Historic Nantucket
Box wagon on Main Street — 1882
October 1982 Published Quarterly by Nantucket Historical Association Nantucket, Massachusetts
NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OFFICERS COUNCIL 1982 - 1983 Walter Beinecke, Jr., 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. Mrs. Bernard D. Grossman, Vice Pres. John N. Welch, Treasurer H. Flint Ranney Harold W. Lindley Robert G. Metters
Donald E. Terry Mrs. James F. Chase Robert D. Congdon ;. H. Crowell Freeman STAFF
Renny A. Stackpole, Director of Museums Edouard A. Stackpole, "Historic Nantucket" Editor; Historian Mrs. R. Arthur Orleans, Assistant Editor Mrs. Elizabeth Tyrer, Executive Secretary Oldest House Curator: "Mrs. Kenneth S. Baird Mrs. Margaret Crowell, Mrs. Abram Niles Hadwen House-Satler Memorial Mrs. Richard A. Strong, Mrs. Lillian B. Merrithew, Mrs. Kathleen D. Barcus Whaling Museum Curator: * Renny A. Stackpole Rev. Frank J. Pattison, Manager; James A. Watts, Mrs. Robert E. Campbell, Alfred N. Orpin Mrs. Rose Stanshigh, Mrs. Edward Dougan 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. Ann Warren Macy-Christian House Curator: "Mrs. John A. Baldwin Miss Dorothy Hiller, Mrs. Helen S. Soverino Old Goal Curator: Albert G. Brock Old Mill Curator: "John Gilbert Millers: John A. Stackpole, Edward Dougan, Thomas and Mary Seager Fair Street Museum Curator: Albert F. Egan, Jr. Mrs. William Witt Lightship "Nantucket" Curator: "John Austin Richard Swain Hose Cart House Curator: "Francis W. Pease Archeology Department Chairman: "Rev. Edward Anderson Vice-Chairman: Mrs. John D.C. Little 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 30
October, 1982
No. 2
CONTENTS Nantucket Historical Association, Officers and Staff
2
Editorial: The Old Roads Return Home
5
"The 'Susan's Teeth' Mystery" by N. Parmenter and H. Spokes
7
Change of Address Request
11
The Helping Hand Society-1882
12
Bequests
13
Walter Folger Jr. Wrote of One of His Inventions A Tribute to Hugh R. Chace By Merle T. Orleans The Loss of the Ship "Manchester" of Nantucket, off Cape Horn by Edouard A. Stackpole Daniel Webster and Nantucket by Merle T. Orleans Nantucket Fall by Marguerite Aspinwall The View from the Steeple, 1889 "The Ghost Train" by Henry A. Willard III
14
The Old Newspaper Press The Quaker by Henry S. Wyer
15 16 20 23 24 26 29 30
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.
The Old Roads Return Home
RECENT ATTEMPTS to block some of the old roads out of town create a growing problem. These have been public ways for more than a cen tury and a half. Those which have been half forgotten should be reclaimed. They may appear to lead nowhere in particular, but they were at one time used by the public for a definite reason. No matter how insignificant it may seem, an out-of-town road is important in its relationship to the present as well as the past. It is a matter of fact, that public apathy has resulted in the loss of several. The one in question was a connecting link to Hummock Pond's "north head" for a century and more. The old roads are a part of our Island's history. We will not find anywhere in New England the number of twisting rutted roads which lead across ou; commons. They represent a part of the past that is mute in Nantucket's story but eloquent in what they represent. It is, perhaps, understandable that the old roads should be forgot ten as they have been for so many decades a familiar sight. But, as citizens, they belong to all of us as they are a part of the corporate body. They have no stretches serving as speedways; they have no cement abutments; they connect no visible habitations. But they represent a way of life that can never return, and should be preserved if for no other reason. The history of Nantucket has become our most important single asset, and they are an imperishable part of this history. The old ways, the old roads, may seem to wander in many direc tions - in apparent aimlessness-but they ultimately return to the old Town of Nantucket. They bring us back to all our doorways.
-Edouard A. Stackpole
"The 'Susan's Teeth' Mystery" by N. Parmenter and H. Spokes THE WHALING SHIP Susan sailed from Nantucket Harbor in the sum mer of 1826 for what was hoped to be a profitable voyage hunting in Pacific waters. She would return three years and two months later, from her maiden voyage, carrying 2,582 barrels of sperm whale oil and 121 bbls. of whale oil, a fine initial harvest for her owners — actually the most successful of her seven whaling voyages. Built in 1826 from the sturdy oak and ash of the northeastern forests in early America, she was one of many ships which were proliferating up and down the eastern seaboard at that time, built exclusively for the dirty, dangerous job of whaling throughout the oceans of the world. The trade would flourish until the 20th century, providing oil to light the lamps of a growing nation's homes, farms and factories. In turn, the profits would provide seed money for increased shipbuilding, tobacco and cotton production as well as funding for the expansion of railroads. The effects of the whaling industry had far reaching conse quences for the growth of a young country. Among historians, researchers and collectors of the whaling era, however, this voyage also marked the beginning of a mystery which in flames the romance we attach to that time; for on board that day, August 21, when the Susan made ready for the open sea, was Frederick Myrick, destined to years of hard work, indescribable boredom and some notoriety. We know very little about this man or why he should be caught up in "the greasy work of whaling". Nonetheless, his life is wor thy of note, because it was Frederick Myrick who fashioned some thing of a diary of that voyage, scrimshandered into a number of the ivory teeth from the Susan's various skills. They were appropriately named the "Susan's Teeth." In signing and dating them in a manner uncommon to the time, he unwittingly created a place in history for himself as a progenitor of the art of scrimshandering. His work and others have added im measurably to an understanding of our early history, and substantially to the value of collections throughout the world. For example, one piece of Myrick's work sold recently at Sothebys for $29,000. Myrick fashioned at least seven such pieces, according to the only previous accounting contained in the Monograph "Susan's Teeth and much about Scrimshaw", Everett Crosby (1955). The author and others have commonly referred to these as the only known specimens extant. Our own research substantiates 14 Susan's Teeth, and we believe there could be more left to surface (see Chronological Summary). The eventual number becomes interesting when we consider that, of our verified dates, all were created between December 10,1828 and September 4, 1829, establishing them as products of a single voyage.
"THE 'SUSAN'S TEETH' MYSTERY'
9
This also raises a number of additional questions. For example, Myrick fashioned the first and second teeth 18 days apart in 1828, at the beginning of the return voyage from Japanese waters. We can only guess why none were created between the late summer of 1826 when the ship sailed from Nantucket and December of 1828, over two years later. It is probable that his duties interfered with any opportunity for schrimshandering until the Susan's holds were filled. Nonetheless, he apparently found considerable time for his Susans during the return voyage, completing some teeth in less than three days, and usually re quiring no more than two weeks or so between finished products. On March 4th of 1829, however, he signed a tooth and apparently produced no more until August 22, 1829, a period of over 5 months, according to the known dates. Again, we can only conjure at what re quired his energies during that time: peril to the ship, illness on board, a leave on a distant shore, or something far less romantic. If indeed he did create more work during this period, the examples are unac counted for in our research. In any event, Myrick soon followed up with another tooth nearing the end of the Susan's voyage; his tooth, dated September 4, could well be the last he carved before the ship returned to Nantucket on October 27,1829. Are there other pieces Myrick created, but did not sign or date aboard the Susan or another vessel? Did he quit this art? Did he quit the sea, or did something befall him before other examples of his work could be completed? Concerning his Susan's Teeth, we are inclined to think not, for in the Susan series, there is a commonality of purpose and design which bonds them together almost as sisters of that first voyage. Each, for example, bore the inscription "Death to the living, long life to the killers, Success to sailors wives & greasy luck to whalers" and each made mention of the ship Susan and of Captain Frederick Swain, her master for three of the seven voyages she made. Many referred to the ship's location at the time the tooth was scrimshandered and each was uniquely signed and dated. The only exception is a tooth on loan to Mystic Seaport Museum which is not dated. Beyond these artistic similarities, there still remain questions relating to the mysteries of the teeth and how many more exist. We plan to continue our on-going study of locations and dates of "additional" Susan's Teeth - and more about their creator. The whaling industry, having served the country well, eventually faded away, the victim of oil discovery in Pennsylvania, the California Gold Rush of '49, "stone fleet" sinkings during the Civil War, and a serious loss of vessels in Arctic waters. While there was no definitive cause, these circumstances and others, including the Industrial Revolution, spelled the end of whaling in America.
"THE'SUSAN'S TEETH' MYSTERY"
11
The Nantucket whaler Susan spent 27 years in her pursuits and was one of those doomed to the Arctic ice on April 26,1853. Although she was lost, the historic and creative contributions of Frederick Myrick and his "Susan's Teeth" can never be lost.
"SUSAN'S TEETH" CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY DATES & LOCATION 1) 2)
Dec. 10,1828* Dec. 28,1828*
3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)
Jan. 2,1829* Jan. 13,1829* Jan. or Feb. 16, 1829+ Jan. 20, 1829* Jan. 22,1829* Feb. 6,1829* Feb. 9,1829
10) H) 12) 13) 14)
Feb. 23,1829 Mar. 4,1829 Aug. 22, 1829* Sept. 4,1829** Undated
Unknown To be auctioned from B. Johnson collection Peabody Museum Unknown Amer. Museum of Britain Shelburne Museum Peabody Museum Nantucket Whaling Museum Sold in auction from B. Johnson collection Mystic Seaport Sold in Private Sale Nantucket Whaling Museum Peabody Museum Mystic Seaport
*Original 7 "Susan's Teeth" listed by Crosby **Mentioned as Sept. 11,1829 by Crosby - date corrected to Sept. 4,1829 by Peabody Museum +only 'uary' is discernible
PLEASE — Send us your change of address if you are planning to move. You will receive your copy sooner and we are charged extra for all copies returned because of an incorrect address.
12
The Helping Hand Society -1882
ONE AFTERNOON, in the spring of 1882, members of the Helping Hand Society of Nantucket had completed a meeting and were chatting pleasantly. Suddenly, one of the members turned to her companion and asked: "By the way, Lydia, what can we do to help you?" The reply was prompt: "You may all come over to the house and clean it for me." The retort drew a laugh, and for the moment forgotten by most of the members. But, in the minds of some it lingered, and was soon a sub ject of considerable conversation. So much so, that on the following Monday morning, Lydia responded to a knocking at her front door. Upon opening the door she found twenty of her fellow members there assembled. They were armed with dust cloths, scrubbing and whitewash brushes, brooms, packages of soap and pearline. Their leaders quickly announced: "Here we are, Lydia, ready to get to work!" The lady of the house was dumbfounded. She recovered her com posure, however, and invited them all in, with their equipment, and then fled to the kitchen to put the tea kettle on the stove. Although there was actually little cleaning needed the helpers fell to work with a will. A few hours later, the band of Helping Hands sat down for tea and buns. Word of the incident was soon passed about the town, and William Hussey Macy, then with The Inquirer and Mirror, found opportunity to compose the following poem, which duly appeared in the newspaper's columns:
On this little isle of the sea there dwell A band of worthy dames, Whose works of love we know full well; I need not tell their names. But now, as over all the land Shine April's sunny days, The labor of the Helping Hand Assumes a different phase. To help their friends in cleaning house, They lend their timely aid; And for this purpose they have formed A brush and broom brigade. Their president, one morning, sat Within her quiet home, Indulging in a social chat With a lady who had come
THE HELPING HAND SOCIETY — 1882
Her friend with pleasant words to greet, And make a morning call; When soon a noise of shuffling feet Was heard within the hall. As open wide the door she threw, It filled her with "amaze" To see the strange and motley crew Which met her startled gaze. With broom and brush, and pail, and pan, They forthwith entered in, And to remove the furniture They straightway did begin. Then from the garden summoned quick The good man of the house, Who wondered which had fallen sick — His daughter or his spouse. As through the street, with martial tread, This strange procession passed, The neighbors to their windows came, And looked on them aghast. The shopman left his goods and wares, And rushed upon the scene, The housewife left her household cares, To know what it did mean. The lady who received their aid, Truly grateful ought to be; And if again they made a raid, May I be there to see.
Bequests or gifts to the Nantucket Historical Association are tax deductible. They are greatly needed and appreciated.
Walter Folger, Jr. Wrote of One of His Inventions IN A LETTER TO the editor of T h e I n q u i r e r , the illustrious Walter Folger, Jr., described one of his inventions, perfected in 1831, which had proven to be successful. His description is typical of his scientific mind, as was his comment that he had no intention of obtaining a patent but that he expected there would be others who would attempt to do so, to "tax the public for its use". The letter follows: Editor of The Inquirer: Nantucket, 12th 5th month, 1835. I frequently see accounts of India Rubber being put to some new use; but I believe no one else has yet employed it for the purpose to which I have applied the article. About five years since, while pumping, the leather between the up per box and valve, which also served to connect the valve with the box, broke away. I drew up the box and, not readily finding a piece of leather wherewith to repair the damage, substituted a piece of India Rubber; and this, though rather thin, has been in constant use and performed very well ever since. Subsequently, I had a lignum-vitae box and valve made, for the purpose of supplying the place of the lower box. To this I applied a thick piece of India Rubber, fastened on with composition wood-screws, made of such nails as are used in coppering ships' bottoms. Holes were made in the lignumvitae of the box and valve, and screws cut in them to receive the composition screws, by means of a spare steel screwtap. After the valve was thus secured, the heads of the screws were covered with India Rubber varnish. To make it tight between the lower box and the bore of the log, a groove was turned round the box, in which I wound woolen yarn un til it projected a little beyond the surface of the box; the yarn was saturated with the above varnish, and it became as a ring of India Rubber. My object being to avoid the use of metals, that might corrode on exposure to the action of the water, I had this box formed nearly like an upper box in shape, dispensing with the usual iron staple at the top - so that it may be drawn by passing the hook within the mortice. On the 20th Dec., 1831,1 placed this lignum vitae box in the log, and it has remained perfectly tight ever since. Last summer I drew it up for examination, and found it evidently in as good condition as when new; nor do I believe it will need repairs in my time - probably not for many years thereafter. My well is between forty and fifty feet deep. Perhaps if I had used the term "piston" or "embolus", it would have been better understood by persons versed in
WALTER FOLGER, JR.
15
hydraulics, than the more simple word "box", which is the technical term of our pump-makers. For this discovery, or invention, I do not expect to take out a patent; but after making the foregoing statement, shall not be surprised should some other person, or some company of individuals lay claim to the exclusive right of taxing the public for its use. Such things have often been done with entire impunity. Walter Folger.
A Tribute to Hugh R. Chace By Merle T. Orleans (Read at the Annual Meeting of the Association on July 20,1982) ONE MAN WHO HAS BEEN important to the Nantucket Historical Association for the past ten years is retiring from active participation as of this meeting. This man, whom we all honor for his capabilities and his cooperation, is Hugh R. Chace. Early in 1972 he agreed to be the Curator of the Old Town Office on Washington Street. He and Mrs. Chace set up this little office at the southeast corner of the Old Town Building, directly beneath the office of our President, Mr. True. The little room, resembling a town office as it might have been 130 years ago, has been admired and commented upon by hundreds of visitors over the years. In the fall of 1972, W. Ripley Nelson resigned as Chairman of the Whaling Museum after nearly 20 years. Mr. Chace willingly accepted the responsibility in addition to his other duties. For the past five years, until he relinquished the chairmanship to Renny Stackpole, he has steered the Whaling Museum on an even course, often against head winds, and brought the Museum successfully into port. As was once said under different circumstances, "we had a damn fine sail". Today we wish him well in his retirement, knowing we may always call on him for advice and assistance when we find ourselves in a severe storm.
The above testimonial was adopted by the meeting.
16
The Loss of the Ship "Manchester," of Nantucket, off Cape Horn by Edouard A. Stackpole
LATE IN MARCH, 1854, the ship Manchester of Nantucket, command ed by Captain Alexander H. Coffin, sailed from this port to New York, where she was to complete loading a cargo for Valparaiso, Chile. Ac companying Captain Coffin were his wife, Eliza Ann Coffin, and 16-year-old son, Thomas E. Coffin. The 1st Mate was Charles H. Pit man, of Nantucket, and the 2nd Mate was David R. Evans, of Wales. The steward was Joseph Francis, and the cook, John Alexander, both of Nantucket. The crew numbered ten seamen, and were from various seaports as well as from New England. The ship reached New York without incident, and loaded a full cargo of coal and lumber, consigned by the firm of Cartwright and Har rison. Sailing from New York on April 7, she made a good passage across the equator, and arrived at Montevideo, Uruguay, on July 24, 1854. Four extra hands at this time were shipped, one to replace a sailor who had died on the voyage. Sailing on July 28, the Manchester had an uneventful passage until she entered the Straits of LeMaire, when she encountered a series of westerly gales. It was typical Cape Horn weather, and for two weeks Captain Coffin tried desperately to make headway to the westward, only to find himself continuously baffled by the gales. In an effort to gain an offing by hugging the rugged shores of the islands off the coast, Captain Coffin risked the dangers inherent in this region. While still some distance from the nearest land, the Man chester struck on a sunken reef. It was the morning of August 28,1854, and they were just a month from Montevideo, in a position just south of Cape Horn. The pumps were sounded and they found the nish of water through the stricken hull betrayed the fact that the vessel was doomed. To add to the danger, one of the boats, promptly lowered, was stove and useless. Captain Coffin ordered the mainmast cut away, and the ship now helpless drifted toward the ugly rocks off Cape Horn itself. At 5 o'clock on the morning of August 29 the ship struck and began im mediately to break up. The ship broke up with such rapidity that all hands had little oppor tunity to launch a boat or an improvised raft. The turbulant sea racked the hull perched on the reef and tore the ship apart. Captain Coffin, with his wife and son and the steward were in the main cabin. Shortly after the ship struck, the stern began to break apart, and the occupants of the cabin found themselves straggling in the sea as it surged into the after quarters. With his terrified wife clinging to him, the master of the
LOSS OF THE SHIP "MANCHESTER'
17
ship was submerged and when he came to the surface he found his wife had been torn from his grasp by some of the floating debris. In the half-light of the morning, Captain Coffin could find no trace of his wife. He did discern a figure swimming close by and called out to him. It was his son Thomas, and the two managed to reach a piece of timber to which they clung. Moments later they saw a section of the ship's stern and climbed out of the sea to reach a momentary place of safety. In this precarious position they drifted during the mor ning. At mid-day an ocean current caught the wreckage and carried it up on the rocks of a small island, just south of Cape Horn itself. There was no sign of any other survivors. Captain Coffin and his son remained on the little island for two days, during which time they scanned the sea for any sign of their ship mates. A cask of ship's bread and other supplies washed ashore, on which they subsisted. Toward the end of the second day they were over joyed to see two men paddling toward them on a make-shift raft, ap proaching from a nearby island. It was the 2nd Mate, David Evans, and Robert Wells, one of the foremast hands. They brought the melancholy news that there were no other survivors. When the ship struck, Mate Pitman had the crew all forward, where they were holding desperately to the fore-house top. A short time later, the foremast came crashing down, taking most of these men to their deaths. Evans and Wells had grasped pieces of lumber and were later washed onto the rocks of the island next to where the Coffins, father and son, had finally drifted. The four men soon realized the desperate need of supplies to exist. The resourceful Captain Coffin built a small boat from the lumber that had drifted ashore, and they made their way to the island on which 2nd Mate Evans and his companion had lived. Here they found more provi sions from the wreck, as well as considerable lumber from the ship's cargo. Captain Coffin immediately began constructing a larger boat, as he had determined to get to sea as quickly as possible, and to make the attempt to reach St. Carlos, on the island of Chiloe, the nearest civilized place, then some 600 miles away. But the fates were against the redoubtable shipmaster. They had been isolated for nearly two months since the wreck. The boat was close to completion when 2nd Mate Evans died from a condition ag gravated by the exposure. It was the second day of November, 1854, and it was to be a portent of further tragedy. One day Captain Coffin was surprised to see some natives ap proaching, Fuegians, who had come from the mainland. While at first they appeared friendly it soon became apparent they were sizing up the white men, and intended to take what they could. Gifts of clothing did not appease them; they became more aggressive in demands. Captain Coffin warned his son and the seaman, Robert Wells, to be on guard. But the attack came sooner than they realized. Three natives grabbed Captain Coffin and threw him down. Thomas Coffin and Robert Wells made a desperate effort to escape by racing to the boat, recently completed by the shipmaster and afloat,
18
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
moored to the shore. As they reached the boat, the natives threw spears, one of which passed entirely through Thomas Coffin's clothing without wounding him. Wells fell in the water while trying to get into the boat. In a last fierce effort, he got aboard. Captain Coffin fought furiously for his life. Overpowered, lying on the ground, he was struck by a stone club by one of his assailants, and the blow was almost in stantly fatal. The natives ran along the rocks in pursuit of the boat, throwing a few more spears and then a fusillade of rocks, one of which struck young Coffin on the head, causing a serious cut, but he did not lose con sciousness. In a few minutes the boat was out of range. Making their way to the island where Wells had lived, the survivors found the fore part of the Manchester had drifted ashore. They salvaged some canvas and made a sail for the boat, then returned, in a guarded manner, early one morning, to the island from which they had escaped. Here they found the body of Captain Coffin, stripped of his clothing, and they buried him in the rocks, away from the scene of his death. After obtaining some ship's bread and water, the two survivors got into their boat, hoisted sail and set out on a course along the coast. The fair weather of January, 1855, found them making good progress, but the lack of provisions forced them on shore. They had managed to reach 100 miles, still four times the distance from their objective, St. Carlos. Ashore, they managed to survive by eating shellfish, mussels, roots and berries. Alter six weeks of this precarious existence, they ap proached desperation. On Feb. 15, 1855, they decided to intercept natives who were passing through this section. Fearful, in view of their previous experience, they were given new hope when these natives turned out to be friendly. For ten days they stayed with their new friends, who gave them their first good meal — meat from a dead whale which had drifted ashore. On the 25th of May, 1855, they were amazed to see a vessel sailing along the shore. With the help of the natives they hailed the craft, which proved to be the Chilean brig-of-war Meteoro, under Captain Bueneventura Martinez. In reporting the incident, Commander Mar tinez stated that he was passing through the Straits of Magellan, and had anchored in Port Gallant, when during the night some native canoes came alongside. "We were surprised to find that two of these people were American sailors," he wrote, "who were literally as naked as the natives themselves. We took them on board, and later brought them to Valparaiso." Thus, after nine months of survival, Thomas Coffin and Robert Wells were at last brought to a civilized place, and Captain Martinez had fulfilled a duty which all sailors recognize as being imposed on them by Christianity and humanity.
LOSS OF THE SHIP "MANCHESTER"
19
At Valparaiso, the two survivors of the Manchester were placed in the care of the American Consul, Mr. George B. Merwin. In a letter written to Seth B. Coffin, of Nantucket, under date of June 29,1855, Con sul Merwin wrote: "I enclose to you the letter written by Thomas E. Coffin, giving the melancholy account of the death of his father and mother, and the loss of the ship Manchester, of Nantucket, and of his sufferings and perils. I have only time to say that he is in good health. I shall send him, and Robert Wells, seaman, who was also saved (and has been with him all this time), on the ship Eliza, Captain Phillips, to Baltimore. Cap tain Phillips is a kind, good man, and will take good care of Thomas, and will see that he gets from Baltimore to his home. The bark will sail in a few days. In haste, very respectfully, Geo. B. Merwin, Consul of the United States." In his letter recounting the sad story, young Thomas Coffin stated: "It was a truly awful tale. . . Tell Louisa (his sister) to be a good girl and mind Aunt Lydia, for now she has no dear Mother and Father. I would write to Thaddeus and Aunt Lydia, but the story is too awful. I feel thankful to my God for his kindness in saving my life. I will now bring this to a close by bidding you goodbye. Please ex cuse all blunders and bad writing. Thomas Edward Coffin." • •••••• Captain Alexander H. Coffin was born on August 8,1808, the son of Owen and Jedidah (Hall) Coffin. On Nov. 5,1833, he married Eliza Ann Worth, daughter of Thaddeus and Love (Macy) Worth. They were the parents of three children, namely, Thaddeus, born 1834; Thomas E., born 1838; and Louisa W., born 1843. Thomas E. Coffin, one of the two survivors of the loss of the Manchester, after his return to Nantucket, sailed for California. In 1864, he married Laura A. Aldrich, of Adrian, Washington Territory. It is probable that some of his descendants are residents of Washington State. In 1862, Louisa married James M. Beebe, of Nantucket. Those on board the Manchester when she sailed from New York were as follows: Alexander H. Coffin, master, Charles H. Pitman, 1st mate, David R. Evans, 2nd mate, Joseph Francis, steward, John Alex ander, cook, all of Nantucket; Seamen - Jarius H. Butler, of Bern; Ed ward Bennett and Wm. Johnson, of Rhode Island; Robert, Joshua and Loring Wilson, of Massachusetts; William H. Fisher, Delaware; Thomas Nunes, New Orleans; Wm. Richards, New Jersey; Joseph Gram, N. Providence; Robert Wells, New York; Thomas E. Coffin, of Nantucket, (son of Captain Coffin). Passenger: Mrs. Eliza Ann Coffin, of Nantucket.
Daniel Webster and Nantucket by Merle T. Orleans IN 1831 "A MEMOIR of the Life of Daniel Webster" was written by Samuel L. Knapp and published by Stimpson and Clapp in Boston. Mr. Webster, one of the greatest lawyers and politicians America has ever known, visited Nantucket in the summer of 1828. Coming to the island as a politician, he was one of the most important lecturers, along with the great abolitionist Frederick Douglass, to speak from the stage of the Great Hall of the Nantucket Atheneum prior to its destruction in the Great Fire of 1846. Mr. Knapp's story of Mr. Webster's visit to Nantucket provides in teresting reading in the light of Nantucket's problems in 1982. "A slight, accidental circumstance in the life of Mr. Webster, will show how necessary it is for a statesman to be thoroughly acquainted with the whole history of his country to the greatest minuteness. In the summer of 1828, Mr. Webster visited the island of Nantucket on pro fessional business, but was so much struck with the people and their place of residence, that he took pains to get all the information about the place and inhabitants he could readily find. He examined the island, apparently only a mound of sand, to the amount of twenty-three or four thousand acres, without forests, or even a grove to be seen; and only a few single trees which seemed to have been planted in doubt, and watched by care, without much faith in their growth. Yet, on this seem ingly barren island, he ascertained that there were fifteen thousand sheep, three or four hundred cows, and one hundred and fifty horses, that wandered where they pleased from one end to the other of this great pasture, summer and winter, spring and fall, and all thrived on the scanty grass which sprang up above the sand. "The inhabitants of this island he found a shrewd, intelligent peo ple, amounting to nearly eight thousand souls, bearing all the strong marks of the primitive simplicity of their ancestors; and unlike, in many respects, any other maritime people that history has made us ac quainted with. The island was settled in 1659 by emigrations from the towns of Salisbury and Amesbury in the county of Essex, in Massachusetts. Many of those settlers who came to the island the se cond or third years after the proprietors (twenty-seven in number) had taken possession of the island; and had fled from those towns from fear of the emissaries of Charles the Second, who pursued the friends and adherents of Hugh Peters with unrelenting severity, many of whom had come to Salisbury for security, but thought it wiser to take a less noted place. The island had been the favorite abode of a very large tribe of Indians, which had been carried off by a sweeping sickness that preceded the coming of the Pilgrims. The English emigrants, unfor tunately, in their hatred to a wilderness, felled the forest trees in order to extend their crops of English grain and Indian corn; but this act of
Daniel Webster, from Daguerreotype, 1850, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
22
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
clearing all smoothly, in the course of a half a century, destroyed the island for tillage; for, in the long storms, the sand was blown across the island, and the arable soil was so deeply covered with those dancing atoms, that agricultural pursuits were nearly abandoned, and the in habitants looked to the ocean for their support. At the close of the seventeenth, or at the commencement of the eighteenth century, these islanders began the whale fishery, which had been carried on at Cape Cod for some time before. This was done in boats of a shape that has given the name to a class of boats now used for despatch, called 'whale boats'. The whales became scarce along the shore, and larger boats were built to pursue them both north and south. In the wars the English and their colonies had with France these islanders were exposed, and their business interrupted by privateers; in fact, they were often an noyed by the buccaneers in a previous age; but, notwithstanding every difficulty, the war of our revolution found them rich and flourishing. "At this time, 1775, they had reached the coast of Brazil, and were successful in taking whales there. In 1791 they doubled Cape Horn, and pursued the sperm-whale into the Pacific, near the equator, many years with success. Within ten years past, finding their prey diminishing in numbers on their old cruising ground, and governed a little by that spirit of adventure, for which they not only acquired a reputation, but great wealth, pushed westward and circumnavigated the globe, in the ordinary course of their business. Mr. Webster was delighted with the government and economy of a whale-ship; powers, duties, profits, honors, all properly apportioned, and yet admirably conjoined and brought to act with great energy and effect. If one of their whale-ships does not bear the majesty of national strength and glory around the globe, it shows to every nation in every sea, what in telligence, enterprise, industry and perseverance can effect. The peo ple abroad and the people at home are one. No men are more fond of home than these voyagers; they come back to their sterile sands as to an Eden, for there they left all they held dear to their hearts; it is the sweet Argos from whence they sailed for the golden fleece; and they obtained it without robbing any of their fellow men. "The people of Nantucket are intelligent, for these whale-ships for nearly half the time while on their voyage are, in truth, Lyceums, where mathematics and natural history and general knowledge are taught. The log-books and journals of these whalers are well kept; the hand-writing in these books is good, and the reckonings admirably made, and every one does something towards making a minute history of the voyage. "On the island of Nantucket, he met with a philosopher, mathematician, and an astronomer, in Walter Folger, worthy to be ranked among the great discoverers in science. His ancestors, for a long line, on the island, have been distinguished for their knowledge of mathematics. Folger has invented a telescope, second only to Herschell's in power. This visit took deep hold on the feelings of Mr. Webster; it made a new item in his historical treasures.
DANIEL WEBSTER AND NANTUCKET
23
"Not long after this tour to Nantucket, the people of that island petitioned Congress for a breakwater, or rather for an appropriation for survey of the island and the waters washing it; which at length settl ed into an appropriation for deepening the channel to the principal har bor of this island. For ages, all the large vessels had to unload wholly or principally before they could be brought to the wharves. This probably would not have been brought about, if the information which Mr. Webster had obtained on his visit, had not in his forcible manner been concentrated and given to the Senate. To them, it was as novel as an Arabian tale; and as they knew he never spoke without day and date, words and figures, for proof, it satisfied all, the appropriation was voted for, and the work is going on with success."
Nantucket Fall Again the lacelike foam will reach to trim The long expanse of pink and shining sand, Where tufts of beach grass bend and sway and stand In ragged clusters under the dune's high rim. The tide will fill the children's wells a-brim — Or were they castles that the builders planned? Or pirate brigantines with contraband? The beach is empty and the light grows dim — Then flame and ruddy gold and amethyst The moors will stretch behind the dunes like fire: A wind will blow that smells of pine and sea, October smoke, and salt October mist, And strange far lands of all our hearts' desire. 0 lovely Island Fall, go laggardly! Marguerite Aspinwall First published in T h e I n q u i r e r a n d M i r r o r , Dec. 3, 1949
24
o* oo oo
© ©
© -C © (-1 <4-» £ ©
> <
26
"The Ghost Train" By Henry A. Willard III
Recollections of the Gauge Railroad at Nantucket and other Memories ABOUT 1909 MY FATHER took me as a boy to the Main Street crossing by the Killen Fuel Company office. Frank Leial, the kind fireman, would give me a ride to the end of the line at the steamboat dock. It was a real thrill to hear the ding-dong of the old bell as it came to town from 'Sconset. I believe the daughters of Mr. Leial are now on the island. A curious coincidence occurred last summer when Harry Gordon, Rev. Harry Longley and I recall riding on the Nantucket Central 63 years ago before it was removed for shipment during WWI to the AEF to France. The crew that ran the line was Billy Sandsbury, Superintendent, Hendricks, engineer. "Rang" Dunham was flagman at the Orange Street crossing. It was here the only fatality occurred in the summer of '17 when a span of horses driven by a man named Dodge was struck by the locomotive coming to town. Peter Grant was crossing guard at Washington Street by Commercial Wharf. It is our recollections of going to 'Sconset in the summer of 1915 with my brother and sister and our old nurse, Patsy, on the train to the Tucker Cottage, "Tuckernuck", Mr. Cowles Tucker gave a magician show for the children present at Helen Tucker's Birthday party. In the tragic and terrible crash in the Knickerbocker Theatre caused by the blizzard of unprecedented snow on the roof when 98 people lost their lives in Washington D.C. My father took me to see it roped-off about a week later when I was a freshman at college. The snow was piled high 6 or 7 feet around the perimeter of the building. Going back to the train, there was an odd baggage car rectangular in shape. We have a picture of this at Nantucket at Main Street. There was a contraption called the "Bug and Birdcage" two open small cars ran that one summer. Also, there was a motor car that vibrated about that time, 1907, so that had to be removed after a short run. There was a special or extra train that ran to the fair grounds in August when the Nantucket Agricultural Society sponsored the county fair. What a pity it was abandoned to the limbo! The railroad at first ran to Surfside before the tracks were removed to mid island. About ten years after the abandonment of the Nantucket Central my brother and I flew for the first time in a Stinson Detroiter airplane with pilot Wickford at the controls. It was a beautiful day and the visibility was unlimited. Curiously, we landed at a very primitive run way cut out of Bayberry near where the old road bed of the rail line was located at Tom Nevers. "When the wind is in the southard, and fog comes rolling in like a ghostly wrath of sin" beyond sing the seas perhaps the old spirits of the passengers will come back from spring land to ride the old train after more than half a century, who knows!
28
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
On the Harbor south shore about August 1909 the engine turned tur tle which was visible from our yard on Orange Street. We went down to see it immobilized where the spread rails had thrown it on its side. The late Harry Turner, an ardent photographer, made some photographs and we have in our files a postcard of same. Also in Godfrey's History of Nantucket Island as it was published in 1882 there is a time-table of the runs to Surfside. A very fine volume on the far away rail line was published several years ago by Mr. Clay Lancaster which is well worth reading if interested in the island lore. One of my earliest recollections is going with my grandparents from Washington on the "Steamcars" Pennsylvania Railroad to New York. Then we had to take a ferry boat to cross the North River and thence to the Hotel Breslin way down town in Manhattan. The next day we embarked on the Commonwealth for Fall River, Massachusetts. Then we boarded a boat - train for Boston, but we changed at a little junction point called Myricks on to another train to the New Bedford Wharf where the old side-wheel steamer Gay Head awaited us. At the advanced age of 87 Grandfather Willard was placed in the stateroom for the trip across Buzzards Bay to Woods Hole and the Vineyard Cottage City to Nantucket Island. Years later my brother, William and I were on the Gay Head September, 1918, in a gale off Tuckernuck where the old ship pitched and tossed and the wooden superstructure groaned as if it were going to the bottom of the sea. However, I believe Captain Sandsbury brought us through into fair weather. In July 1956, Nantucket was alerted to the tragic shipwreck of the Italian Liner Andrea Doria west bound to New York from Genoa. In the fog shrouded Atlantic near the light the Swedish liner SS Stockholm rammed into the starboard side of the Andrea which finally capsized with 51 fatalities. The Isle de France carried about 700 survivors to New York with several others, more notably the Coast Guard vessel Hornbeam. Some of the survivors were brought to the Nantucket Cot tage Hospital and transferred to the mainland. Years later curiously when visiting Copenhagen, Denmark we saw the rehabilitated Stockholm under another name. Some years later I made a trip to the Cape with a friend on his cabin cruiser, Our Gang. It was a beautiful morning and we followed the M.V. Uncatena to Hyannis. It was our pleasure to visit some old friends on the Cape Cod area passing Camp Goodnews directed by Reverend Wyeth Willard for 40 years. On our return trip about 4:30 we ran into a smokey Sou'wester with some fog and strong chop. We finally were able to pick up the Half Moon Shoal Buoy and then Tuckernuck Bell to the island after passing again the Uncatena out-bound, a cheerful sight as dark descended on a lonely sea, arriving at the town dock about 8:00 p.m.
The Old Newspaper Press
In 1890 this Cranston flat-bed cylinder press was brought to Nan tucket and installed in the press room of The Inquirer and Mirror on Milk Street, just off Monument Square. When the newspaper transferred to the Orange Street end of Folger Block in 1900, the old press was moved to the new location where it continued in service for 63 more years on Orange Street. In May, 1963, when The Inquirer & Mirror moved to The Milestone, the old Cranston was again mov ed. A year later, when it was learned that parts could no longer be obtained to keep it going, it was relegated to the junk heap. The last issue of the newspaper to be run off on the old Cranston was that of July 9, 1964.
30
The Quaker By Henry S. Wyer Just to see him walking by, One would say All his thoughts beyond the sky Dwell today; Ne'er did form more chaste and neat Tread this old familiar street, With his face as mild and sweet As the May. Be the weather foul or fair, Warm or cold, Well kept broadbrim doth he wear Age untold; And his suit of sober hue Ah, the changes, since 'twas new, See his spotless neckcloth, too, Smooth its fold. Ever in his wonted seat Meeting days, Silence oft doth seem most meet For God's praise. Staunch and jealous for the right, Still he seeks for clearer sight, Guided by the inner light Through life's maze. Was this mortal ever thus, Calm, serene; Did he never crave like us Life's gay scene? Was his spirit ne'er possessed With the demon of unrest, Would he not, when sorely pressed, Worldward lean? Wrapped in many a waking dream Oft sits he, Calmly drifting down life's stream Near the sea. Wife and babes before him gone, Patiently he lingers on 'Till the turning flood at dawn Sets him free.
Christopher Coffin Hussey, author of "Talks About Nantucket," published in 1902.
