HISTORIC NANTUCKET
The famous Nantucket photographer, Henry S. Wyer, posed "Billy" Bowen for this portrait at 'Sconset.
JANUARY, 1982 Published Quarterly by Nantucket Historical Association Nantucket, Massachusetts
NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
COUNCIL 1981 -1982 Walter Beinecke, Jr., Chairman Mrs. Bernard D. Grossman, Vice Chairman Leroy H. True, President - Chief Executive Officer Albert F. Egan, Jr., Vice Pres. Mrs. R. Arthur Orleans, Vice Pres. Albert G. Brock, Vice Pres. Richard C. Austin, Secretary
Alcon Chadwick, Vice Pres. George W. Jones, Vice Pres. John N. Welch, Treasurer Edouard A. Stackpole, Historian
Donald E. Terry Miss Nancy Ayotte David D. Worth Mrs. Helen W. Chase
Miss Dorothy Gardner Robert D. Congdon H. Flint Ranney Harold W. Lindley
Renny A. Stackpole, Director of Museums Edouard A. Stackpole, Editor "Historic Nantucket" Mrs. Merle T. Orleans, Assistant Editor Mrs. Elizabeth Tyrer, Executive Secretary
STAFF Oldest House Curator, 'Mrs. Kenneth S. Baird Mrs. Margaret Crowell, Mrs. Abram Niles Hadwen House-Satler Memorial Curator, *Mrs. P. Prime Swain Mrs. Richard A. Strong, Mrs. Bracebridge H. Young, Mrs. Everett B. Merrithew, Mrs. Kathleen IT. Barcus 1800 House, Mrs. Helen S. Soverino Whaling Museum Curator, Renny A. Stackpole Rev. Frank J. Pattison, Manager; James A. Watts Mrs. Robert E. Campbell, Alfred N. Orpin Greater Light, Dr. Selina T. Johnson Peter Foulger Museum Director, 'Edouard A. Stackpole Asst. Director, Peter S. MacGlashan Mrs. Reginald F. Hussey, Librarian; Mrs. Norman A. Barrett, Miss Marjorie Burgess, Miss Helen Levins, Alcon Chadwick, Mrs. Ruby O'Reilly Macy-Christian House Curator, 'Mrs. John A. Baldwin; Miss Dorothy Hiller, Mrs. Edouard A. Stackpole, Mrs. Edna Docca Old Gaol Curator, Albert G. Brock Old Mill Curator, 'John Gilbert Millers: John A. Stackpole, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Dougan Fair Street Museum Curator, 'Albert F. Egan, Jr. Lightship "Nantucket" Curator, 'John Austin; Richard Swain, Everett Finlay Hose Cart House Curator, 'Francis W. Pease Archaeology Department Chairman, 'Rev. Edward Anderson; Vice Chairman Mrs. John D. C. Little Building Survey Committee Chairman, 'Robert G. Metters Old Town Office Curator, 'Hugh R. Chace *Ex-officio members of Council
HISTORIC NANTUCKET Published Quarterly and devoted to the preservation of Nantucket's antiquity, its famed heritage and its illustrious past as a whaling port. Volume 29
Vol .; VTr"i A r,
January, 1982
No. 3
(>y
Nantucket Historical Association Officers and Staff
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Editorial: "Five Years After — The Argo Merchant"
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The Association Acquires the Portrait of a Whaling Master's Wife
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A Christmas Affair
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Alexander H. Seaverns — Nantucket Artist by Robert A. diCurcio
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The Last Whale-Chase Off Nantucket by Edouard A. Stackpole
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Information Wanted
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Historical Relics and Heirlooms on Display at the "Foulger"
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An Unusual Relic
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The Letters of a Young Whaleman — 1822-1824
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Address Changes/Requests
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A Ballad of Old Nantucket
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Historic Nantucket is published quarterly at Nantucket, Massachusetts, by the Nantucket Historical Association. It is sent to Association Members. Extra copies $1.00 each. Membership dues are — Annual-Active $7.50; Sustaining $25.00; Life — one payment $100.00; Husband and Wife $150.00 Second-class postage paid at Nantucket, Massachusetts Communications pertaining to the Publication should be addressed to the Editor, Historic Nantucket, Nantucket Historical Association, Nantucket, Massachusetts 02554.
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Five Years After — The Argo Merchant AS OFTEN HAPPENS events in recent years, that were occasions for con siderable concern when they took place, have a way of losing their significance with the passage of time. Five years ago this past month — December 15, 1976 — a huge oil tanker, the Argo Merchant, well off its course, struck Fishing Rip, east of Nantucket, and the oil which spread from its broken hull threatened not only the sandy beaches of this island but those of Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod, as well. The series of events which created the potential disaster made an inci dent of international repercussions. A great tanker, measuring over 600 feet, owned by a Greek syndicate, insured by an American company, registered in Liberia, Africa, and navigated by men not qualified for their positions — all combined to bring about a reprehensible situation. The hearings revealed clearly how the tanker was trapped in Nantucket shoals, as the testimony of the captain and officers brought out the navigational blunders that took place during the last hours of that winter voyage. In view of the dramatic exposure of the facts, it was expected that the writers of the codes of International Law would bring about such changes as were obviously needed. However, nothing has been accomplished up to this time. The question of how the maritime world can improve its control over the oil tankers is still unanswered fully. The carriers of oil, with their great bulk, are still a menace to our coasts and our harbors. The "Quaker Wind" that swept the great oil spill out to sea was truly a miracle, according to experienced seafarers. But, as in all such miracles, this was something to be marveled at but not to be depended upon. It is more reasonable to depend upon good navigation and good navigators. Interna tional laws which look to the safety of the tankers' hull and see that they have competent officers, will become the best guarantees that oil carriers will per form their proper functions. The cynicism of the owners of the modern tanker has no place in our times, and the lack of control over the destinies of their vessels should not be always the potential for more disasters. -Edouard A. Stackpole
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The Association Acquires the Portrait of a Whaling Master's Wife ONE OF THE MOST unusual portraits of a Nantucket woman has been recently acquired by the Nantucket Historical Association. It is the only one of its kind in the Association's collections, being painted in reverse on glass, and in a Chinese frame, and in excellent condition. It is the portrait of Mary Cof fin Nichols, the wife of Captain James Nichols, of Nantucket, and for more than a century it was in the family homes in Odell and Pontiac, Illinois. Cap tain Nichols, upon retiring from the sea in 1854, moved with his family to Odell, where he died on March 29, 1884. Mary Coffin Nichols survived her husband for another decade and a half, her death coming on February 5, 1899. The story of Mary Coffin Nichols begins another chapter in the full story of those intrepid women who went to sea on whaleships with their husbands. She was the daughter of Paul and Priscilla (Gardner) Coffin, who were mar ried in Nantucket on May 29, 1806, both members of the Nantucket Society of Friends. At the age of twenty-one Mary Coffin became the bride of James Nichols, also of Nantucket, who was the son of Charles and Sally (Folger) Nichols. The wedding took place on July 16, 1837. James Nichols had served his apprenticeship on Island whaleships, and in ships from Sag Harbor. In 1845 he was given command of the ship Nep tune, owned by S. & B. Huntting & Co., of Sag Harbor. This was a sturdy vessel, making thirteen voyages from 1827 to 1849. Captain Nichols sailed on July 23, 1845, and returned four years later with a full ship. But this was in the beginnings of the California Gold Rush period, and the owners sold the ship for that trade. During his first voyage as mate of the Neptune the first child was born to Mrs. Nichols, named James, on March 31, 1838. He enlisted in the first year of the Civil War and was killed at the battle of Salem Heights, Virginia, May 3, 1863. A second child, Josephine, was born to Captain and Mrs. Nichols on January 3, 1842. It was on his voyage in command of the Neptune that a third child, Sarah F., was born on August 10, 1846. Upon his return from his long voyage in 1949, Captain Nichols accepted the command of the ship Lion, of Providence, R.I., sailing September 15, 1849, for the Indian Ocean. It was at this time that Mary Coffin Nichols decid ed to join her husband for the voyage, rather than spend another long period of separation. The Lion sailed from Providence on September 15, 1849, less than two months after he had arrived home on the Neptune.The Lion was owned by Lloyd Bowers of Providence, and returned three and one half years later with 1500 bbls. of sperm oil. She was soon after sold. In September, 1850, a year after the Lion sailed for the Pacific, and while the ship was on cruising ground off the coast of Chili, South America, Mrs.
Portrait of Mrs. Mary Coffin Nichols, of Nantucket. Recently acquired by the Nantucket Historical Association.
8 HISTORIC NANTUCKET Nichols gave birth to twin boys, named Charles Arthur and William Holly Nichols. On March 31, 1852 — two years after she had given birth to her twin sons — Mrs. Nichols went ashore at Auckland, New Zealand, where a daughter was born, named Mary Helen. But the little girl was not destined to survive, being buried at sea while the ship was homeward bound. One of the twins, William, also died at a young age. On this voyage Captain Nichols made a circumnavigation of the world, bringing the Lion back to Providence by way of the Cape of Good Hope, having entered the Pacific by way of Cape Horn. While in Providence the Nichols family welcomed their last member, a girl named Mary Coffin Nichols, born on July 4th, 1854. Shortly after this event, Captain and Mrs. Nichols moved to Illinois, where they settled in the town of Sunbury. Captain Nichols' brother, Captain Charles Nichols — also born on Nantucket — came to Illinois a few years later to live in Odell. In 1878, an exhibition of curios was held at a county fair which included loans of shells and South Sea artifacts by the Nichols brothers. One of the local newspapers wrote of the loans as follows: "These gentlemen are brothers and were born on Nantucket Island and followed the sea from boyhood and have sailed many times around the world. Capt. James is sixty-two years old and his brother is fifty-eight. Being gentlemen of culture and of much more than ordinary intelligence they have collected in their various voyages many rare and valuable specimens from remote corners of the earth and a portion of this collection they have kindly consented to place on exhibition. Among the rare and beautiful shells will be seen a perfect nautilus shell, also one of the same sawed open to exhibit its internal structure, and other rare shells which have a market value of more than their weight in gold. In this collection will also be found the war implements of a Feejee Islander and a war club presented to Capt. James Nichols by the Feejee King, Retova. Mrs. Mary Nichols, wife of Capt. James, accompanied her husband on many of his voyages and during the time she made a most valuable collection of ferns and mosses that must be seen to be appreciated. We venture the assertion that there is not another herbarium in the State that can boast of one-half of the variety of ferns collected by Mrs. Nichols. It was the good fortune of the writer to spend an evening last week at the residence of Capt. James Nichols and it was worth something to hear him in his modest, unassuming manner describe the locality from which his specimens were obtained and mention some of the characteristics of the inhabitants of those distant lands." Captain James Nichols died on March 29, 1884, and Mary Coffin Nichols became an honored member of the family of her eldest daughter, Mrs. A. K. Brower, in St. Paul, Nebraska. It was in the Brower home that she died on a Sunday morning, February 5, 1899, at the age of eighty-four. Three of her
THE ASSOCIATION ACQUIRES A PORTRAIT
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children survived her — Charles Arthur Nichols, one of the twins, Mrs. A. K. Brower, and Mrs. Sylvester Brower. It was in the home of her grandson, Ber nard Nichols, of Pontiac, Illinois, that her portrait was hung, and became the property of the Nantucket Historical Association through the interest and con cern of Mrs. Florence Nichols, from whom it was purchased. Mary Coffin Nichols was reared in the beliefs of the Society of Friends of Nantucket. In her obituary it was stated: "Throughout her life she ex emplified the peaceful teachings of the Friends. Ever charitable and sym pathetic, 'none knew her but to love her,' and her full life was a testament to her quiet courage." The portrait is now on exhibit at the Peter Foulger Museum. Its pro venance is mysterious, in that the family does not know the identity of the ar tist. What is known — as handed down through the generations — is that the ship Lion put in at some Pacific port where an artist, struck by the beauty of the wife of Captain Nichols, painted the portrait.
A Christmas Affair ON MONDAY EVENING, December 29, the members and friends of the Nan tucket Historical Association had a pleasant meeting at the annual Christmas Party of the Association at the Hadwen-Satler House. This was one of the most popular gatherings in recent years, with three hundred and fifty people in at tendance. The fine old Greek Revival mansion was tastefully decorated with greens and flowers, providing a perfect setting for such an occasion, and the groups mingling in the parlors and dining room, partaking of punch and sandwiches and cookies, caught the spirit of the affair. Observing the pleasant throng, enjoying the opportunity to visit the house at this season, was a quick reminder of the true spirit of our Victorian past in Nantucket, when the "Court End" of Main Street was the scene of such occasions. The families associated with such a social participation in that period of the Island's history — the Hadwens, the Barneys, the Starbucks, the Swains, the Macys, the Swifts, and other neighbors, would have felt complete ly at home had they been present. No doubt the friendly ghosts of Christmas Past were lingering in the shadows on this late December evening. The com panionship of that era was reflected by the pleasant atmosphere of this 1981 Christmas Party. To the Committee that arranged for the evening, led by Renny Stackpole, the gratitude of the Association is tendered. The work they accomplished was of the kind to insure a success for such an evening. It brought a touch of Christmas cheer and friendship that was obviously welcomed by all who at tended.
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Alexander H. Seaverns -- Nantucket Artist by Robert A. diCurcio
ALEXANDER H. SEAVERNS (? - 1932) came to Nantucket from Springfield, Massachusetts, in the 1890's to teach drawing in the schools here. Another Nantucket artist, Ruth Haviland Sutton (1898 - 1960), mentions knowing Seaverns in 1926 in Springfield where he was doing wood engravings. Seaverns lived and had a studio at 107 Main Street where he gave lessons in drawing and painting. He designed the seal for the Town of Nantucket, but died in the Alms House in Springfield in 1932. Among his surviving works is a watercolor of the autumn moors, but of the many Nantucket scenes he is supposed to have painted, the best known was of an old Quakeress in a rocking chair, knitting before the fireplace of an old Nantucket home, with a cat dozing at her feet. The owner and location of this painting is unknown, but in 1899 Henry S. Wyer, photographer and proprietor of Wyer's Corner Art Store on Federal Street, made excellent photolithographic prints of it. Remarkable documentation of the detail of a turn-of-the-century Nantucket fireside is preserved in these Wyer prints. Recently, a limited number of these Wyer lithographs of the Seaverns painting of the knitting Quaker lady were discovered by Mrs. Lucille Sanguinetti, whose aunt Hannah Hatch operated Wyer's Art Store in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Mrs. Sanguinetti has donated these prints to the Art On Nantucket project of the Nantucket Historical Associa tion. Inquiries concerning these prints may be directed to Robert A. diCurcio.
Robert A. diCurcio's forthcoming book Art On Nantucket is being published by the Nantucket Historical Association in cooperation with the Nantucket Historical Trust.
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The Last Whale-Chase Off Nantucket by Edouard A. Stackpole THE APPEARANCE OF a number of pilot whales, beached on the south shore of the Island in December, brought about a number of questions, among which was that of when the last whale was actually taken by Nantucketers off these shores. While it is known that a dead right whale was found out in the sound and towed into Nantucket harbor, where it was "cut in" alongside a schooner at Straight Wharf in April, 1871, and that schools of blackfish came up on the north shore and the bathing beach in 1878 and 1918, the last whale to be chased and taken by a whaleboat and crew was in April of 1887 — ninety-five years ago this year. It was on a Monday morning, April 12, 1887, that the brick store of Joseph B. Macy, on Straight Wharf, was the scene of considerable activity. A whaleboat, rowed by five experienced men at the oars, came around Brant Point from the west'ard, with Captain Timothy Clisby at the steering oar. They pulled up in the dock between Old South and Straight Wharf and began loading from the Macy Store the gear necessary to cut-in and boil out the blubber of the whale they had killed off Tuckernuck some twenty-four hours before. While his crew got the whale line and spades together, and others roll ed six 7-barrel casks down the wharf, Captain Clisby gave the answers to the usual questions being asked. "We first sighted the whale last Tuesday morning," he said, "when I was visiting my mate, George Coffin, on Tuckernuck. A year ago we had been together on the topsail schooner Era, whaling in Hudson Bay. Coffin had sighted a school of whales just off the Island and we got a boat's crew together in a hurry. We had to put to sea without a compass and with no grub, but we had to work fast." As he continued his story, his crew kept busy collecting the gear now needed from Macy's. The catboat Vesta, Captain Jernegan, with Horace Cash (both ex-whalemen), was used to hold a 600-lb. try-pot and several cutting-in spades. The group was anxious for Captain Clisby to resume his story, and he soon complied. "After leaving the beach at Tuckernuck we came up to where the school was slowly moving, and we singled out a big fellow. Coffin got into his usual position in the bow, with a harpoon in hand, while I was at the steering oar. As we drew up to him we saw he was a 60-barrel fellow — a good-sized whale. Ap proaching him carefully, the time came for Coffin to sink his harpoon well in to his body, and we pulled 'starn-all' as the whale reacted as expected. Soon we were off on a Nantucket sleigh-ride, as the critter shot forward like a rocket. He tired, and then shot forward again, as strongly as before." One of the boat's crew, who recalled the incident, was Captain Everett Coffin, for many years a steamboat skipper between Seattle and Tacoma,
The Right Whale of the North Atlantic.
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HISTORIC NANTUCKET
Washington. During a visit to Nantucket in 1932 (fifty years ago), he describ ed the experience, with his retentive memory serving him well. He was seven teen years old at the time he became a whaleman. "When the whale spurted off, dragging the boat, the whaleboat would settle, so that the water rose on either side, like a wall. When he eased up, we would take up the oars, pulling closer to him. George Coffin had now exchang ed places with Captain Clisby, to become the boat-steerer, while Clisby stood up in the bow with the lance, ready to kill the tiring animal." Everett Coffin, being a strong young man, handled his oar so well that he caught the eye of both Clisby and Mate Coffin, who, later, were to sign him on for a voyage in the Era, a New London whaling schooner. (This was another story, better reserved for another account.) "This whale was still active and wary," went on Captain Clisby, resuming his story. "It takes both skill and caution to approach him closely enough to use the lance. If you get directly in his wake, he instinctively knows it, and he will invariably sound, or dive. You must come up on his quarter. We did so — and I plunged the lance in as deeply as I could. We had a crew of good oarsmen but they were not — with the exception of George (Coffin) — ex perienced. They obeyed the order 'starn all' so promptly that the lance was left in the whale, but with the line attached." Although Captain Clisby did not show his resentment for this develop ment, at this critical juncture, he probably held his tongue. He continued: "The lance stayed there until he quieted down, and I was able to get up to him again. This time the men put me right onto him and I was able to churn the lance until it struck the vital spot, and he spouted blood. He went into the usual flurry, then started off once more, towing us behind him steadily. Night was coming on, and the fog dropped like a blanket around us. Our position was the more precarious because we hadn't eaten all that day, we were tired, and we didn't have a compass. We had to cut the line and let him go." At 7:30 that night, the weary boat's crew landed on Muskeget, close by the Life Saving Station, where they spent the night. Both Mate Coffin and Captain Clisby were well aware of the habits of right whales, and decided to wait a few hours on Muskeget. The next day at noon they rowed back to Tuckernuck where some replacements in the boat crew were "signed on," and they awaited the lookouts' word. Three days later, their patience was rewarded. Another school of whales was sighted, and the boat pulled off to in tercept the half dozen whales which were rolling and blowing a few miles from shore. "We came up to them about mid-morning," stated Captain Clisby. "This time we slipped up to a big fellow and made fast. A more experienced crew put me onto him, and I lanced him. Within 15 minutes he was dead. A short time later he sank, lying in eleven fathoms of water." Marking the spot with a buoy attached to the whale-line, Captain Clisby and Mate Coffin waited, then took bearings and rowed ashore. They knew the whale would come to the surface after about 48 hours, and they kept watch. Mate Coffin busied himself by going aboard the catboat Vesta, and helped pilot her to a landing place on Tuckernuck. It was while he was engaged in this task, Mate Coffin noticed a sailing dory coming out to them. It proved to
Cutting in a whale alongside the schooner "Abby Bradford" in Nantucket Harbor, at the wharf.
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HISTORIC NANTUCKET
be "Uncle Dunham," who brought news that the whale had come to the sur face, had drifted in two miles, and was aground just inside Smith's Point rip. The whaleboat had hooked onto him in a rising tide and brought him to the Tuckernuck side of "the opening." The Vesta's important cargo was carefully brought ashore. The try-pot was towed in after being made fast to the stern of a dory, hollow-side up, and riding the seas ashore like a duck. That next morning, the task of cutting-in began, and the work went on all that day, with the try-pot, over its fire, being the center of attention. The stripping of the blubber accomplished, the men turned their attention to cutting the baleen or whalebone from the top of his great head, in the roof of the mouth. The result of this arduous task was thirty-five barrels of whale oil and two hundred pounds of bone, which brought in some fifteen hundred dollars. Cap tain Clisby was satisfied, but could only think of the big whale they had first attacked — but who got away. As Captain Everett Coffin remarked, during his description of the event, "I doubt if there will ever be another adventure as this one — the last whale taken off Nantucket." Captain Timothy Clisby returned to the schooner Era with mate George Coffin, and sailed from New London again in 1892, and this time went into Cumberland Bay, opposite Greenland, in the Arctic. When Mate Coffin returned home, Captain Clisby remained as an Agent for both American and British whalers. He was killed in Cumberland Bay, as a result of an accident in a whaleboat in the year 1895. Upon his retirement from whaling George Cof fin lived on Tuckernuck the remainder of his life.
INFORMATION WANTED SOME OF THE questions asked by visitors to the exhibits of the Nantucket Historical Association are well worth preserving, but most of them cannot be printed for fear of hurting some one's feelings. Just one sample of many is given here. One lady, who evinced much in terest in whaling and the exhibits at our Whaling Museum, asked many ques tions. Among others was: "Tell me, are whales born or hatched?" (With apologies to The Nantucket Scrap Basket)
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Historical Relics and Heirlooms On Display at the 'Toulger" AMONG THE MANY articles on display at the Peter Foulger Museum are several which recall certain periods in our Island's history, and deserve a closer look. For example, in one of the new cases on the second floor is a hand some silver pitcher bearing the engraved inscription, as follows: "Presented to Capt. Lot Phinney of the steamer Massachusetts by a party of Ladies and Gentlemen who on the Fourth of July and the 2d and 5th of August, 1844, passed many pleasant hours on board that noble steamer, confident in the skill and delighted with the courtesy and kindness of her Commander." Captain Lot Phinney took over the command of the new sidewheel steamer Massachusetts on her maiden voyage, July 4, 1842. This was con sidered one of the finest steamers in New England at that time, being 161 feet long, 24 feet in beam, and 8 feet 4 inches in depth. Her paddlebox eagle is one of the exhibits at the Museum, shown most graphically in a painting of the vessel which hangs close by. The graceful silver memorial pitcher is a tribute to Captain Phinney which he well deserved. Not only was he a gracious commander in the plea sant days of summer, but an intrepid captain in times of stress and danger. One incident in his career demonstrates his ability. It took place on November 27, 1842, when the whaleship Joseph Starbuck, leaving Nantucket for Edgartown, where she was to complete her outfitting for her second voyage to the Pacific, was caught in a terrific northwest gale. On board the ship were a par ty of ladies and gentlemen who were crossing the sound for a farewell trip, as a gesture of good will to the officers and crew of the vessel. When she reached Tuckernuck Shoal, the wind increased to gale force and the ship, with the wind dead ahead, was forced back. By the time she ar rived at Nantucket Bar her predicament was noticed from the South Tower, as well as from shore. Being a new vessel, it was hoped that her anchors would keep her in deep water, but the northwest gale was now at hurricane force and the ship began to drag toward the Bar. It was evident that she would be another victim of the dreaded Bar. It was at this time that Captain Phinney took the Massachusetts out and went to the rescue of the thirty-nine people on board the doomed Joseph Starbuck. By maneuvering the sidewheeler, he was able to approach the ship — her masts cut away — and by lifeboats bring the unfortunate people safely back to the steamer, to be taken aboard on the leeward side. On another occasion, Captain Phinney took the Massachusetts around the Island to the Old Man Shoal, off Tom Nevers Head, where, together with the smaller steamer Telegraph, he pulled to safety the trans-Atlantic packet
The silver pitcher, engraved as a testimonial to Captain Lot Phinney, of the steamer "Massachusetts."
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ship Louis Philippe, which had lost her rudder. This was in the year 1847, when the ship was towed first to Edgartown and then to New York, where she was bound. During the Civil War, the Massachusetts was used around Fortress Monroe by the Federal government, having been named the John W. Pentz. She had served Nantucket well from her maiden voyage in 1842 to 1855, when she was sold to another line. The silver pitcher was manufactured in Boston by Lincoln and Read, Silversmiths, and brought to Nantucket by a Colonel Hatch who presented it to Captain Phinney on behalf of the parties represented by the engraving. Another article of interest is a beautifully constructed whalebone and whale-ivory swift, and made on board the ship Warren, of Warren, R. I., in 1834 by Captain Jonathan Mayhew, during a whaling voyage. Upon the ship's return Captain Mayhew presented it to his wife. The box containing the swift was also constructed by Captain Mayhew. Some fifty years later, in 1898, it was a gift to Captain Mayhew's grand-daughter by F. W. Paddack of Nan tucket. As a relic of considerable history, in this same case is a rosewood box which contained a silver chronometer watch. This was presented to Captain David Paterson, a famous fisherman and pilot, for his rescue of the crew of the ship Elwine Frederick in April, 1863, when she was lost on Great Point Rip, while on a voyage to New York from Cardiff, Wales, loaded with coal. The presenter was the King of Prussia.
An Unusual Relic ONE OF THE smallest pieces of historical interest at the Peter Foulger Museum is a strip of thin boarding, measuring 10 by 3 inches, with a chamfered edge, which was found among some relics at the Fair Street building several years ago. On it was written in ink, the following: "Saturday, March 23, 1895 Horace L. Gibbs and James A. Backus are putting up this ceiling today. W. R. Starbuck, Tax Collector. Please put this in the Museum." The old office of the Tax Collector was restored in the Old Town Building, on the Washington St. side, when the Nantucket Historical Trust made extensive repairs to the structure in 1969 and then presented the building to the Nantucket Historical Association. The office has been refur bished by the Association and fitted out in the period of the last century. Collector William R. Starbuck would be delighted to know the slender piece is still being preserved, and we feel sure that the contractors who were making history in their own right would be somewhat amused at the impish in itiative of Tax Collector Starbuck in 1895.
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The Letters of a Young Whaleman -
1822-1824 During a Voyage to the Pacific Ocean THROUGH THE INTEREST of Captain C. G. Porter, of Duluth, Minnesota, we are able to publish the letters of Elihu Wright, of Saybrook, Connecticut, who was twenty-one years old when he shipped aboard the whaleship Enter prise, of Nantucket. The letters are an inheritance of Captain Porter, through his mother, Mrs. Sally (Lewis) Wright Porter, who copied them from the documents in her father's files in Rochester, New York, in 1949, and these first copies were made one hundred years after the originals had been written. Elihu Wright was born in Saybrook, Conn., April 12, 1801. The ship on which he sailed from Nantucket on Sept. 23, 1822, was a new vessel, having been built in Haddam, Conn., earlier that year for the firm of Zenas Coffin, a well-known Island whaling company, and named the Enterprise. She left Nan tucket on Sept. 23, 1822, and returned Jan. 27, 1826, having been gone three and one-half years. It was an excellent voyage as she returned with 2,495 bbls. of sperm oil and 95 bbls. of whale oil. Captain Reuben Weeks was her com mander on this voyage. It is possible that young Wright saw the Enterprise being built, as Saybrook was close to Haddam, on the Connecticut River. He found his way to Nantucket and shipped as a greenhorn, the usual designation for all newcomers to whaling. Upon the ship's return he signed on her again, for her next voyage, beginning August 1, 1826, and returning March 19, 1829, with 2,904 bbls. of sperm oil, one of the best voyages of a Nantucket ship to date. Captain Obed Swain was the successful master. However, it was on this voyage that young Wright was seriously injured by a whale and returned home a crip ple, which was to handicap him the rest of his life. He died Sept. 30, 1840. The first of these interesting letters was written from Bonavista, one of the Cape Verde Islands, on October 3, 1822, and describes the passage across the Atlantic from Nantucket — the maiden voyage for both the Enterprise and her young whaleman. Elihu was writing to his brother Samuel Wright, in Saybrook, and the letter reads as follows: "Dear Brother: With pleasure I snatch my pen in haste to inform you how and where I am. My health is almost perfectly recovered. I hope these few lines will find you with your little family well, likewise parents and brothers, with all inquiring friends enjoying the same invaluable bless ing. I don't think that I was ever more fleshy than I am now. Of a truth, I am growing too big for my clothes and I feel as if I could do a thing or two. We left Nantucket the 3rd of Sept. and made the Isle of Saul the 3rd of Oct., being 30 days out of sight of land.
HISTORIC NANTUCKET We had very rough passage the most of the way. For two or three weeks we had very squally weather with thunder and rain a plenty. Some nights when it did not rain hard enough Old Boreaus would scrape up handfulls of salt water in our faces. We lost the head boards off our gallant ship's head that bore her noble name, one the 5th day out and the other on the 20th, when we had a hard gale of wind in which we lay too for a few hours under close reeft main topsail and fore topsail, staysail and mizzed-staysail. On the 9th day out we had a bit of a gam, as we sailed in company with the Independence. About three o'clock, P.M. we discovered some whale to the leeward. We soon discovered them and ran down for them, lowered the first and 2nd Mates' boats. I was in the first Mate's boat in the midship oar. There was a bad sea running but we pulled over ditch and dam after some single whale but they went off faster than we could row our boat so both boats come to a stand and way at our oars. Mr. Chase discovered a school of small whale and pulled for them and in a few minutes was fast to one. We were rowing the other way but tacked and stood for them and found they were cows and calves, and to be sure they were more thicker than the cows and calves in father's bar nyard. Mr. Hussey thought best to both tackle one whale so we ran our boat hard on and threw in two irons when he came at us nose first, ap parently very angry, puffing and spouting. Then it was back water, all back water, or in other words 'stern all.' When we got out of his way he swam away fast, and had we had 'bells and brandy' we would have had quite a romantic sleighride. When he grew dull we would haul up to him and spur him with a lance till he was bloody as a butcher. Once, while hauling up to him, he raised his unmannerly flukes within a handsbreadth of our boat, to the height of 16 or 18 feet, in the air and it rained a noble shower, but we thought salt water would not hurt us, so we kept spurring him up until about dusk he died. Had it been in the early part of the day our officers think we should have taken six or eight of them, for they kept squirming about like a basket of eels. There was one alongside that we took for more than an hour or so, that we thought we had made a mistake and struck two in stead of one. Mr. Chase bent his lance (the first or second dart) as crook ed as an Ivy rainbow. We got alongside of the ship about eight in the evening. We had a bitter squall in the night. When my watch was called at 12, and I went up to close reef the maintop sail, my hat got blew into old Davy's locker. We were so much unprepared that we worked all night to be ready for cutting in the whale. We hauled the blubber on board in the morning and the succeeding day tried it out, which made 32 barrels. If you want to know anything more about this whaling affair come here and I'll tell you all about it. I am very sorry that Mr. Joy was not able to come with us as Mr. Hussey proves to be a good mate, but I make better weather of it than any of the crew. He chose me to row his boat since we took the whale. Chauncey rows in Mr. Chase's boat. We anchored yesterday at 2 o'clock off the Isle of Bonavista in order to send home our oil by the
LETTERS OF A YOUNG WHALEMAN Brig Uhlan here after salt. If you can get time you will do well to come and get your salt before killing time. There is more in this island than you will want. All you will want is your 9 cents and bushel basket. There is plenty of fish along side of various kinds. I had some bread and milk for my dinner. The crew are generally pretty hearty some are afflicted with boils. I have not seen one sick hour until last night, after rowing ashore for six or eight miles and back, and then getting out our cables and bending and anchoring and furling sails. Being very hot, I had a severe headache which lasted through the night but I feel better to day. We shall preceed in two or three days. As time and paper have failed me quite I must now close my letter and wish you all goodbye. I shall write every opportunity and I will give you time to read one letter before you get another. I want to see Erasmus very much. You must make him some jacket and trowsers and send him to school so that he can go around Cape Horn when I get to be the Capt. of a whale ship. So fare you well. This from Brother E. Wright. Give my best compliments to all enquiring friends." Written on back, Rec'd. 10th Dec. 1822.
Letter II. South Pacific, Feb. 10,1823 On board ship Enterprise in Lat. 01°-40" South, Longitude 120° West. Dear Brother: Being now among the number who survive the pale nations of the dead and in good health, I take this opportunity, although very unex pected, of writing a few lines to acquaint you how and where I am; hop ing at the same time that this may find you in health and prosperity. Last night at 8 spoke the Ship Equator, Capt. Barney, of Nan tucket, with 1500 bbls. and wanting 30 more to fill up. She spoke a few days since the ship Henry,of New Haven; all well, 1800 bbls., and Ship Planter of N.B., 1700 bbls. Some scurvey on board. Wm. Griffies, of Killingsworth, is dead. After cruising one season on the coast of Japan they returned to the Coast of California and went into Francisco Bay to wood and water, where he was killed. The cir cumstance, as near as I could learn, was this: Griffies, with some others, had the scurvey and lived ashore in a tent. They set him on shore just at night and returned to the ship with water. Griffies had a small bag of bread and had to walk across a considerable of a flat of land to reach the tent but did not reach there. They thought him to be on board the ship and those wooding and watering thought he was at the tent. They did not miss him till one or two days after they inquired of the inhabitants (who are generally savage) and were informed of a dead body lying near where they passed. They went to look and found his body. He appeared to have his skull broken and plundered of his clothes.
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The Equator lost one man, drowned by turning over the boat in the breakers on a bar when they were boating off wood. We spoke Ship Mar cus, of Sag Harbor, the 3rd of Feb. 6 mo. but 200 bbl. She had one man killed - the first whale. The whale struck the boat and threw a turn of the line over his head and dragged him forward to the chocks of the boat. He lived just six hours. Ship Alexander has lost two boys. The Plowboy, all well: 500 bbls. last news. We had pretty contrary wind from Bonavista around the Cape, very hot and calm on the line (at Nov. 1st). The weather off Cape Horn was very rugged and the sea boisterous. We made Staten Land, off Cape Horn, the 8th Dec. Its tops well covered with snow. We were about 40 days off Cape Horn. 20 of which we were from 56 to 60 South, the days I8V2 hours long. There was not more than two hours darkness. It was so light through the night as to be able to read on deck, although cloudy. We had a very severe gale off the Cape the 19th. Captain Weeks said he never knew it to blow harder. We lay too under staysails & close reefed maintopsails. We were obliged to take in our boats - all taken in but one. The ship was rolling her boat davits under every swell while we were on the yard. She washed every coil of rigging off the pins to the leeward, but it lasted but about 30 hours. We had another, after we doubled the Cape, in Lat. 41 South, more severe, if possible, than the other but not so sharp seas. Since we have got up on the tropic, the weather is as pleasant as man ever enjoyed. S.E. Winds. As to the oily part of my story. I have not come to that yet no fur ther than to tell you we are as free from oil as the sky is of cobwebs. We have not lowered since the 7th day out. Our ship sails remarkably well. We have run by all that we have fell in with. She is likewise light. We have been out 100 days and she has not leaked more than we could pump in four hours. The ship has met with no material accident. I am sorry that I cannot write you better news but we live in high hopes of having a sleigh ride. We are altering our course to the south some in hopes of finding whale. They are very plenty on Japan, where likely we shall be in four months. I shall write again from the Sandwich Islands if I have opportunity. I shall be glad to hear from you. Please to write me the news. Write and tell of everything. Write if the turnpike has lived over the winter; the price of corn and the fare of ducks; and above all things, how your swamp hay holds out. If pigs should be scarce this spring among you, you can have some for coming here for them. We shall in a few days have an assortment, some of the Connecticut breed and some of the Portugee. It is but about 15 or 16 thousand miles; we shall not want them all as we have no milk you know. The Capt. of the Equator is now aboard of us. I momentarily expect him to leave and must therefore leave writing. So goodbye. I do not ex pect to return short of three years. Give my love to all enquiring friends, as I remain, Affectionate brother Rec'd 27th July E.Wright
LETTERS OF A YOUNG WHALEMAN Letter III. Beloved Brother: I shall now improve time by writing a few lines to give you the news if you will take the trouble to peruse ( ) which may inform you that I am well, and have enjoyed my health two months past much better than I did the first part of the voyage. We are now lying at Oahu, one of the Sandwich Islands where we anchored the 12th of March. We fell in with the ship Eagle on the 16th of Feb., six days after I wrote you last by the ship Equator, Capt. Barney, in Lat. 140 South 120 W. Long. Found all well on board — 900 bbls. Job has been fre quently on board and on the 17th we were in a shoal of whale with the Eagle's crew. Stannard looks as tough as a white oak. As for my part, I got dry jokes and wet hatchet. Jno. and myself were in the chief mate's boat. We rowed to leeward and struck a large whale. She up flukes and let have & we found the boat traveling upwards. She then reached her flukes over the gunwale of the boat and struck me across the back and landed me aft acrost the thwarts, bruising my shins to no small rate. Our boat was filled with water, but the whale slatted out the irons and left us to bail our boat at leisure. It was somewhat difficult as it was very rugged, every sea breaking across the boat. We could not see our ship's loftiest spare except when on the top of a swell, although no more than a mile distant. This is the second time, but I calculate for better luck in Japan. As for oil, we have sufficient to use. in the binnacle. We have taken but two whales this side of the Cape which made us 30 bbls. We saw plenty of whalfe in 185° West, Lat. 8° North, but the weather was so rug ged that we could not save the whale. We directed our course for this place, which I hope soon to leave as we have been here almost a month. Been ashore almost every day. We have got plenty of sweet potatoes, which cost $2 per barrel. Plenty of cabbage and some other kinds of garden sauce. Benjamin Prosseter, of Killingsworth, is in here in the Phoenix • 1,000 bbls. Roderic Strong is here in the Alexander 1700. Alfred and Hillias Pratt are in here in the Plowboy 1200. As for our crew, four left us since we have been here. Two they have brought on board in irons, the other two they will not trouble. The cook is now on shore in the stockade and we are waiting for the Kanackas to bring him down. The one that stops here is from Haddam, by the name of Hubbard. Jno. and Chauncey will not write because we have so little oil, but we have the more sleighrides, that's all. Them pigs that I wrote you about, if you don't come for them soon will be roasted. I think it is time your cattle were turned out to grass. If you go fishing for shad I hope you'll not forget your errand. But taking a few shad by the neck will not compare to killing the monstrous whale, not withstanding she often cuts dirt with our feeble boats, knocking us sky
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HISTORIC NANTUCKET high with her ponderous flukes. I have received no news from you since I left. If I don't receive a line from you by the Globe or Maria you'll not expect to hear any more of my slack till I come with my bodily presence. Be so good as to write me a little of everything. Should any of my acquaintances think of writing don't discourage them. I should have wrote several letters had I time but the ship is not full and the chance of passage uncertain and but a few moments since I thought of writing. I must now leave writing, wishing you to give my due respects to my parents and brother, with other respective friends. N.B. - This I put on board of Ship Iris of New Bedford which will be as speedy as any opportunity I know of now. Worahoo, one of the Sandwich Islands. Dated April 11th, A.D. 1823 E. Wright Written on back, Rec'd 17th April, 1824.
Letter IV North Pacific Ocean, Ship Enterprise May, 1823. Dear Brother: With a kind of indifference I take pen and ink to write a line which will serve rather as history than a letter. The passage at best will be long as the ship is not full by which I send - but may inform you when it comes to hand that I am well. As for success in our line of business we rank among the middling. We were nine months out with but about 30 bbls. of oil. On leaving the Sandwich Islands we were mated with the ship Phoenix of Nantucket, and we have taken 31 sperm whale and 17 of them to our ship and 10 of them to the boat that I and Jno. belong to. Although the largest of the 10 made 250 bbls., the whole amount to both ships is 1700 bbls. We have been as far west as the 149th degree of longitude and of E. Long., found the most of our fish in 153 or 4 E. and 32 N. Lat. The 11th of June we discovered a reef of rocks which have not been heard of before, not being laid down in any map or chart. They were discovered just at night. It was perfectly calm and we had a whale on board, so that we did not go to them that night and before morning we drifted out of sight of them. We heard by the Lydia that the ship Ganges of New York saw the same one. This coast is entirely unexplored except by whale men and well it may be as it is the most out of the way place there is in God's creation. Now we are returning to the Sandwich Islands to recruit, being in Latitude 33 N., Long. 160 West. We are calculating to part from the Phoenix in a few days, as she is bound into the Spanish coast for provi sions.
LETTERS OF A YOUNG WHALEMAN I have received no particular news from you since I left Scrap Island more than 12 months since. We spoke the ship Globe the 31st of Aug. - all well 450 bbls. Jno. received a letter by Wm. Lay who I was much disappointed not to see. He told me that David Wright was around the Horn in the Atavia of Nantucket. As to the business of whaling I should like it well could we find them plenty enough - the voyages are generally healthy our crew has been highly favored, although we have lost one man by accident by the name of Daniel C. Reeve of Chatham, son of Enoch Reeve. The cir cumstance as follows: On the 14th of July we had whale on board and were boiling in the morning just before daylight, as he was turning some raw oil into the dry pots he made a misstep and fell backwards into the deck pot which then contained about three or four barrels of oil hot enough to melt lead. He was instantly taken out and everything applied that the ship afforded to his benefit. His body was almost one solid blister. He soon became delirious and on the 19th came slyly on deck just after dark and jumped overboard, the ship going six knots an hour, but we saw him and reached him closely. The sudden change seemed to have a bad effect upon him and made him worse and on the 22nd of July he died, aged about 25 years. So we daily have evidence of the mortality of man. I have heard the melancholy news of Aunt Hannah's death and likewise Mrs. Burdett and others. What news I have received I had by John's and Chauncey's letters. I was much disappointed that I had none from you. I received but little information by Lay and Ingham. They said nothing but that you were well. I shall anxiously look for letters by every late sail ship, but if you are disposed not to write me at all please to be so good as to come and tell me and so not expect any more waste paper for shoe patterns from me. This ocean, the Pacific, which you have heard so much praise for its mildness and gentle manners, I have seen often scoured by sweeping tempests. Yet the middle part of the season was pleasant but the last was bad. Many ships suffered considerably, the Indispensable, an English Ship, had two main topsails blown away, just under our lee, in a gale, and had her try works washed overboard and some of her boats stove. The Alliance of New Bedford was upon her beam ends with her lower yards in the water for three-quarters of an hour. The Maro had five boats stove in in one gale and all her sails blown away. She has sprung her bowsprit and jib boom, fore topmasts, etc. The Globe likewise had a short spat with a jimmy - lost double reefed main topsail and mizzen stay sail. We have spoke the Eagle several times on the coast, so that I have seen Job often. Their ship has been considerably leaky through the voyage. Some time in July she gained, leaking to six or eight hard strokes an hour, so that she took no whale. The last we spoke her was the 6th of August, her leak rather gaining she was making the best of her way to port with the Golden Farmer to assist her in case of distress. The
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HISTORIC NANTUCKET crew were in good spirits and I do not doubt but they will reach some port where they can repair unless they should meet heavy weather. We have had news that oil is very low. We heard that that which we sent home from Capedeverdi's (Cape DeVerde Islands) was sold at 53 cts. per gal., but then we have the consolation to think our voyage will not be so speedy but will have time for it to rise. Thus, you see as Poor Richard says: Ever bitter has its honey - I mean sweet. I humbly hope and trust that you have finished your bog hay harvest and are nearly ready to begin sowing. After you have done that I would thank you to eat a few pears and peaches, on my account, and ask no questions. P.S. - I heard that some of the young blades made a short trip into the country and came back feet foremost. Tell them that if they were dismayed at sight of hemlock that they will never do for Cape Horn, and had better not enter into Scrap Island service. I will now leave my writing anxiously wishing you health and pros perity. If my parents ask after me tell them I am well, and not to fail to tender them my best respects; likewise remember me to Alanson & Wm. and all who inquire after. E. Wright
(To be concluded in our April issue)
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A Ballad of Old Nantucket Ninety years ago, a ballad in verse was published in Boston by L. Prang and Co., with a cover in color by E. Schuyler Matthews, and titled Ye Ballad of Olde Nantucket, depicting the old Mill on the hill. It tells the story of the romance of Nancy, the miller's daughter, and David Pierce, the young whaleman. Over the years it has become some what of a rarity, but it has become an item of unusual interest to those who collect Nantucket originals in its field. The complete poem follows: The sky was dark, the ocean black, The waves with gathering might Broke on Nantucket's sea-girt isle In threatening lines of white. Above the town, where ends the Foad Atop the wind-swept hill, With arms outstretched against the blast, Stands Gardner's old gray mill. On one strong arm a ribbon blue Straight flutters in the gale; 'Twas Gardner's daughter tied it there When David Pierce set sail. For he had vowed right solemnly That he would hold her true, If when his ship returned again The old mill showed the blue. And now his tearful Nancy scans The wild waves from the hill, As Gardner hauls the last wet sail Within the creaking mill. "A ship! My David's ship I see, Oh father," Nancy cries, "What power can save yon vessel there, That through the tempest flies?" "Nay daughter," Jared Gardner says. "Thee must not anxious be, Thy David's in as staunch a barque As ever plough'd the sea.
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
She's sailed through many a storm like this In south and arctic sea; And ne'er a whaler's fared so well In luck and oil, as she! In weather fair, an unseen rope The sailors used to say, The girls of Nantucket pulled, To speed their homeward way. The bit of ribbon flying there Will draw thy David home, What though he rides through screeching gales And high seas lashed to foam! This mill old 'Lisha Macy built, Brings luck the people say; He planned it in a dream one night, And built it the next day." Then Jared and his daughter took The road to the south shore, And watched with anxious eyes the ship That toward the island bore. With mizzen mast and rigging gone, And broken rudder chain, The helpless vessel roll'd and plung'd Along the foaming main. Onward she drifted in the gale, Past Sankaty she sped, Past Siasconset's fisher huts, And by Tom Never's Head. And now toward the threatening bar She holds her course for home. She strikes! And buries bulwarks and Lee scuppers deep in foam. But who is that springs in the sea? A sailor tried and brave! Thrice hath he risen and disappeared Behind a white-capped wave; One moment on its towering crest, Then — on the sand he lies! A smothered cry, and to his side The faithful Nancy flies.
A BALLAD OF OLD NANTUCKET Her David's head with dripping locks Is pillowed on her knee And soon his weary sea-dimmed eyes The blue of Nancy's see. "0 Nancy, when I knew" he said, "A wreck our ship would be, I steered her for the old mill; for The blue I couldn't see! Long may the sturdy, wind-turned arms The miller's coffers fill; And may a good round century find The old mill standing still." Anonymous
Gardner's old gray mill.
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