Historic Nantucket, July 1976, Vol. 24 No. 1

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When Grover Cleveland Visited Nantucket ON THE AFTERNOON of June 10, 1897, Nantucket had a distinguished visitor in the person of Ex-President Grover Cleveland. Although his visit barely extended beyond two hours, the appearance of the well-known gentleman attracted some attention in those citizens who were aware of his presence. The following account appeared in the columns of The Inquirer and Mirror: He came unheralded, remained incognito, and departed just in time to escape the obsequious demonstration sure to follow recognition. Even the ubiquitous Clark was in blissful ignorance of the presence of so distinguished a visitor until he was well on his way back to'the Oneida which lay anchored just outside the bar. Steam yacht Oneida with ex-President Cleveland on board, the guest of Com. E.C. Benedict, arrived at Gray Gables from New London Saturday night, and left Sunday afternoon for Greenwich, Conn. The object of the cruise was to visit new places along shore and drop a line here and there, if the weather was favorable. Shortly after 1 o'clock Monday afternoon, Mr. Lawrence Ayers, foreman of Mr. W.H.H. Smith's livery establishment, saw a steam launch round Brant Point and head up for Steamboat pier. With an eye to business Mr. Ayers strolled down the wharf and as the small boat made fast, hailed the couple of gentlemen passengers on board with the proffer of a team with which to "do" the town. Yes, they wanted a team and a driver—any kind of a rig would answer their purpose, so long as the springs and axles were stout—a point which Mr. Ayers mentally agreed was well taken as he surveyed his patrons from out the corner of his left eye. Meantime while the team was being hitched up the two gentlemen amused themselves examining and commenting upon the various kinds of vehicles stored in the carriage repository. A box wagon in particular, belonging to Mr. H.W. Riddell, attracted the special notice of the larger gentleman to whom it was a novelty and he asked numerous questions regarding it and the method of getting in. "Have to climb in at the back end," replied Mr. Ayers, at which the big


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