the fact that the estimated cost for such an addition is said to have increased by at least 40 per cent from the time plans were first drawn in 1965. The Museum Committee for 1969-1970 will remain un changed with W. Ripley Nelson, Chairman; Albert F. Egan, Jr.; Mrs. Kent King; and Charles F. Sayle serving as members.
20
NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION Income and Expense Statement for the year ended May 31, 1969 Exhibits: Whaling Museum Hadwen House Oldest House Fair Street Old Mill 1800 House Old Jail Hose Cart House
Income $28,196.18 4,042.35 3,919.97 1,126.95 1,142.40 582.50 965.40 18.30 $39,994.05
Expenses $17,156.81 8,341.96 2,762.74 2,400.20 1,133.65 2,102.71 1,036.03 $34,934.10
Other income: Donations, including $19,200.00 in securities Interest and dividends Annual memberships Sustaining memberships Other
20,910.05 5,378.30 2,988.00 1,090.00 437.78 30,804.13 35,864.08
Other expenses: General and administrative Advertising and publicity Historic Nantucket Hadwen Garden Crewel Bedspread Restoration of paintings
7,738.30 1,331.91 1,231.50 594.50 720.00 483.80 12,100.01 23,764.07
Excess of income over expenses General fund June 1, 1968 Less amount transferred to surplus by appraisal of real estate General fund. May 31, 1969
$ 11,039.37 (4,299.61) 1,157.23 (1,273.25) 8.75 (1,520.21) (70.63) 18.30 5,059.95
$1,178,979.39 131,757.01
47,222.38 $70,986.45
21
NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION Balance Sheet — May 31, 1969 ASSETS Association Cash in checking accounts and on hand $ Cash in savings accounts Cash in principal and income accounts Investments Amount due from Nantucket Historical Trust Real estate, land and buildings Construction work in progress Collections Furniture and fixtures
4,692.25 84.569.39
40,300.00 249.66 129,811.30 341,319.91
Peter Foulger* S
30,430.42 19,038.40
$
660.908.06
17,527.25 $ 678,435.31
LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES Payroll taxes and wages payable S 96.10 Restricted funds — principal and interest 9,139.23 Surplus by appraisal of real estate 493,516.69 Peter Foulger Fund 678,435.31 General fund 70,986.45 623,439.59 678,435.31 $ 623,535.69 $ 678,435.31
35,122.67 103,607.79 75,091.61 576,647.63
75,091.61 536,347.63
17,527.25 150,000.00 2,404.48 493,724.39 $ 623,535.69
Combined
249.66 790,719.36 341,319.91 17,527.25 150,000.00 2,404.48 511,251.64 $1,301,971.00
$
96.10 9,139.23
493,516.69 678,435.31 70,986.45 1,301,874.90 $1,301,971.00
*The Peter Foulger Fund is restricted to the construction of a building similar to that known in Nantucket as the Coffin School which is to be adequately endowed as an Historical Association.
NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION Income and Expense Statement of the Peter Foulger Fund For the period April 3, 1968 to May 31, 1969 Income: Gain on sale of securities Dividends Interest Old Colony Trust Co. Custodial Fees Excess of income over expenses Peter Foulger Fund Balance April 3, 1968 Peter Foulger Fund balance May 31, 1969
$ 36,079.69 24,472.02 13,333.85 73,885.56 1,366.47 72,519.09 605,916.22 $678,435.31
22
NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION Analysis of Fund Balances — May 31, 1969 Balance Increase or Balance June 1, 1968 (Decrease) May 31, 1969 Restricted funds — principal and interest Coffin Genealogy $ 5,316.16 $ 256.34 $ 5,572.50 Old Mill Preservation 1,033.10 54.62 1,087.72 Swain 1,000.00 1,000.00 Will Gardner 687.65 65.65 753.30 Jethro Coffin Oldest House 681.33 44.38 725.71 8,718.24 420.99 9,139.23 Restricted funds, principal Florence Mitchell Life Memberships William Swift Sidney Mitchell Ella Starbuck Emma Hayward Susan Brock
Building fund by appraisal of real estate
22,545.00 12,558.22 5,000.00 3,000.00 3,000.00 2,000.00 1,000.00 49,103.22
694.00
22,545.00 13,252.22 5,000.00 3,000.00 3,000.00 2,000.00 1,000.00 49,797.22
361,759.68
131,757.01
493,516.69
694.00
Peter Foulger fund
605,916.22
72,519.09
678,435.31
General fund
178,979,39
(107,992.04)
70,986.45
$1,204,476.75
97,398.15 $1,301,874.90
ANNUAL REPORTS
23
Advertising - Publicity - Publications BY H. ERROL COFFIN AND W. RIPLEY NELSON
The Association's program for advertising and publicity during the 1968-1969 fiscal year was divided, as in past years, into three classes: (1) local newspapers; (2) magazines and di rectories; and (3) descriptive booklets and cards. Newspaper advertising was on approximately the same scale as for the previous year for the summer series of lectures were again omitted. This class of advertising was limited, therefore, to certain events which included (a) the opening and admissions schedules for all exhibits; (b) the annual members' meeting; (c) the annual gam; and (d) the special holiday openings of the Whaling Museum and Hadwen House-Satler Memorial. Paid newspaper advertising was limited to the one Island newspaper. Magazine and directory advertising was carried on as in past years. This included weekly advertisements for thirteen weeks during the summer season in the two local seasonal pub lications, "Nantucket Holiday" and "Your Nantucket Vacation Guide." A full page was used in each publication — the back of the front cover, excellent position to advertise our exhibits. The usual listings were placed in the "New England Council," a sum mer guide, and also in various other vacation guides. The usual "Admission Schedules," cardboard signs listing all our exhibits, opening dates, visiting hours and admission, were distributed early in June for display by hotels, guest houses, restaurants, clubs, and some businesses. The Association's folded leaflet describing our exhibits was given wide distribution through our various buildings. "Main Street" and "Rambles through the Historic District" were given the usual wide distribution and met with the usual welcome from Island visitors. The descriptive booklet for the "Old Gaol" was reprinted and the "1800 House" booklet was completely rewritten. In its new form, it guided the visitor through each room, as on a tour, with pictures of the various rooms and interesting comments of unusual items in each room. News stories of the Association's activities were released to the island newspaper and one off-Island newspaper. Both news papers continued their friendly cooperation in giving good news coverage. The outstanding news item which appeared in various publications, was the announcement of the Department of the Interior, U.S.A., that the Jethro Coffin House (The Oldest House) had been designated as a National Historic Landmark. This will be celebrated during the coming season by the placing of the official plaque at the Oldest House.
24
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
Nantucket Historical Association Buildings and Exhibits Open THE NANTUCKET Historical Association's various buildings and exhibits formally opened for the season on Monday, June 9. The Whaling Museum launched its season on Friday, May 30 and the Oldest House, the Historical Museum and Friends Meeting House on Fair Street, the Hadwen House-Satler Memorial, the Old Mill, the Old Gaol, 1800 House, the Fire Hose-Cart House and the Folger-Franklin Seat and Memorial Bounder followed. At the Oldest House, Mrs. J. Clinton Andrews serves again as Chairman, and Mrs. Lawrence F. Mooney, as Receptionist, with Mrs. John Kittila as relief Receptionist. Visiting hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. At the Historical Museum and Friends Meeting House, Mrs. Elizabeth Worth serves again as Chairman of the Exhibits and as Receptionist. Miss Alice Crocker is Librarian, and Miss Flor ence Farrell is relief Receptionist. As usual, the exhibits will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Sundays, when they will be open from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Hadwen House-Satler Memorial opens daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mr. Albert F. Egan, Jr. continues as Chairman of the ex hibit committee, of which Mrs. Robert D. Congdon, Mrs. Charles Clark Coffin and Mrs. Albert F. Egan, Jr., serve again as mem bers. Mrs. Irving Soverino is again in charge of the reception committee and will be assisted by Miss Rosamund Duffy and Miss Marjorie Burgess. The Old Mill, the Old Gaol, 1800 House and the Fire Hose Cart House are open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mr. Richard Swain serves again as chairman of the Old Mill and Mr. Frank Ramsdell again is the "miller." The Old Gaol is under the chairmanship of Mr. Albert G. Brock with Mr. Joseph Lavoie serving as the "gaoler." At the 1800 House, Mrs. Roy H. Gilpatrick is acting as Chair man of the exhibit and as receptionist. This house presents one of the real opportunities to see and enjoy an Island dwelling of the early 19th century. Located on Mill Street, just off Pleasant Street, it is readily accessible to those who enjoy a stroll through the streets of the Town. The Fire Hose Cart House on Gardner Street, is again under the chairmanship of Mr. Irving T. Bartlett. The Folger-Franklin Seat and Memorial Boulder on the Madaket Road, about one mile from the west end of Main Street, is open to visitors daily. Mr. Herbert I. Terry is chairman of the Exhibit Committee. The Whaling Museum, which formally opened on May 30th, will be open weekdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for the period of June 13th to Sept. 9th inclusive, when the hours will be 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
ANNUAL REPORTS
25
The Museum Committee is unchanged with Mrs. Kent King, Mr. Charles F. Sayle, and Mr. Albert F. Egan, Jr., serving as members with Mr. W. Ripley Nelson as Chairman. The staff members are Mr. Walter Lindquist, administrator in charge of personnel and current operating routine and Mrs. Elizabeth G. Lindquist will serve as Receptionist. Other staff members are Mr. Bertram Morris in charge of the Whale Craft shops; Mrs. R. F. Hussey, Librarian; Mr. Clarence H. Swift, Mrs. Sterling B. Yerxa and Mr. Charles A. West serve as relief personnel for the various positions.
Curator's Report Each year the Nantucket Historical Association deeply ap preciates the gifts donated by friends and their interest in the society. It is too boring to list them all, so I shall mention a few outstanding ones. The Oldest House received two Windsor chairs (c. 1730) from Mrs. George A. Taylor (Florence Ingall). Miss Grace Bolles, among other articles, presented the Fair Street Museum with a cane which belonged to a Tristram Coffin and has a snuff box attached to it. Each has a silver top engraved T. C. 1787. Mrs. A. Stewart Rogers gave a holograph of the first stanza of "America." We are greatly indebted to the Nantucket Historical Trust for the many things it has found and donated to the Nantucket Historical Association as well, old ledgers, and two large ship pictures which may be seen in the Whaling Museum. These are just a few that have been received from the Trust this year. I wish to express my thanks to Mrs. Elizabeth Worth, Miss Florence Worth, Mrs. Clinton Andrews, and Mr. Richard Swain for their generosity and many hours they spent this winter in typing cards for the master file. A good start has been made but the file is far from completion and will take two more winters, at least, to finish. This has been an interesting year for me, as in checking and typing the cards I have become more familiar with the articles in the various exhibits and have greatly increased my knowledge of Nantucket history. I have had an intriguing correspondence with Mrs. Mary Hillier of Redhill, Surrey, England this winter and spring about establishing the authenticity that the "Dauphin" was the work of Marie Tussaud and comparing it with Caroline Harris, a portrait (?) baby doll that she and the London Museum are examining, and also supposed to be the work of Marie Tussaud. Respectfully submitted, Dorothy Gardner, Curator
26
Green Hand on the Susan 1841 - 48 Part V Bound to the Kingsmill Group BY EDGAR L. MCCORMICK (Continued from HISTORIC NANTUCKET, April, 1969)
STANDING FOUR MILES off the lee of Rarotanga, the Susan at 11 a.m. on February 27, 1843, lowered her Starboard boat, taking along "some trade" and the two passengers from Wytutuckie [Aitutaki], "In about an hour," Meader wrote, "they landed in a smooth bay on the North side where they found the settlement. There was quite a neat schooner just launched of about 90 tons, made from wood grown on the Island, belonging to the King, and commanded by an American. She is to take freight from this group to Sidney. At noon the Bow Boat goes ashore and at night the two boats come off loaded with 40 Bus. S. potatoes, 10 Bus. oranges, some dry and preserved Bananas. The potatoes and oranges cost two fathoms of cloth per Bbl. "I didn't go ashore myself," explained Andrew, "but I was told. The passenger's little boy . . . had been dressed up by the Captain previous to our raising land, with a pink loose dress with a wide blue cloth belt around his waist, his neck covered with high colored beads, a straw hat and wide red ribbon, looking like a bull frog dressed in soldier's clothes. On landing he was nearly suffocated by the embraces of the natives, old and young, who seemed overjoyed at once more seeing the little traveller, our crew told me. The fashion was to kiss each other on the end of the nose, so if it is carried on to any great extent, I think they must have need of Pocket handkerchiefs. "There are two white men living ashore here who are run aways from some ship, also two white Missionaries, English or American. One is named Rev. Mr. Gill, the other . . . Rev. Mr. Pit man. The captain brings aboard the King's nephew who seems delighted with the ship and is altogether the best looking and best behaved Kanaka I ever saw. He is about 15 years old, and seems very anxious to learn the English language, some words of which he can speak quite plain. At 1 o'clock P. M. Louis raises a sail to windward. She runs down and by 5 o'clock she heaves back 2 miles to windward of us. The weather is some squally but we think it strange that as she is the weather vessel she don't run down and see who we are and let us know who she is." Tuesday, the 28th, began with drizzly weather. The stranger proved to be the Pacific of New Bedford, 6 months out, 250 bar rels Sperm, 150 Whale oil, on her way to the Northwest Coast. The Susan continued taking on supplies.
GREEN HAND ON THE SUSAN
27
"The Starboard boat then goes ashore," Meader continued, "and Mr. Coleman asks if any one wants to go on board of the Pacific. At this question I jumped for the boat, being anxious and almost as certain of getting letters as though they were in my chest; but on going on board I was as much disappointed as the rest of the crew ... we were favoured with some late papers dated Aug. 1842, 15 mos. out — no letters." "While ashore today I saw the King, ... a clever looking fat man weighing 310#. He was dressed in a European dress of thin white clothes and could talk good English having just returned from a tour through Holland in company with English noblemen at Sydney. I learned that the government is and always was handed down from Father to son, so that there is something like royal blood amongst them, yet a female of the King's family is thought but a very little more of than a woman of any common family. At dark the Captain in the Starboard boat comes aboard bringing recruits [provisions] and a breaker [sic] of molasses made ashore." March 1 brought heavy, persistent rain, "a sorry thing for our fowl who are dying off fast." No boats went ashore, and the Susan stood off and on under close-reefed topsails. On March 2 there were "winds from every point in the compass." The Pacific got two boats ashore by keeping in under the lee close to the breakers. "Towards night," Andrew noted happily, "we are fa voured with the welcome sight of a beautiful rainbow which gave us hope of a fine morrow, for the old rhyme of, 'Rainbow in the morning Sailor take warning Rainbow at night Is a sailor's delight' came to pass and sure enough it cleared up about midnight and the day dawned with fine weather." Captain Russell noted tersely that on the morning of March 3 the Susan "got off 2 boat loads of fire wood & two [of] potatoes and fruit." Meader elaborated on the day's activities: "Before dinner Mr. Pitman goes board of the Pacific for a pleasant gam of an hour. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon we square the yards and with a moderate breeze steer N.N.W., leaving this deplorable Island of Rarotonga and if the English of the word means anything bad, lazy, dirty, thievish or cruel — then it is too rightly named. Everyone is glad to leave it, although as to recruits we were quite well served and that, I suppose, was owing to the presence of the King which enforces order, honesty and free trade. While ashore I saw the graves of two deceased Englishmen, Missionar ies, who while preaching to these deluded natives 12 years ago were brutally massacred in the pulpit. They are both buried in one
28
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
grave, and very soon their places were filled missionaries."
by other English
In June, 1845, Meader wrote across this entry: "This is a mistake for these missionaries were not murdered at this place but at Aromongo [Eromanga] one of the Hebrides. . . ." As the island disappeared, Meader continued his recital of its shortcomings: "There are three different tribes here, . . . each one subject to a chief who with them is subject to the King. Each tribe has an English missionary who they generally like, but at any rate the chiefs and King force the natives to respect and in many instances to obey. The men natives are tolerably well built and good looking and the women the same, but the women such dirty, lazy things I never hope to see again. In fact there are no decent women here except those that belong to the royal fam ily and they live in quite a tidy house, small, but fitted with neat European furniture. Still [the King's] females go dressed but a little from the common native in regard to style altho' King David seems bent on civilizing them all" "Soon after squaring away the yards [the crew] began to build a pen for the fowl and, as some of the crew had bought a few on their own hooks, they had to move sharp to keep their property from being in piund and when once in, nothing short of a demand from the Captain's table can bring them out again." But thoughts of island squalor and forecastle privation sud denly yielded to a wonder at a celestial visitor. At seven that evening, March 3, "with a new moon within an hour of setting, we observed a luminous streak in the heavens. It bore about West from us. Clouds were constantly passing over it and the lower end was entirely obscured so that no correct observation could be obtained but 'twas judged to be about 15 degrees long and 30 minutes wide at the upper end and tapering to a point as it neared the horizon. It was thought quite remarkable and prophecies and wondrous stories were the consequence. One called it a waterspout — an other called it the reflection of an eruption on some volcanic island near by. Another, that it was the light from the effects of an island just risen from the sea, (this I thought the most likely, as we often hear of a newly discovered Island in these seas, and it is a fact that we, this voyage, have seen more than one that is lately discovered and not to be found laid down on any of the latest charts). Some said that it was a forerunner of a gale or pestilence. One jocosely remarked that he guessed it was because 'twas his birthday, yet few thought it a Comet owing to its great size appearing so suddenly and not being able to distinguish either end, although if the weather had been clear, it most likely would have been seen before. . .
GREEN HAND ON THE SUSAN
29
Housekeeping chores occupied the daylight hours of March 4. The crew dried potatoes on deck, stored some in casks, and the rest below deck. "The Skipper gives us as many oranges as we have a mind to take care of, leaving a plenty on deck to eat till they are all gone. The Bananas begin to grow ripe and the way we walk into the ranks is a caution. At 7 o'clock in the evening . . . the Comet . . . had as bright an appearance as last night, it was 18 degrees long, 35 minutes wide at the widest part, tapering to a point as it neared the star. It had a dark streak through the middle. The star is of the usual color, of the second magnitude, and I believe the same comet that was in Feb'y, 1743, according to the description in Nicholson's Encyclopedia Vol. 1st. It seems to move rather southward with a gentle curve at the end of the tail towards the South. It set at 8 o'clock." *
*
*
:S
But on March 5 after passing the Island of Wytutuckie [Aitutaki] the Susan encountered squally weather, with "as rainy and dark a night as ever was. There was but a light wind, yet it rained big drops and no mistake, and oh golly, 'twas to dark that it was impossible to distinguish one thing from another; everything was of one colour and that colour was black . . . we had a good deal of bracing and weaving around, and the braces, bowlines, and sheets had to be found by feeling. "Twas quite common for one to run the rim of his hard tapaulin against the eye of his shipmate in the dark and then would come the question of 'Who are you' and if no answer was given a volley of curses was sure to follow. However we worked through the night without any serious accident." The rainy weather continued, but on Tuesday, March 7, as the clouds began to lift, an unusual rescue took place. The Bow boat lowered "for Jake's old hat, which after giving up the search, they found on their way to the ship." That evening despite the clouds, the crew observed the Comet again. The tail was 22 de grees long, 37 minutes wide and it bore West, setting at 9 o'clock. The next night the Comet was, "as brilliant as ever," 26 de grees long and 39 minutes wide. It set at 9:15. The weather turned fine at last, but on March 9 the thermometer stood between 100 and 105 "which caused 'sweat of the brow' in finishing the Waist, rattling down the lower rigging." Meader wryly observed that "the Celebrated stand to hold the Dripping Stone is this day finished after being worked on for about 25 days by the Skipper and one of the officers. It is for the accommodation of the cabin in giving pure cool table water, but I hope he won't forget to treat us with some of his good Talcahuano wine when it is put in its place behind the Water Butt. A clear evening and we see the Comet. The tail is 29 degrees long, 39 minutes wide and inclines a ilttle to the northward. It sets at 1/2 past 9."
30
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
Good breezes were replaced by squalls, on Sunday, March 12, but the crew was "quite dry under the overhead boats on the quarter deck, [with] little else to do but eat ripe Bananas and oranges. ... At 1/2 past 4 'There's white water' off lee quarter by Osborne. The Skipper, officers and Boatsteerers go aloft. We don't run for it so we don't see it again." And the Susan, fifteen months out, had only 400 barrels for all her searching. Her po sition on March 15 was 12 degrees South and 160 degrees, 10 minutes West as she steered North toward the Kingsmill Group. Meader, on that day, was concerned chiefly with the old dis parity between the table set aft and the rations for the crew: "Kill 2 fine pigs for fore and aft tomorrow. Fresh pork dinner will certainly be a treat, for although we have so many ducks, turkeys and fowl aboard, yet the hands, we poor miserable devils, touch not, handle not, because there is no more cooked than the big table will hold." On Friday, March 17. "At 9 o'clock Pease sings out 'Sail ho!' It is off the lee beam on the same tack but close hauled so that by 4 o'clock she was only 5 miles to leeward — she proved to be our old friend, the Leonidas, Nye, New Bedford, 200 Bbls. Spm., 14 mos. out. She had taken 3 small whales since we saw her last. Our skipper went aboard in the waist boat and their mate gam'ed with ours. Their craft is a small three-boat ship carrying eighteen hundred, and the worst accommodated of any one we have seen this voyage. There is not height enough between decks for a middle-sized man to stand upright. Comet in sight." With the Leonidas in company, "trying all she can to beat us," the Susan sighted whales at four o'clock on March 18, three miles off. "They were fine cows of 20 to 50 bbls.; we expected to get as as many as one to each boat, but — after pulling, paddling, sail ing and lying for them till sundown we all went aboard, heartily discouraged. In fact this had been the most unfortunate of all whaling days. Neither boat got fast except the Starboard boat and she was just a going to lance her when they feel themselves to be loose and upon hauling up they found that the iron had broken three or four inches from the head. "It was about 10 minutes before sunset so the skipper hove up for the [day] and the rest of us kept up the chace till dark. As soon as we raised the whales and kept off the Leonidas perceived it, run down with . . . everything set, but our shipkeeper (Pease for the present) says she is nothing at all before the wind. . . . The Comet has a beautiful appearance tonight — its tail is 40 degrees long and 40 minutes wide with no dark streak through the middle. The comet itself has a quick, twinkling appearance, sometimes red, and at others white. Its rate is much faster than the moon's or any other planet, and sets at % to 10." (To Be Continued)
Legacies and Bequests Membership in our Association proves that you are interested in its program for the preservation of Nantucket's famed heritage and its illustrious past, which so profoundly affected the development of our country. You can perpetuate that interest by giving to the Association a legacy under your will, which will help to insure the Association's carrying on. Counsel advises that legacies to the Nantucket Historical Association are allowable deductions under the Federal Estate Tax law. Legacies will be used for general or specific purposes as directed bv the donor. A sample form may read as follows: "I give, devise, and bequeath to the Nantucket Historical Association, a corporation duly or ganized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and located in the Town of Nantucket, in said Commonwealth, the sum of Dollars."
Legacies may be made also in real estate, bonds, stocks, books, paint ings, or any objects having historical value, in which event a brief descrip tion of the same should be inserted instead of a sum of money. Please send all communications to the Secretary, Box 1016, Nantucket, Massachusetts 02554. Office, Fair Street Museum.
The Sankaty Head Lighthouse has been an Island landmark for 120 years.