Historic Nantucket
by Eastman Johnson Robert Rati iff — Rigger
July 1983 Published Quarterly by Nantucket Historical Association Nantucket, Massachusetts
NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OFFICERS COUNCIL 1982 - 1983 Leroy H. True, President - Chief Executive Officer Albert F. Egan, Jr., Vice Pres. Mrs. R. Arthur Orleans, Vice Pres. Albert C. Brock, Vice Pres. Richard C. Austin, Secretary
Alcon Chadwick, Vice Pres. George W. Jones, Vice Pres. Mrs. Bernard D. Grossman, Vice Pres. Walter Beinecke, Jr., Honorary Vice Pres.
John N. Welch, Treasurer Donald E. Terry Mrs. James F. Chase Robert D. Congdon Mrs. H. Crowell Freeman
H. Flint Ranney Harold W. Lindley Robert G. Metters Mrs. Alan Newhouse STAFF John N. Welch, Administrator
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 Curator: *Mrs. P. Prime Swain Mrs. Richard A. Strong, 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, 1800 House: Margie Beale Macy-Christian House Curator: *Mrs. John A. Baldwin Miss Dorothy Hiller, Mrs. Helen S. Soverino Old Gaol Curator: Albert G. Brock Old Mill Curator: "John Gilbert Millers: Thomas Seager, Evan Stackpole, Terry Ellis Fair Street Museum Curator: Albert F. Egan, Jr. Mrs. William Witt Lightship "Nantucket" Curator: *John Austin Michael Jones 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 31
July, 1983
No. 1
CONTENTS
Nantucket Historical Association Officers and Staff
2
Editorial: An Island of Ideas
5
Portrait of Robert Ratliff, Rigger, an Old Royal Navy Man
6
The Starbuck Family and The Parliament House by Margaret S. Beale
7
Nantucket School Days of a Century Ago as Recalled by Capt. Everett B. Coffin
I
16
Seaside Time
19
The Salvaging of the Three-Masted Bark Laura A. Burke -1882 by Edouard A. Stackpole
21
Bequests and Address changes
24
Gifts of the Tony Sarg and Austin Strong Collections Enhance Our Exhibits
25
Lecture on French Whaling at Whaling Museum, June 25
31
Historic Nantucket is published quarterly at Nantucket, Massachsuetts, by the Nantucket Historical Association. It is sent to Association Members. Extra copies, $2.50 each. Membership duesare — 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, Massachsuetts 02554.
a O -Q
5
An Island of Ideas IN OUR WORLD of today, Nantucket has adapted itself to a way of life directly in contrast to that of a century and a half ago. At that time our business was concerned wholly with the sea. Today it is almost all to do with the land. But one factor of the past is not to be forgotten — then there was a concern for the future as well as the present. The whaling fraternity was aware of the competition, and the idea was to meet the competitor squarely in planning the campaign. Today, we are caught up with the present. The success of business ventures; the success of land dealings; the success of catering to the public; the success of seasonal business reflected in stores, hotels, shops, rooming houses, the carrying trade, and other features of our bustling economy, have turned attention from the drastic needs of the future. The whaling merchants always conferred with the shipmasters. There was a community of thought, a sharing of ideas. Ships were built for longer voyages; whale oil refineries and sperm candle factories were planned; ship chandlers and ropewalk proprietors improved. The taking of the whale oil and the preparation of it for the markets, as well as the shipping to the various seaports, were carefully considered. The competition was studied. Ideas for the future as well as the present were always a part of their lives. What of the present? What of the prime realization that Nantucket is a place sought after by thousands of vacationers because it offers "something different"? Have we improved the land conditions as the earlier Nantucketer improved his chances for a voyage at sea? The outlying land was a priceless possession just as the old town is an in valuable asset. The undulating sweep of the land, stretching to the beaches, where the first settlers brought their flocks of sheep, represents the courage of those people — became the symbol of their belief in a free land. To those first settlers, their coming to Nantucket was the culmina tion of an idea. To their descendants came other ideas, involving freedom of enterprise, freedom of choice, freedom of thought. They created an island of ideas which produced the greatest whaling port of its time. Now the ideas for preserving our land become as important as those which provided our knowledge of the sea. Vital ideas for the future, not the present. — Edouard A. Stackpole
6
Portrait of Robert Ratliff, Rigger, an Old Royal Navy Man
ONE OF THE fine paintings at the Peter Foulger Museum is that of Robert Ratliff, a retired rigger, in his 85th year, a resident of Our Island Home. Painted by the famous artist, Eastman Johnson, in December, 1879, the portrait is one of the finest canvases from Johnson's experienced hand. Of particular notice, after the strong features of the old sailor are studied, is the position of his hands — strong fingers on hands which once plied the rigger's trade. Robert Ratliff was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, February 23, 1794. At the age of 12 he was an apprentice seaman on a British transport, where he served for seven years, seeing much active service in a number of battles fought in the North Sea. At the age of 20, Ratliff was transferred to the frigate Bellerophon, the Royal Navy vessel which took Napoleon to St. Helena, and one of twelve men selected from the ship's company of 700 to guard the depos ed Emperor of the French. In conversation with Frederick Sanford of Nantucket many years after, Ratliff described the Emperor walking the quarterdeck on fair days during the voyage, dressed in a green coat with insignia, and wearing close fitting breeches and a military hatj with decorations on his left breast. Sometimes Napoleon would lean against a deck gun for a rest in his pacing. "Napoleon appeared to accept his fate with as much fortitude and composure as could be expected under the circumstances," stated the old seaman in response to the inevitable question. Robert Ratliff became a merchant sailor following his Royal Navy career, and in 1820 was on a ship wrecked in the shoals off Nantucket, and was among the crew members who were saved. This cir cumstance, and the ready employment for his trade as a rigger, induc ed him to stay on the Island — and his success in his loft on Old South Wharf kept him on Nantucket the rest of his life. Retiring at the age of 80, he went to live in Our Island Home, where he died in 1883 in his 89th year.
The Starbuck Family and The Parliament House
7
by Margaret S. Beale THE PRINCIPAL GOAL of this study is to determine if a correlation exists between 10 Pine Street and "Parliament House", a dwelling known as the home of Nathaniel and Mary (Coffin) Starbuck, which was located in the section of Old Sherborn known as Cambridge as ear ly as 1667. According to Nantucket lore, John Folger, a Quaker carpenter, told his grandson, Joseph Austin, that he had incorporated into the house on the corner of Pine and School Streets materials salvaged from "Parliament House".i Building materials have been recycled ever since the town of Sher born was relocated to the Wesco Acre Lots in the 1700's. Accompanying the name "Parliament House", however, is the important historical connection with the Starbuck family and the first Quaker meetings con ducted on the island. Nathaniel and Mary Starbuck's home "Parlia ment House", was an integral part of Nantucket's early history as the locus of governmental, business and religious activity. The first three Starbuck generations provided the early Nantucket settlers with community and spiritual leadership. Edward Starbuck, one of the first purchasers, conducted transactions between the settlers and the Indians. Of him it was written by a contemporary: "He was a man of great firmness and his influence among the Indians was so great that if at any time suspicion or alarm arose among the early settlers he was always in requisition to explain the apparent causes thereof and suggest a palliation for their rude and inexplicable action, which served to allay the fears of the more timid.2 Nathaniel Starbuck, Edward's oldest child, was also greatly respected. Nathaniel's reputation in the settlement, however, was over- shadowed by that of his wife, Mary Coffin Starbuck, a daughter of Tristram Coffin. In his Journal, the Quaker visitor, John Richardson, stated: "Nathaniel appeared to be not a man of Mean Parts, but she (Mary) so far exceeded him in sound ness of Judgement, clearness of Understanding, and elegant way of expressing herself ... that it tended to lessen the Qualifications of her Husband."3
8
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
In 1701, Mary Starbuck was fifty-six years of age when she was in troduced to John Richardson, the first influential Quaker minister to visit Nantucket. Accredited with the conversion of Mary to Quakerism, Richardson wrote in his Journal: "At the first sight of her it sprang in my heart, To this woman is the everlasting Love of God".4 Of her character and community standing, Richardson noted: "The islanders esteemed her as a Judge among them, for little of Mo ment was done without her".5 John Richardson held his first meeting at Nathaniel and Mary's home, and in such an impressive room that he described it in his Jour nal: "The large and bright rubbbed room was set with suitable Seats of Chairs, the Glass Windows taken out of the frames, and many Chairs placed without com fortably, so that I did not see anything a wanting, ac cording to the Place, but something to stand on, for I was not free to set my Feet upon a fine Cane Chair, lest I should break it."6 Thomas Story, equally known with Richardson as a Quaker mis sionary, traveled to Nantucket in 1704, described the meeting room in Nathaniel's house to be "pretty large and open".7 As a result of these recorded events and accounts, "Parliament House" has been absorbed into the Island's history. In 1708, Patrick Henderson, who organized the weekly meeting for worship, was received by fifty fellow Quakers, and by 1711, the meetings had outgrown the private residence. Nathaniel Starbuck, Jr., who held the post of Clerk for the Men's Monthly Meeting until 1733, donated a piece of land north of Elihu Coleman's house. At the time of Mary Starbuck's death in 1717, seventy-five islanders had been con verted to Quakerism, her son, Nathaniel, Jr., had assumed some religious leadership and was to become one cf the principal financiers of the whaling industry, and the area bordering the new harbor, called Wesco Acres, was being developed. Nathaniel and Mary Starbuck's home was called "Parliament, House" as early as 1661, a fact documented by the following quote from Book 1 of the Book of Deeds: . . . "the one half of the accommodation to Tristram Coffin (word?) being assigned to Mary Starbuck and Nathaniel Starbuck her Husband as by deed appears the House Lot was laid out by Peter Folger, Edward Starbuck, and Thomas Macy, Tristram also being pre-
Starbuck Family/Parliament House
9
sent — at the place commonly called the Parliament House 60 square rods bounded with the land of Thomas Mayhew on the South and with the land of James Cof fin on the North and on the East with the land of Stephen Greenleaf on the West by the commons (word?) land allowed at the East End with reference to Rubbage Land more or less."8 This title was recorded only five years after Nathaniel and Mary's marriage and eight years after the island had been settled. The Starbuck home became the site of town meetings and a trading post. Nathaniel Starbuck, who survived his wife, Mary, died in 1719; his estate passed to his three sons, Nathaniel, Jethro, and Barnabas. The Cambridge property remained in the Starbuck family until 1737, when Nathaniel Starbuck (blacksmith), Paul Starbuck (glazier), William Starbuck and Thomas Starbuck (yeoman) sold to George Hussey "all those tracts and parcels of lands and accommodations on so Island of Nantucket which Nathaniel Starbuck, late of Sherborn aforesaid Deceased, gave unto his three sons... 9 The Hussey family, which by the mid-1700's had married into the Starbuck family, kept the "Parliament lot" until 1810, when Joseph Austin, who married George Hussey's youngest child, Rachel, began to buy up the Hussey's interests. Dying in 1817, Joseph Austin had col lected "6/8 of the Cambridge property, with all the fence, stock, hay and farming utensils; 350 rods of land adjoining Cambridge to the eastward, Vz the house and homestead".10 After the death of her husband, Rachel Austin sold to Paul Gardner in 1821 "a certain tract, piece, or parcel of land... Known by the name of Cambridge... Also a certain piece or tract of land... before describ ed called and known by the name of the Parliament Lot containing about 3 acres. . . with all the fences which are standing and laying on the said land which George Hussey purchased of the heirs of William Starbuck."n In 1835, Robert Rogers filed a court suit against Paul Gardner and his business partner, Seth Swain; Rogers received Paul Gardner's Cambridge property as payment of debts. Following 1835, the Cam bridge property has had several owners and is presently included in the estate of Ann Sanford.
The Fish Lots and #10 Pine Street The origins of #10 Pine Street can be traced back to the division of the Fish Lots in 1717. Originally included in the area called Wesco and laid out as agricultural land, the Fish Lots were divided into twenty-
Starbuck Family/Parliament House
11
seven shares and were allocated for fishing and dwellings. The development of this land coincided with the beginning of the whaling in dustry and the demand that followed for wharfs and beach front pro perty. Similar to the New England fish-flake and maritime storage lots, these shares measured 8 rods wide, tapering 7 46/100 of a rod in the south.12 Running north-south through the middle of the lots was the public street or way, which is today Fair Street. The western boundary was defined by Pine Street. Union Street, which was under the hill known as Quanaty Bank, marked the eastern bounds. The Pine and Fair Street insulae represents the residential rear lots; the high contours between Union and Orange Street explain why these lots were unsuitable for fishing purposes.13 In 1722, due to confusion over the proper boundaries of the lots, the town decided to resurvey "certain tracts of lands called house lots or dividends."i4 The failure of George Hussey's name to appear among the owners of lot #23 could have been the result of this confusion. Rerecordings, surrenders and reallocations followed a series of town meetings; plots were adjusted to incorporate ninety new plans which so modified the earlier divisions that they virtually disappeared.15 The present day house is situated on property once belonging to Stephen Coffin, Richard Gardner and William Worth: the first owners of the 23rd share in the Fish Lots. George Hussey's name was excluded from the original document, a fact which was acknowledged in the transfer of 1/6 part of his share to William Hay in 1735: "nevertheless my name is omitted as a partisan in so lot upon record".16 William Hay kept the land for ten years, selling it in 1745 to George's brother, Silvanus Hussey. In 1765, Charles Bunker purchased from Silvanus Hussey "a certain piece of land called the 23rd share of the fish lot division containing 221/2 rods and it is to be at the west end of so share.. . "17 The word 'house' had not been mentioned in any of the transactions taking place between 1717 and 1765. No historical accounts exist that describe the Charles Bunker "set tlement" which evolved on the corner of Pine and School Streets bet ween 1765 and 1813. Charles Bunker, a blacksmith, died in debt in 1813. His estate consisting of a house, shop, barn, bakehouse and out buildings was appraised at $900.00 by the Nantucket Marine Insurance Company. In lieu of payment, the Nantucket Marine Insurance Company gained title to Bunker's land and buildings, selling part interest to John Folger in 1819 and Frederick Jones in 1820. The deed of ownership drawn up by the Nantucket Marine Insurance Company specifically
12
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
describes how the house and property was to be divided between Folger and Jones: "John Folger shall have the south part of the house and land ... beginning at the southwest corner of said land and measuring to the Northward as the West line of the land runs 16 ft.; then on a line with the partition that separates the front entry from the south front room until it meets the west jam of the fireplace in the south room; then as the fireplace runs until it comes to the head of the east jam of said fireplace; then on a right angle line to the East side of the room; thence on the line with the middle of the partition wall of the said east side of the room 1 ft. and 6"; thence on a right angle line through into the kitchen extending across the kitchen to the North side of the south door post of the kitchen, which is fourteen feet six inches from the south side of the land; thence extending from said door post to the eastward on a line parallel with the south line of the premises unitl it comes so as to leave 12 feet to the westward of Lydia Swain's land, for a passway in from the street for the owners of the north part of the territory; from thence a right angle out to the south side of the premises leaving the aforesaid passway of 12 feet in width from the west line of Lydia Swain's land to the east end of the aforesaid John Folger's land.. ."18 In 1824, John Folger purchased from Frederick Jones the remain ing interest in the house. In drawing any conclusions as to whether John Folger incor porated material from "Parliament House", one must take into con sideration that 152 years had passed since Nathaniel and Mary's home had been built. The first mention of "Parliament House" following 1667 appears in 1809: George Hussey sold the Cambridge property, including the "Parliament Lot" to his son-in-law, Robert Brayton. From this description, the condition of the house or if the house is still standing, cannot be determined. More than likely, only the foundation of the house remained and any salvageable material had already been removed from the property. An interesting relationship, however, exists between John Folger and the Joseph Austin family, who owned the "Parliament Lot" in Cambridge from 1810 -1821. Mary Folger, John's daughter, married Joseph's son, James Austin, in 1833. The supposition that John Folger
Starbuck Family/Parliament House
13
purchased "Parliament House" material from the Austin family lacks substantial evidence and sound documentation. Following the death of John Folger in 1864, one-half the interest in #10 Pine Street passed to his daughter, Mary F. Austin, and his grand children, Laban Swain, Thurston Swain, and Ariston Swain. Mary's husband, James, bought the grandchildren's interests in 1869 and lived in the house until his death in 1892. In his later years, James Austin, a tinsmith, was characterized as a "well-known member of the Society of Friends who lived in the north chambers".19 Between 1924 and 1945, Julia B. Farrington and Mary E. Crosby advertised in The Inquirer and Mirror their home as a boarding house: "Old Parliament House. . . Spacious rooms. . . Excellent table. . . Meals served singly or by the week".20 The present owner, Mildred Gieg, resides in the south side of the house, renting the remaining por tion.
Conclusion The evolution of #10 Pine Street has successfully been traced from its beginning as a late 17th century/early 18th century dwelling, to its present structure that looks probably as it did by 1864, with the excep tion of one addition. The lack of evidence to support John Folger's incorporation of material from "Parliament House" in Cambridge into #10 Pine Street does not totally negate the story's credibility. Oral tradition composes an essential part of a small community's history and should be ex plored and utilized in the research process. In the case of #10 Pine Street, Island lore has overshadowed the house's early architectural and social history - a fascinating and significant story in itself. ••••••••
References 1. Henry Barnard Worth, "Early Houses at Nantucket", Proceedings of the Nantucket Historical Association, 1904, p. 19-24. 2. Alexander Starbuck, The History of Nantucket: County, Island, and Town; Including Genealogies of the First Settlers, Rutland, Vermont, 1969, 9. 802. 3. Ibid., p. 520 4. Ibid.
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HISTORIC NANTUCKET
5. Ibid. 6. Ibid.
7. Ibid., p. 526 8. Nantucket County Deeds Records, Book 1, P. 12. 9. Ibid., Book 4, p. 164 10. Nantucket County Probate Court Records, §504. 11. Nantucket County Deeds Records, Book 26, p. 230. 12. Michael Hogo-Brunt, et al, under the direction of Barclay G. Jones,
An Historical Survey of the Physical Development of Nantucket: A Brief Narrative History and Documentary Source Material, sponsored
by the Division of Urban Studies Center for Housing and Environmen tal Studies, published at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 1969, p. 24. 13. Ibid. 14. Ibid., p. 25 15. Ibid. 16. Nantucket County Deeds Records, Book 4, p. 126 17. Ibid., Book 7, p. 74. 18. Ibid., Book 25, p. 330. 19. Grace Brown Gardner, Folders of Streets and Places, §24. ••••••••
Miss Beale prepared this study while a student with the Preserva tion Institute at the Coffin School in Nantucket in 1981. She wishes to give special thanks to Mildred Gieg and Mrs. Henry Koch, and Prof. Paul Buchanan and Prof. Herschel Shepard for "their cooperation and patience throughout the project".
Nantucket School Days of a Century Ago As Recalled by Capt. Coffin IN THE SUMMER OF 1937, Captain Everett B. Coffin, a retired steam boat commander from Seattle, Washington, came to the Island for a visit after an absence of many years. Stopping in a t T h e I n q u i r e r a n d Mirror office, in conversation with a young reporter he recounted many of his stories of Nantucket life fifty years before, among which was an account of his school days on Nantucket. He was prevailed upon to send a written account, and upon his return to Seattle he sent the following story:
School Days on Nantucket in the Early 1870's On an early morning in September, 1871, having reached the age of admittance to the public schools, accompanied by my mother, I entered the east room of the south grammar school and was introduc ed to the teacher, Miss Phebe Clisby — a tall, slender lady with a very pleasant smile. After hanging my coat and hat in the entry (as it was then called) I was assigned a seat in the front row, known as the beginners' row. Be ing my first time in a school room, I surveyed the surroundings. The teacher's desk was in the center of the east side of the room, with sta tionary blackboards on each side, extending the length of the room and on the top of these boards were painted the multiplication tables. On the floor at the west side of the teacher's desk was a white line, extending about six feet and parallel with the blackboard, about two feet from the board. That white line was a mystery which was solved later. There were six rows of seats, ten in a row. In the back row, each seat had a small desk, and they were given to the pupils having the highest grades in school work, as well as deportment, and of those ten seats, the girls occupied nine of them. The one boy was Harry Dunham, at present one of Nantucket's ag ed and respected citizens. The balance of the seats were small, halfround chairs securely fastened to the floor, with a small box-like ar rangement at the side, called a till, and in each till was a small yellow covered spelling book and a Whiter elementary arithmetic. On the top row there was, in addition, a song book of school songs. Singing was very popular in those days in Nantucket schools. Although
Nantucket School Days
17
no singer, I often find myself humming over those sweet schoolday songs. Miss Clisby was very much loved by her pupils and her methods of discipline, though simple, were effective. I soon found what the white line at the side of teacher's desk meant. If any of the school rules were broken, the pupil was compelled to stand with toes on the line, and face the blackboard for a given time, the given time announced at the time of sentence. With some, the punish ment was keenly felt, and often brought tears and cost an eye of shame from many, as well as the teacher. But as we advanced and became older, that punishment did not go over so big, and occasionally a note was sent to a parent, which as a rule was very effective and, if not, then a threat to the school commit tee or truant officer — the one we all feared. Well do I remember my first sight of the truant officer. Not far from the school was Rose Jenkins Lane (now called Flora Street). At the foot of that lane was a large vacant lot, and it was below the level of the street so that the rains and snows would often form a shallow sliding and skating pool. Some of the children would leave home early in the morning to enjoy that icy pool, and often delay too long while the school bell was ringing. Then for a sentence on the white line. I well remember my first winter at school. There had been a freeze-up and we had all enjoyed that skating and sliding pond. On one of the mornings, two of the girls decided to take time off and did not answer roll call. Miss Clisby got in touch with the truant officer — who proved to be Capt. Frederick Easton — and about ten o'clock he ap peared between the two girls, holding their hands. With tears streaming down their faces, Miss Clisby gave them a short talk and sentenced them to the line for the balance of the day. At noon they were given a note to their mothers. Capt. Easton was a kindly old gentleman, but somehow he kind of struck fear to the boys; and we would even tell his son Arthur — who was one of the pupils — that we were glad he was not our father. One of those naughty truant girls is still living, and has lived down that episode years ago, living to a ripe old age, with children and grand children. It afforded me great pleasure to meet her in 1937, after a lapse of many years. After two school years, along with the first grade class, I was transferred to the West room of the school building — a much larger
18
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
room, arranged very much the same as the east room except that the entrance was at the front, facing Orange Street. On each side of the teacher's desk were two large settees, where the different classes would appear at certain intervals to recite the studies as they had learned from the text books. At the right of the en trance there was a large wooden pail of water and a tin cup, for drink ing purposes. These could be found in every school room. Health restrictions were not so strong in those days. The seats were larger and each seat had a desk. The back row had larger desks, with inkwells, and opened at the top. These were occupied by the highest grade scholars in the first class. There were three classes in this room, which meant three school years before we were transferred to the Academy Hill School, on Gay Street. For a short time, we had Miss Emma Wyer for a teacher. She was a tall lady, with long curls of hair that extended down to her shoulders. But, having defective hearing — which some of the scholars took ad vantage of — she and Miss Clisby exchanged rooms. So for my three years in the West room, I again had her for a teacher. She still had good discipline, but the white line was not there. In stead, a short, hard ruler was often used on the palm of the hand for those who disobeyed the school rules. Being older, that was not so much of a disgrace — unless the scholar shed tears. Of course, there were more studies in this room, and the system of having the different classes recite on the settees in front was excellent, for the younger ones would learn from the older. The highest class would write compositions and, of a Friday after noon, they would recite them in front of the teacher's desk. At the end of the school term in summer, one would be picked by Miss Clisby to read before the school committee. One of the committee — perhaps two — would be there to listen to the scholars recite, and then would give a short talk, especially to those who were to end their school days at the South school. I well remember my last term, and the committeeman who gave the final talk. He was William W. Macintosh, a man who had come from the mainland and had bought the Hammond farm, a short distance from town and — as we described it in those days — out on the South Shore road. Mr. Macintosh was a real farmer and had made a big success with
Nantucket School Days
19
his farming methods. Along with his new farming methods, he had been able to make shipments to Boston of peas, corn and turnips. With his heavy truck, hauled by four oxen, to the Steamboat wharf and, along with other business connected with his farm, he was very noticeable on the different streets of the town. Of the children who attended the South School at that period, I think there are about five left. One I always enjoy writing a few lines to is Joe Gorham, son of the captain of the packet schooner "Onward". After retiring from 2nd mate of a clipper ship, he took up railroading and retired from that as a locomotive engineer. He now lives in Plymouth. Everett B. Coffin
Seaside Time Sunny skies and balmy air; Glistening blue waves everywhere; Shouts of merry childish joy — Hearts of light — no care to cloy. It's seaside time, At old Nantucket. Screams of birds in passage swift, Streams of sunshine o'er them drift. Air is full of salt sea-scent; Over all a charm is lent. It's seaside time, At dear Nantucket. Sailing, bathing, driving, playing By the sea where boats are swaying; By the rippling, restless waters, Many sons and many daughters Love old Nantucket. Josephine Smith Brooks
21
The Salvaging of the Three-Masted Bark Laura A. Burnham — 1882 by Edouard A. Stackpole
IT WAS NEARLY fifty years ago that the story of a most unusual salvage incident in the many exploits of the Nantucketers was told me by one of those who took part in the "wrecking" adventure. He was a man better known as the town bell-ringer — James H. Gibbs — and, in his retirement, (having passed that assignment over to his son, Jay Gibbs), he was in his 86th year, and living at the head of Main Street in one of the attractive small homes still standing, As a young reporter for The Inquirer and Mirror, I found a reference to the near disaster of a big three-masted bark, the Laura A. Burnham, in 1894, and found Mr. Gibbs' name in the list of the crew members of the salvagers. After a pleasant walk, I found him at home and, with his usual graciousness, he gave me the story, in such detail as to reveal again his remarkable memory. As during a previous visit, several months before, when he related his whaling experiences, his eyes lighted up as he recalled the adventure, although it had happened fifty-five years before, in 1882. "It seems that long ago," he began, "although I know it may be beyond the recollections of most folk on Nantucket today (1937). 'Twas on a February morning when I saw a team driving down the lane leading toward the barn. I was then working for Levi Coffin, in 'Sconset, at his farm. As the team came closer I saw it was being driven by none other than Frank Mitchell, an old friend, with whom I had gone to sea on the bark Herald, on a whaling voyage to the Pacific, several years before. With Frank was Billy Burgess and another man from town, and they wanted to put their horse up for the night. It had been reported in town that a vessel in distress had been sighted off the east end, and Frank wanted to get a crew together and go out to her. "I was married then — had my family living at the farm — and when he asked me to join him I was hesitant because my wife wasn't too pleased with the idea. But Frank was a close friend and she finally agreed to it as we sat in our house enjoying a good supper. Frank then went into the village to seek other recruits, but we were advised to go on to Quidnet, where Frank was confident that the Norcross boys might be willing to join a crew." The Quidnet trip was encouraging, with two men in that tiny hamlet willing to join the party — Edward and John Norcross. They also found there a number of men who had driven out from town — Asa
22
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
W. N. Small, John S. and Robert Appleton, Warren Manter, George E. Coffin (from Tuckernuck), and Fred Marvin. The Mitchell party of Frank Mitchell, James H. Gibbs and William Burgess. It was agreed that all should man the Humane Society's lifeboat and make the effort to reach the distressed vessel, whose lights could be seen in the night, as she lay at anchor off Sankaty. She had struck on Great Point early that morning, had worked her way free with a rising tide, and drifted to where she had anchored. Her signals of distress had not been seen until midday due to the thick weather. (The group from town came in Bill Smith's wagon.) "The wind had eased off a bit," continued Mr. Gibbs, "and it was near midnight when we hauled the big Humane Society's boat down to the Quidnet beach with the Norcross's help and launched her through the surf. Up to this time there hadn't been too much talk about salvage money as a possibility, but Tucker Coffin and Frank Mitchell brought this up at this point. Well, this was a pretty how-to-do; the group from Town, having been first to arrive at Quidnet, claimed priority; the Quidnet boys were the custodians of the boat, and Frank Mitchell's group, as late comers, would seem to be the minority." Mr. Gibbs chuckled as he recalled the situation. "It was quite a snarl for that first few minutes, then cooler heads prevailed. Our crew — Frank Mitchell's — had an ace card to play. We had the only pilot — William Burgess, in case we could free the bark. Ned Norcross was also with us. This turned the tide. We finally all agreed to split evenly all the possible salvage money. Then we launched the boat and began rowing. "It was bitterly cold on that February night and the sea was still running high. With Norcross at the helm, we set down to a steady beat at the oars, and pulled into it until we rounded Bass Rip to the north and then let the tide give us some help. The wind was out of the east and this was another help. It was a clear night and as we eased to the south'ard we could see the lights of the big vessel hanging high in her rigging. As we skirted the rips, and drifted a bit, we found our timing had been good, and at about five o'clock in the morning we came up to the vessel and hailed her. Within a few minutes we were taken aboard and our boat tied to a cleat aft." The bark was a big craft, the three-masted Laura A. Bumham, deeply loaded with sugar, from Java to Boston. Her captain's name was Kelley and he knew his vessel was in serious trouble, with the shoals of Nantucket on every hand. After first striking on Great Point Rip, and then working free, he was aware of his good fortune up to this point. To have an experienced Nantucket crew on board picked up his spirits amazingly.
The Laura A. Burnham Salvage
23
"When we got safely on board, we went below to the fo'c'sle, where we immediately turned in," went on Mr. Gibbs. "Being again in a bunk forward reminded me of my voyage on the whaleship Herald — and here was my old shipmate, Frank Mitchell, close at hand. They had a stove below, and it was comfortable, and we slept well for two hours. Then we were up on deck, ready for the next part. "Our first task was to get under way, with the tide changing to head to the north. It was when we tried to get the anchors up to her bows that we found the cables had fouled. Her crew had to anchor here under rug ged conditions and, not knowing the tides, had got the cables twisted. William Burgess, our pilot, was at the helm and he ordered the cables unshackled and let go. It was better to lose the anchors than the vessel. We got her foresail and jibs up, let her come around, then headed for Great Point. "Only once did we experience some trouble, when we scraped her keel at a place in the Point Rip, but the tide was with us and the wind held steady, and soon we were in Great Round Shoal channel, and in Nantucket Sound. It was a t this time that we sighted the steamer i s l a n d Home coming out of harbor, obviously sent out to salvage, as the Steamboat Company often did. Captain Kelley shouted over to Captain Manter that we were now in good hands and the steamer left us. We now had all sail up and, after sailing through Pollock Rip channel, we headed for the tip of Cape Cod, and thence across Massachusetts Sound to Boston. "Once in the vicinity of Boston Light a tug answered our signals for a tow into the harbor. As the tug approached, Captain Kelley asked us to stay below, as he did not want the tug's skipper to know we had a salvage crew on board. They got a hawser on board and began towing, and at this time the tug noticed we had no anchors, but as he had already agreed to tow us in for $100 he did so, although he later admit ted he had been hoodwinked by our first conversation, there being no mention that a Nantucket crew had taken him safely into Boston. Soon we were snug alongside India Wharf and congratulating ourselves. "One more task remained. The Humane Society's boat had to be cared for, and Asa W. Small, the Society's agent, arranged with the railroad to take it down to Woods Hole, to be brought over to Nantucket on the steamboat. The matter of settling terms for the salvage was also left to Mr. Small to handle. "We were given a few dollars to pay our own way home," said Mr. Gibbs, "but Frank Mitchell and I went to Middleboro first, so that I could see my brother Steve, and stay overnight with him. Then we kept on for Woods Hole, where we stayed with my sister, Ella — Mrs. Thomas Hinckley. Then we boarded the steamer for home.
24
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
"But there was not the least of my story to come. It was late after noon when the steamer docked. Mr. Coffin was not expecting me and did not come into town that day, but I was anxious to get to 'Sconset and home. After having supper with Frank at his home, I started out. It grew dark quickly, and to make the journey more difficult it had snow ed the day before and the road was then quite winding (being Old South Road), and when I arrived at 'Sconset it was after ten o'clock. But I was happy to be home again." The old gentleman sat back in his chair for a moment, looking at me quizzically. "Aren't you going to ask me how much we received?" His smile again predominated. "I can remember the exact sum — one hundred and twelve dollars and seventy-five cents!"
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Gifts of the Sarg and Strong Collections Enhance Our Museum Exhibits
25
OUR NANTUCKET HISTORICAL Association has received two unusual gifts during June, both of historic significance to Nantucket and the world of the theatre. What is known as the "Tony Sarg Collec tion", which was presented to the Thrift Shop by Mary Sarg Murphy as a donation toward the Nantucket Hospital Fund, has been acquired by Philip and Elizabeth Murray, and given intact to the Nantucket Historical Association, a most generous gift. The second collection is known as the "Austin Strong Collection", and was given the Associa tion by Mrs. George W. Penny, Jr., and consists of memorabilia and books from the Strongs' boathouse on Old North Wharf. It is a most unusual coincidence that collections so closely concern ed with these two men should become a part of our collections within a few weeks. The men were close friends, and devoted to Nantucket, and often joined forces in efforts to preserve Island traditions, notably in the Main Street Hospital Fetes and at the Nantucket Yacht Club. One of Mr. Strong's charming little stories, T h e T o y M a k e r o f N u r e m b e r g , was illustrated by Tony Sarg, and is one of the books in the Sarg collec tion. Born in 1882, on his father's sugar and coffee plantation in Guatemala, Tony Sarg (whose mother was an English artist) was sent to study at Lichterfelde, the West Point of Germany. His instructors were amazed at his ability to study, cramming five times more work in a day than the average student. He became fascinated with drawing and sketching, and soon entered the world of marionettes, having in herited a few from his German grandmother. In 1911, he was in Lon don, working as an illustrator, and there met his wife. While in London he noted the interest of sightseers, peering from the tops of buses at The Old Curiosity Shop, made famous by Charles Dickens, but then a neglected two-family dwelling in need of much repair. An antique dealer occupied the basement. Mr. Sarg decided to take a chance on the ancient structure by taking a long-term lease at 80 pounds per year. His first task was to rehabilitate the room of "Little Nell"; furnished it well, including a four-poster bed, candles, and ap propriate engravings on the walls. A sign outside the door announced that the room was open to the public at six-pence. "I collected two thousand dollars in six-pences in a year," he once stated. While in London, he went to a performance of the famous English puppeteer, and, remembering his grandmother's marionettes, decided
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The Sarg and Strong Collections
27
to experiment with them. The secret world of the puppeteer was dif ficult to break into, but Mr. Sarg, after attending sixty performances of Holden, and watching him with a pair of opera glasses, was able to discover many of the secrets in handling the puppets. It was at this time that he presented his first marionette show at the Old Curiosity Shop, and thus began his career as "The Marionette Man".
The turmoil of World War I's outbreak forced Tony Sarg to leave London, and he came to the United States with his wife and daughter. He had collaborated with several authors by illustrating such books as The Cock, the Mouse and the Little Red Hen, with Felicite Lefevre, and Children For Ever, with John F. MacPherson. Copies of these books are in the Tony Sarg Collection. When the material is placed on exhibit, it will contain the first copies of Tony Sarg's Alphabet,Tony Sarg's Book of Animals, Tony Sarg's Wonder Zoo, and many others of the delightful volumes he il lustrated and wrote for children. The collection is rich with such books as "Speaking of Operations. . with Irvin S. Cobb, and The Marital Adventures of Henry and Me, William Allen White — both illustrated by Tony Sarg — and bound folios of color illustrations he did for Look Magazine, as well as scrapbooks of his illustrations for English as well as American magazines. The original sketch books, showing his work in its initial stages, will intrigue the viewer, and such originals as The Tony Sarg Shop, Nantucket, and Nantucket at The Jetties, and Frank Chase's Art Classes will also be shown. The Tony Sarg Collection, with its diverse items, becomes one of the most valuable acquistions of such material in recent years, and the Nantucket Historical Association is grateful to the donors for their generosity in providing for its purchase. •••••••• ••••••••
The Austin Strong collection has many Nantucket connectives. Although it is basically small in manuscript material it has several choice items which, coupled with the more than 200 books, makes it a welcome addition to our collections. Austin Strong was one of Nan tucket's favorite adopted sons, coming to the Island early in this cen tury and soon becoming a devoted friend of Nantucket. His "Boathouse" logbook contains the photographs and autographs of his many friends, who visited him at this favorite wharf headquarters on Old North Wharf, where Austin and Mary Strong spent many summers from 1921 until Mrs. Strong's passing a few years ago. A number of the books were presentation copies to Austin and Mary Strong from the authors and bear both autographs and inscrip-
28
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
tions. Among these are books by William Oliver Stevens, Percy MacKaye, Robert Cushman Murphy and Pryce Mitchell. There are both English and American authors represented, and the library from the Boathouse includes many of the owner's favorite writers, as well as maritime studies which he enjoyed reading many times. Austin Strong's plays written in the 1920's, which brought him ac claim, such as Seventh Heaven and Three Wise Fools, were theatrical works which were presented after World War I, and the stage welcom ed plays which were not concerned with war and its bitter aftermath. An earlier play, The Drums of Oude, was also popular before the first great world war, and is included in the collection. Short stories which appeared in the Atlantic Monthly, such as She Shall Have Music, and On a Winter's Night, are based on Nantucket. Two photographs in the collection have to do with Austin Strong's association with Robert Louis Stevenson, who had married Austin's grandmother. One of these is of the bronze plaque on Stevenson's grave in Samoa. There is also a favorite sketch of the writer. Having attended school in New Zealand, Austin Strong was able to spend his vacations with Stevenson and his grandmother in Samoa. These experiences became a vivid recollection in his life, and one which he often shared with his friends upon requests from them. Two original pieces are in a special exhibit at the Peter Foulger Museum. One is an unusual cut-out depicting the famous English poet, Laurence Housman, created by Kate Willard Parker and presented to Austin; the second is an etching by Arthur Hoeker, also a presentation piece. Austin Strong died at his home on Quince Street in 1951. He was born in California in 1880, and among his most vivid memories was sail ing out of San Francisco on the schooner Casco, in 1889, on a voyage taking Robert Louis and Fanny Stevenson, and Austin's mother, Mrs. Joseph Strong, to Hawaii, where they were to reside for several mon ths. Later, Stevenson was to cruise the South Seas and eventually decide to make his home in Samoa. Austin's career as a playwright involved his association with many producers, directors and theatrical folk, and it is to be regretted that he did not write his memoirs as they were an interesting and colorful series in themselves. Many Nantucketers of today remember his work with the Main Street Fetes and Waterfront Carnivals. He was devoted to the development of the Yacht Club sailing program and introduced the "Rainbow Fleet" of catboats, adding a colorful excitement to the harbor scene.
31
Lecture on French Whaling at Whaling Museum, June 25 A LECTURE ON whaling, which was of more than ordinary interest to Nantucket, was presented at the Whaling Museum, June 25, before a group of fifty people. The lecturer was J. Thierry DuPasquier, of Paris, and the subject, The French Whalers, illustrated with slides, proved to be a most instructive and unusual evening for his listeners. Only a few months before, Mr. DuPasquier had published his book on the subject, Les Baleiniers Francais, a volume of some 360 pages, with 250 illustra tions, and tables, dealing with 19th century French whaling. The book has won him wide acclaim and recognition. He is now engaged on a se cond volume. A direct descendant of Jeremiah Winslow, a protege of William Rotch, of Nantucket, Pere Winslow, as he came to be known, remained in France after the Revolution. After the War of 1812, he went to LeHavre, where he revived the whaling business for France. His enter prise and acumen were described by the speaker, as well as the work of his associates in the growth of French whaling. The traditions in his family have been sustained by the young writer, and his remarks (in English) were carefully followed by his audience. Of course, the part played in French whaling by the Nantucket col ony who went to Dunkirk in 1785, was an important feature of the lec ture. William Rotch and his Nantucket fleet, the success of the migra tion from Nantucket to Dunkirk, the whalers around Cape Horn, the crushing effect of the terrible French Revolution on this enterprise were all a part of the talk. The lecture was open to the public by invitation of the Nantucket Historical Association. Although the timing conflicted with many weekend activities for potential listeners, the group appearing enjoyed the opportunity of hearing the gentleman from France, who was in troduced by Edouard A. Stackpole, the Association's Historian and the Director of the Peter Foulger Museum. The Whaling Museum's Direc tor, Renny Stackpole, who arranged for the presentation, extended the greetings of the Association to those attending the lecture.
