When Grover Cleveland Visited Nantucket

W h e n G r o v e r C le v e l a n d V i si t e d N a n t u c k et

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

man laughed and remarked tha; he didn't believe he was quite equal to boarding that craft.

At length the carriage was ready and as the larger gentleman clambered in on the rear seat, which he very nearly filled, he remarked that he settled her pretty well by the stern. His companion took his seat in front with the driver, a boy whom Mr. Ayers, in blissful ignorance of the identity of his distinguished patrons, dispatched with the one-horse team, as he was "too busy" to go himself, and they proceeded on the usual route through the town.

Among the places of interest visited was the old mill and the genial curator, Mr. Hoy, entertained them with anecdotes sparkling with Irish wit at which they both laughed heartily. As the visitors were leaving Mr. Hoy remarked confidentially, "There's lots of big folks come here in the run of a year and sometimes they 'tips' me handsome," but the hint was lost upon his visitors who paid the stipulated 10 cents per capita admission fee and bade him good bye.

Before returning to their boat the party drove to the telegraph office and sent a despatch to Mrs. Cleveland announcing their arrival at Nantucket and future movements. Then it was that their identity first became known. Meantime Collector Clapp from his office overhead, heard the rumble of wheels on the cobblestones as the carriage drew up in front of the common entrance, but being deeply engrossed with some abstruce mathematical calculation oi theological dogma, merely glanced from the portrait of Grover in uniform as Commander-in-Chief which confronted him, to the portraits of Grover as President and Grover as condidate which flanked him on either hand, and resumed his occupation in blissful oblivion of the fact that the admired original was within easy reach of a ten-foot pole. Postmaster Winslow, whose commission, like that of Mr. Clapp, dates back to President Cleveland's first administration, only learned of his visit after his departure.

In fact, of all the democratic admirers of the ex-President, Dr. E.B. Coleman appears to have been the only one favored with an opportunity to pay his respects to him. Somebody having put a flea in the doctor's ear, he drove rapidly down to the landing, intercepted the great man, accused him of being "Grover", to which he pleaded guilty, and then revealed his own identity, which lead to an exchange of civilities and a pleasant little tete-a-tete.