%o f/- LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

014 077 894 1

Hollinger pH 83 MiU Run F03-2193 F 74 .T)^5 Of

"The Eoc:Xv ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Old Since the last annual meeting three Dartmouth Historical society was pamphlets have been printed: held last evening, when reports of o£- No, 41. IG pages on "The Mills of ficers wei'e made, and ofBcers chosen. New Bedford and Vicinity Before the The following were re-elected as of- Introduction of Steam." ficers of the society: No. 42. —23 pages by Robert C. P. President—H. E. Cushman. Coggeshall "The Development of the Secretary—H. B. Worth. New Bedford Water Supplies." Treasurer— Frederic H. Taber. No. 43. 20 pages, containing Pro- Directors for three years^—W. W. ceedings of the Annual Meeting and Crapo, Walton Ricketson, Edward L.. Summer Outing at the Buzzards Bay Maconiber of Westport. Canal, to which were added Historical The report of Henry B. Worth, sec- .Vrticles on Oxford Village, Fairhaven retary of the society, follows: and Captain Thomas Taber. The Old Dartmouth Historical so- These publications are sought by ciety originated in an address by Ellis libraries and irdividuals throughout L. Howland, a member of the the United States on account of the reportorial staff of The Standard, historical and genealogical details re- delivered before the Unity club lating to the early families, branches of the Unitarian church. Janu- of which have removed to every part ary 16, 1903. At the close of of the land. People in the west and the meeting a committee of five south wrio desire to trace their an- were appointed to investigate the cestry back to the Mayflower and the feasibility of forming a historical so- good Old Colony days find the Old ciety. At a meeting held in the same Dartmouth researches often start place May 25, 1903, an organization them on the right track of investiga- was effected and a plan adopted for tion. the work of such a society. This A meeting was held October 2 7, provided four departments. Museum. 1915, in the rooms on Water street, Historical, Research, Publication and and Hon. Milton Read of Fall River Educational. Along these lines the gave an address on "Men I Have activity of the Old Dartmouth has Known." This was an extemporaneous developed and the institution has be- discourse and Mr, Read had no notes come popular and widely known. This from which it could be printed. His appears in the large membership, the comments and reminiscences were de- number on the roll now aggregating lightful to his hearers and would have 821. The number withdrawn has been been valuable to publish, but un- ten and the 23 who have deceased fortunately could not be preserved for are the following: publication. Walter S. Allen. A meeting was held in the High Mrs. Francis T. Akin. school auditorium Thursday evening, George D. Barnard. Feb. 24. 1916. when a large audience A. Emma Cummings. present listened to two addresses, one Mrs. W. L. Chadwick. by Dr. Hermon C. Bumpus, president Clara S. Freeman. of Tufts college, on "The Historical Horatio K. Howland. Society— Its Significance and Value in George L. Habicht. the Community", the other illustrated George S. Hart. with laiilern slides, by Professor W. Mrs. Pemberton H. Nye. D. Underwood on his experiences! Mrs. Andrew G. Pierce. which he entitl'^d "P^isherman's Luck." Charles S. Paisler. Cordial relations between the mem- George R. Stetson. bers and their friends have been main- Ellen M. Stetson. tained through the medium of social Thomas M. Stetson. gatherings. The first was held at Charles D. Stickney. Lincoln park. Sept. 22. 1915, and H. call- Mary Stickney. ed a "jambouroe," combining the Myles Standish. features of a fair and a bazaar. The Anna H. Parlow. other was held in the Odd Fellows Mrs. John Paulding. building, March 6, 1916, and was a Mrs. George F. Klack. Mardi Gras festival. Both entertain- Arthur H. Jones. ments were attended by a large num- Lydia J. Cranston. ber of persons. The original statement authorizing that the newspaper men of this city the work uf the society provided that have been so cordiall.v inclined to- the educational section should aim to wards the history of this section and inspire interest In history in the this, of course, indicates that the pub- schools. In his lecture in the High lic who:n they serve are also inter- school, Dr. Burnpus showed that this ested and friendly. appeal must be made to the child by The spectacular event th.at has e.xhihition of relics and objects of his- chiefly claimed attention of the pub- torical significance and that the t)ld lic is the addition to the Old Dart- Dartmouth was able along special mouth property on Bethel street at lines, through its museum, to effec- the top of what was once called Pros- tively engage in this work. It has pect Hill, a name more appropriate been expected that arrangements than the unexplainable designation would be made with the school teach- of Johnny Cake Hill. After the ers to visit the museuin w'ith a con- annual meeting last year another venient number of puiiils to see the house and lot was purchased and this rooms and the collection. During gave a frontage on Bethel street of the past year this work has not been 140 feet. The hill at its crown is 46 as vi.gorously conducted as de-sired for feet above tide water, and here has one reason, principally that the rooms been erected an addition over 100 feet have been disarranged by the con- long, surmounted by an observatoi-y- struction of the addition. Here will be the only wlmling mu- Delegaiinns fri iii the New Bedford seum in existence, equipped on a com- anc Fall l;i\ri in.inehe.-; of the Young plete and elaborate scale, and from Men's I'liiisliim association have the cupola tlie visitor may behold a visited the roums and pupils from view of the sea and shore that would New Bedford schools with teachers have gladdened tlie vision of the have taken advantage of the oppor- worthies of a century ago who were tunity. iVliss Tmma A. McAfee of eager to discover from the housetops the Knowlton school on two occa- the expected arrival of their whale- sions; airs. Ktta M. A. Srpead of the ships. Middle street school; Miss Helen M. Henry B. Woi-th, Welch of the Lincoln school, and Miss Secretary. .lane Conway of the Congdon school. I'erhaps this privilege is not fully understood by the teachers. In the The Hcport of tlie Curator. future the persons who can sustain The report of Frank Wood, cui-a- this institution from the must come tor. follows: class who are now in school. An in- 1 am sure that the officers of this of the terest in history and events society have an easier task this even- past car. best aroused while they be ing in presenting to you their annual attention are pupils by calling their reports than they had a few years to curiosities ob.iects which il- and when about all they could say methods. ago lustrate ancient customs and was that the society existed. Tonight This is offered to the pupils without it must be a satisfaction to you to any charge for admis.=!ion as long as hear, ag it is to us to be able to re- they are under direction of the teach- port, that the Old Dartmouth His- ers. Nor is it restricted to the city. torical Society has passed the stage Exactly the same privilege is extend- of a mere existence, and is for all ed to the pupils in the neighboring time to come a truly live society. towns that once with New Bedford One that you should be proud to be comprised the town of Dartmouth. It a member of. Yes more than that, is the desire of the officers to estab- one that the city should be proud of, lish cordial relations with the school as it is the aim of this society to children not only in the public schools make it for the benefit of all. of this locality, but as well in the pri- Tonight I propose to tell you some- vate schools. thing of the accessions in way of The work of the historical research gifts to our museum, and in this we section does not appear as such ex- have been fortunate. I am sure, too. cept in the publications of the so- that the coming year will bring us ciety and in the local press. Valuable many more for as the Bourne Whal- articles on a variety of sub.iects are ing Museum nears completion, it continually appearing in the New certainly will create a wider and a Bedford papers, for w^hich frequent- more enthusiastic interest. Y'ou all ly the writers depend on the Old know our needs, and at this time I Dartmouth members for material; do not think it necessary to appeal and means are employed by con- to your generosity, as we know it will venient indexes, to keep these ar- be to you a pleasure to do your part ticles available for future use. It in filling the cases and walls of our has been a fortunate circumstance museum. —

Accessions 1915-191G. Eliot D. Stetson—Desk used and owned by his father, Thomas M. Stet- Francis Reed—Bed Key. son. G. D. and Dr. A. A. Julian— Pic- Miss Mary H. Baker—Two portraits, ture of the son of Colonel Ethan one of William Russell. Jr. and the Allen. Two plates, cup and saucer other of Abagail Brown and his wife. that belonged to Colonel Ethan Allen. Mrs. Louis Eaton—Portraits from ilrs. Frank Wood—Two gilt frames. the Standish house. Mrs. Caroline G. Winslow —Picture Mrs. Nathanial Gushing Nash of her father, Captain Francis Baker. Model of a whale ship. Cabinet of shells and curios. FranK Hammond—Photos, of the N. P. Hayes—Engraving of New bark C. W. Morgan. Bedford by Hill. George R. Phillips—Signal book. Mrs. John F. Wing—Old pocket- Madame Von De Bossach—Slippers book containing receipts, etc. made in Belgium. Mrs. T. M. White— Photographs. Clarence A. Cook—Copper plate Lafayette L. Gifford—Model of brig, from which the invitations were ivory busk and old ink well. printed to a ball tendered to the New William A. Wing—Books, china and York Yacht club in 1S56. three quilting blocks. Miss Anna B. Robinson—Certificate Dr. Charles Hunt—Liverpool pitch- dated 1S24, giving three months' pas- er, bound files New Bedford Mercur.v, sage over the Fairhaven bridge. photographs, government reports, etc. Mrs. Sarah G. Smith. South Middle- Charles S. Kelley—Documents. boro—Foot warmer and powder horn Frank Oilman—Very large pair first owned by Jo-siah Winslow, a des- mussel shells. cendant of Kenelm Winslom in the Grinnell old Arthur —Very hair fifth generation. Kenelm was a trunk. Copy of The Old Flag published brother of Governor Edward Winslow at Fort Ford, Texas, in the sixties. of Plymouth. Manual of the Allan F. Wood— In closing I feel that it will be ap- First Baptist church. propriate to read to you a couple of F. Eben Brown—Model washing verses from a poem entitled Our Duty machine. Tap and die to make wood written by our fellow member, Cle- screws. Tinker's pot. ment Nye Swift, artist and poet: Thatcher S. Swift— Pair very old Feather irons or Hobbles. "Gather the scattered relics of old Luther R. Gifford—Old deed—Paul whaling davs. Cuftee. Bring them with rovprent if with tardy Frank E. Gilman—Log of ebony hands. Cuttyhunk. Shrine them and rrruard them, as in from vessel wrecked at other Lands Walter Chase—A fine lo.t of half The rusted swords and dinted helm?! models of ships, stern board and other were- hung. articles. To breathe with their mute eloquence Mrs. Annie Seabury Wood—Log in subtlest ways book, ship America, Captain Charles Of that heroic epoch when the town young. P. Seabury. was Frank E. Brown—Framed picture Bring each neglected trophy, furbish of Captain Eben Pierce. it anew. Charles M. Hussey—Ships papers Each flippant year in passing lays its box, ship Washington. coat of rust. henceforth as William E. Robinson—Documents Cherish and guard them a sacred trust, various articles. and Foi' in this Museum's halls almost wo silk Mrs. Bradford E. Walker— Pair find mitts. That brooding husli that dwells with George S. Bowen—Old boat build- sacred' dust er's guage. Where tattered banners hang, and Mrs. Lemuel T. Perry Signal book armours rust; — great deeds rise in memory, and 1S37 and five sketches. And Signal Robert C. B. Coggeshall— Feel the neglected lore of whalemen book 1S5G. stir the mind Mrs. Bradford E. White—Poster With our inherent tendency and long- auction sale. White's factory. 1S43. ing for the sea." George H. H. Allen—Sketches mem- bers municipal government 1861. IJcport. A. J. Smith—Odd Fellovi-s regalia Financial war. and .sword and sabre used in Civil report of Frederic H. Taber Oil The Mrs. Andrew G. Pierce, Jr. — follows: painting, steam whaler Mary and Dartr ith HistorionI Sorietv. Helen. Old George H. H. Allen—Whaling docu- ments. N. n. Institution for Savings. Mrs. Henry H. Edes, Documents. Lyceum fund $1.' —

N. B. In'^titutinn for Savings. Life Mcmbersliip fund 1.050.00 N. B. Five Cents Savings bank, Lyceum fund 1,168. IS Hia] estate N. Li. b'lve Cents Savings banlt, Kuildiner Life Membership fund 17S.00 Gosnold Island N. B. Institution for Savings, Bethel street . . Seabury fund 50.00 Museum $500 N. b Cntton Mill bond... 450.00 shares Mechanics National Totals $17,150 39 2.300.00 bank i>iaii.

" MEN I HAVE KNOWN."

MILTON REED teminiscenl before Historical Society. WILLIAM W. CRAPO tells

Governor Morton's Majority of One, George Marslon, Hosea M. Knowlton and

Other Notables of New Bedford.

"Men I Have Known and Met in beg money, in behalf of charity, which

Our Locality and Other Places" was i."- a test of man's usefulness. I balk the subject of some delightful remin- on that' ' iscences by Milton Reed before the Mr. Reed related an anecdote of a Old Dartmouth Historical society yes- leq:al encounter between father and terday afternoon. By Mr. Reed, sat r.on, involving tl.e justice of whom he William W. Crapo, to whom the speak- b.id been speaking, and James M. er frequently referred for corrobora- Alorton, Jr., now judge of the district tion. And Mr. Crapo was helpful in court in Boston. The son was coun- his responses, and related an anec- s'^I in i )and case, in which his father dote that should be given an honored was a hostile witness. "The son in his place in the records of the society. cxaminiUKn smiled around him, but It was told while Mr. Reed was dis- cculd not bud.ge his father, and finally cussing the Morton family, which for began tc ask emphatic questions, un- many yeir.s has had the habit of sup- til his father declared: 'James, you " plying the supreme and superior can't drive me. \ ou needn't try!' courts with justices. He spoke of Mar- Another difference in the family w.ts cus Morton, and asked Mr. Crapo if cited by the speaker, who stated that it were not true that Mr. Morton was while the senior Judge Jlorton and elected .i^overnor of Massachusetts by his wife were both advocates of suf- a iTiajority of one. frage, the younger Judge Morton was "Yes," replied Mr. Crapo, "he was an "anti" and his wife was president •elected liy a majority of one, on the of an "anti" society. popular vote. The following year, no Mr. Reed said that his own advent candidate had a majority, and the in Fall River occurred in 1S6S, John election went to the legislature. There C. Milne visiting him at Harvard and al.so, Mr. Morton was elected by a asking him to take the editorship of majority of one. the News, to succeed Mr. Reed's "At the tim3 of the completion of brother. With some reluctance, he the Tatniton-New Bedford railroad, a consented, taking the position on celebration in the form of a banquet IMarch 30, 1868, and remaining with was held in this city, John H. Clif- the paper for three and one-half years, ford presiding, flovernor Morton at- during which tiine he met many peo- tended, but being old-fashioned in his ple prominent in Taunton and New ideas, he did not take the Hrst train Bedford. He recalled an elegant ad- down, luit drove down with his horse dress made during one of the critical and chaise. The banquet began at 12 campaigns by the late William J. o'clociv. and the governor was late. Rotch; and also remembered Jona- When tho guests were about half than Bourne, "a hard-headed old ihrou?!i dinner. Governor Morton ap- Yankee from the Cape"; George O. peared. "The governor is here," an- Crocker, Edward Mandell, and Peleg nounced Mr. Clifford. "He usually gets Howland. "One dear friend whom I in by one!" had in New Bedford," he continued, Mr. Reed began his remarks con- "was Charles H. Pierce, treasurer of cerning the Morton family by a ref- the New Bedford Savings bank, a busi- erence to James M. Morton, Senior, ness man and a man of culture. I of Fall River, whoin he described as felt his weath as a personal affliction. cne of the ablest lawyers he ever met. "New Bedford had the two ablest "He retired as a justice last year, at advocates I ever heard on a case t. beautiful old age," said the speak- George Marston and Hosea M. Knowl- er. Of Mrs. Morton, Mr. Reed said ton. Marston was not learned, but that jhe was an admirable woman, possessed remarkable powers of ob- active 'n every good work, and that servation, a trajector.v of thought that .ludge Alorton also took pleasure in was marvelous. As he followed the those simple charities. "He will even testimon.v of the witnesses his eye would sparkle and he would seize the and that he could not win his case. very core of a case. He understood Anil he didn't. He was an admirable Yankee jurors and how to go right to judge, and it would be impossible to the core of their characters. iind one more conscientious. "Knowlton was of a different type. "Your judges move away from New There is a tendency among lawyers Bedford when you appoint them," re- to distort evidence; but Knowlton was marked Mr. Reed. "We used to one of the most honest men I ever saw. punch it into the governor, when ap- He was rough in his manner, but had pointments were to be made, that we a kind heart. I remember the dinner wanted a judge from this district, so tendered him upon the occasion of his that the local attorneys could have retirement from the office of attorney their motions heard before him. Th^ general. That Saxon berserker almost governor would appoint thmi, and cried that night, at the overflow of then they would take the wings of affection for him. morning and fly away to the ends of "I would like to speak of a gentle- the earth. man who is still alive—Thomas M. "You have now upon the bench a Stetson. I know of no greater com- sunny-faced judge from New Bedford, bination of legal knowledge and cul- a very charming man. I have great ture, allied to personal power. He is respect for him as, after he nad a possessed of wonderful accuracy and family dependent upon him, he went magnificent reasoning abilit.v, and few to Harvard to take the law course. men in the state have his prodigious "When I came from Fall River, intellectual power. with its cotton-factory atmosphere, "New Bedford has contributed a in the old days, I felt as if I were great many judges to Massachusetts. e.xperiencing what is described in Lincoln F. Brigham, who was a chief Shaiiespeare's 'Tempest' as 'a sea justice, had a photographic conscience, change into something rich and and I never saw a man on a jury- strange.' New Bedford had the flavor waived case who would hit nearer to (if the sea, and it was very delight- the heart of truth than he. He was ful to see the class of men that could distinguished for his dignity, his char- be found upon its streets. Your acter and courtesy, and was one of the marine relics in this building remind handsomest men who ever sat upon me of what I used to see. the bench. He moved from New Bed- "In my travels, I have always ford to Salem while I was practicing found New Bedford to be one of the law. best-known cities in America. On "Judge Pitman was a man of high steamship or railroad train, when it ideals, devoted to temperance, and an is discovered that I hail from Fal> admirable lawyer. He had some tem- Ri\'er, someone always takes me aside peramental qualities that made him and asks: "Do you think Lizzie unpopular with the bar, as is evi Borden did it?' and at the North denced by the fact that he could get Cape, in Burma, or wherever I go, I into a controversy with so urbane a am asked the question: 'Do you man as Walter Clifford. He seemed know Lizzie Borden?' You of New like a storm-bird, and apparently re- Bedford have a happier lot. While joiced in controversy, so that he would 1 was in Hawaii, the peoijle told mc start all the devil in you, and make about the numlier of whalers from you want to throw a book at him. Yet New Bedford that had been there, fi he was a most admirable man. Ho is pleasant for New Bedford that you was pure-minded and of exalted recti- have not a horrible tragedy that tude, although possessed of a certain everything ranges around." arrogance and narrowness of vision." A Fall River man who made a deep The speaker cited one charge given impression upon Mr. Reed was John by Judge Pitman, in which after de- Westall, afterward minister of the voting himself exclusively to flatter- Swedenborgian chapel in Fall River. ing commentary upon the defendant The speaker's initial newspaper ex- and his case, he announced: "I find jjerience was the reporting of the first for the plaintiff." Memorial day service there, at which Of the late Lemuel Le Baron a poem was read by Mr. Westall. "He Holmes, Mr. Reed said: "I never saw was one of the most interesting men a harder-working man. I was once I ever knew," said Mr. Reed. "Born counsel in a case, opposed to him, in England, he came here when a in which he had the weak side He child, and went to work in a mill, pulled out a big packet of manuscript also attending an evening school kept and asked the Justice if he could have by the Messrs. Robeson, who after- all the time he wanted. The court ward came to New Bedford. Westall assented, and Mr. Holmes read for afterward entered the employ of the five hours—a marvelous argument. American Printing company, and be- I had not expected a cyclone. I said came a designer of calice printing, that it was magnificent, but not law making very beautiful designs. He Bennett, a cour- wonderful thins—he used every office of Judge E. H. did a gentleman of the olden time, and that he possessed: just as the teous power a very learned man. At this point empire is doing in its Satanic German Mr. Reed returned to New Bedford war We in America need a lesson ought powers. Westall for a moment, saying that he in the economy of mention, "Your de- deeply interested in not to forget to painted; he was Oliver Prescott. and gave delightful talks upon lightful old judge, books, I never met; and you was interested in music, A sunnier man them; he what an honor to your town the flute and violin. In fact. know playing son and namesake is." seemed to be an admirable Crich- his he Judge William H. Fox of Taunton, ton. At middle age he resigned, and Young furnished the Mr. Reed said, was a man who was Mrs. Mary B. "He was appoint- money enabling him to spend a year never appreciated. ed a police judge." said the speaker, in Europe. He went to Egypt, where position fifty years. studied Egyptology, giving lectures "and held the he and gone into the when he returned. At last he grew Had he resigned arena, he would have been one of old, and had shaking palsy, but noth- ablest lawyers in Massachusetts. ing disturbed the beauty of his char- the He had an incisive intellect, and in bar examiner he could •Among the most prominent men in his capacity of single question that would tell Fall River were Colonel ILichard Bor- ask a capacity of the applicant for ad- Thomas .J. Borden, the den, and his sons, did not Borden, Matthew C. D. mission to the bar. But he Edward P. position that he Borden, Richard B. Borden, and take the commanding taken." William Borden; all men of remark- ought to have the business men who at- able ability. They were not only able Among tained prominence in Taunton, Mr. men, but were staunch and true, Enoch side of a good gov- Reed named William Mason, always upon the Crocker and Chester ernment, integrity, law and justice. Robinson, Samuel The colonel's brother, Jefferson Bor- Read. conclusion, the speaker said: den, manager of the American Print In of the same type." "Bristol county has had its full share Works, was another moulded honest Other names mentioned by the of the men who have included Hale Remington, public opinion, and done something speaker sweeter and Robert K. Remington, and the mem- to make the world better, the Brayton and Durfee fami- nobler." bers of Tea was served following the meet- lies. Huston and Mrs. The speaker said that Taunton h;id ing, Mrs. William Jr., acting as hos- an able bar, and he recalled that Andrew G. Pierce, Charles W. Clifford read law in the tesses. I- o

£ ira"

c 2S

-o o C '-5 a) o > *-> 1 =>

a 2 < 2

3 °o VOYAGES OF SHIP BARTHOLOMEW GOSNOLD.

By HENRY B. WORTH.

The r.artholomew Gosnold was great profit to the owners, for the built in Falmouth. Mass.. in 1832. expenses of the voyage would gen- and after a career of over half n erally amount to that sum. During century, having been twice a ship and the Civil war. products of whaling twice a bark, wa.s degraded to a barge voyages returned a handsome profit. and closed her existence in May. IS'Ji. At one time sperm oil brought $8'' Captain .John C. Daggett of Tisburj. per barrel. had jtist returned as master of the An unusual and lucky .'ncident oc- bark Pindres of Fairhaven. with a curred on the last voyage. Captain catch of 1200 barrels of oil, taken in Pot le had come home sick and Cap- the Atlantic ocean in a short voyage tain Hammond was sent out to finish of eight months. This success prob- tha season. They were rruising for ably made it easy for him to induce sperm whales on th^ west coast of Falmouth men to build him a larger Au; tralia in company wiih the bark ship, the I'rindres being lO.'! tons. Canton, Captain Georef L. Howland. The first owners of the new ship of They were cutting '.-' the blubber 300 tons and named the Bartholomew from a sperni whale and the second Gosnold were the following: mate, a Gay Head Indian, noticed a John C. Daggett, master; Shubael swelling in the intestine.s of the whale Lawrence, Solomon Lawrence, Jr.. and as he probed into H w'th his spade Peleg Lawrence. Ansel Lawrence. he discovered it was hard and recog- Samuel P. Crowell. Stephen Davis, nized it as ambergris, the most valu- Simeon Harding, Isaac Robinson, able product of the sperm whale. The Thomas Robinson, Roland Robinson, mifs was carefully removed and William Nye, Ephraim Eidridge, Davis proved to be over 300 pounds in Hatch, Nathaniel Eldred. Barachiah we-ght. It was put in two barrels B. Bourne. Solomon Lawrence, Jr., and these were placed inside of larger was the builder, and Ward M. Parker ca.?ks, filled with water. Captain of New Bedford, a^ent. Howland states that Ihis method of In 1S4 3 a radical change in owner- preserving it was A mis.ake. Its ship and manai'ement took place. Sho vahie would not have been in.lured wa.'! purchased by Thoman Mandeil, so much if it had been kept dry, for Oideon Howland. Sylvia Ann How- on one voyage the Canton found i2 land. and Edward Mott PvObinson and pounds that was kept <:ry and brought managed br them under the famou:! $450 per pound. When the Gosno.d name of Isaac Howland. .Ir. & Co. discovery was reported, it was sup- She then passed into the hands of posed that the value was prodigious, Charles R. Tucker & Co.. in 18(i3 and but when it reached ?.'e\v Bedford the in 1889 was withdrawn from the substance was much like black mud whaling service. and the nuality not what was anti- She completed 13 whaling voyages, cipated. While on the wharf it was one in the Atlantic, two in the Indian gu.irded night and day. But it was and ten in the Pacific oceans. no; easy to sell it. The chemical No serious disaster befell the ship. manufacturers that used the sub- During the voyage beginning; 1S4T, st.ince in mauing perfumery were not John M. Austen, the third mate, died satisfied with the quality and after and during the voyage under Captain much effort, John F. Tucker. the John Fisher four men were lost fast agent, was forced to sell it in small to a whale. lots to different customers and it final- While the Gosnold made some ly lirought .a'lout $25,000 r.r an aver- average voyages none of them were a.ge of $S0 per pound, a result one- notable. To be gone four years third of the expected value. around Cape Horn and return with a These spectacular incidents do not catch worth only $27,000 brought no often occur. —

Finally sperm and whale oil became The following schedule shows when supplanted by other s'ubstitutes and eai.h voyage ended, who was master, It was no longer profitable to send and the approximate value of the out ships tor oil. Fabulous prices catch, computed from reports in pub- were paid for bone, but this was to lications on whaling: be captured in the Arctic and pre- 1S36—John C. Dag:jett ?33,000 ferably in steamers. So the old Gos- 1S3H —Elihu Fish 30,000 nold lay at the wharf four years and 1S43—Abraham Russell 33,000 then the entry appears, "Sold and lSt7—Edward P. Mosher 39,000 1851—Reuben Tabei 21.000 withdrawn. ' Here closed her career 18S4—C. B. Houstis 63.000 of half a century as a whaler. The 1S5S—John Fisher .57,000 new owners towed her to Boston 1862—neorge H. Clark 43,000 where she w.as dismantled and used 1866— John HoIIhs 105,000 as an experiment in a new venture in 1870 Chail.-s Ni.hi.l.^ 83.000 1876 Jani.-s 11. Willis bar^re consti uction Ahich proved a — 81,000 ISSO—Svlv;uui.« I>. Kiibin-^on. . . . 27,000 faiiui-e. The last entry in the Boston 1S.S5—William H Puole and cu'tom house was made May 22, 1S94, James Hammond 48,000 "vessel burned." The old hull was taken doivn Joston harbor to a shoal Total $663,000 called Nut l:land and burned. Her Captain Poole returned sick be- log books before 18 71 are in the New fore the lasr voyage was completed Bedford Public library. Her finely and Captain Hammonu was sent out is carved figur(-head now in the build- to bring the \ essel home. While not ing of the Old Dartmouth Historical unusual, yet no master shipped on the Society, Gosnold a second time.

Frnlll Th, M„lininl M, I, ,1, ,/. Figure Head Bartholomew Gosnold -

THE STORY OF THE BUILDING OF THE BOURNE WHALING MUSEUM

WITH REMINISCENCES OF OLD COUNTING ROOMS.

By Z. W. PEASE.

On the east side of Front strett at offices in (his building were occupied the head of Merrill's wharf stands a bv Charles R. Tucker, Edward D. stone building, massive and severe in Mandell, John R. Thornton, Denni.s design and construction. There are Wood, Oliver Crocker and George O. a few similar buildinKs left along the Crocker. In old Parker's block at water front, last reminders of the the foot of Middle street, now de- days of whaling, and tlie merchants molished, were the offices of Joiin who occupied them. Avery Parker and Jireh Perry, Pardon In these buildings were the coluU- Tillinghast and William C. N. Swift, ing rooms of the whaling merchanlb. and later on William Phillips and The first floors were often shi\i George R. Phillips. Others in the chandlerv shops and rooms where list of merchants that come to mind whaling outfits were stored betwet n were George Howland, Matthew How- voyages. The counting rooms were land. Henry Taber and John Hunt, on the second floors, and there were succeeded by William G. Taber and sail lofts and rigging lofts on tlic William Gordon, Edward C. Jones, upper storius. William Watkins, Alexander Gibbs, These counting rooms had a chai William O. Brownell, Thomas Knowles, acter all their own. There weie Edward W. Howland, George Barney, counters and iron I'ailings behind Otis Seabury, Edward Seabury and J. & which were desks of mahogany. The W. R. Wing. These are but a few of bookkeepeis stood up. or sat on high the whalin.g merchants contemporary stools. There were few desks in the with Mr. Bourne. old counting rooms at which the oflicc The late Jonathan Bourne, the mosi hel)) might sit in a chair. About the successful of all the whaling mer- oflioe walls were models of the ."hip- chants in New Bedford's rich history, owners' whalers and whaling prints who owned at one time more ships reproduced from the paintings of than any man in New England, car- Benjamin Russell. There were boxes ried on busine.ss in the old stone blocl: on the shelves, lettered with tlie at the head of Merrill's whaif names of the whale ships, in which throughout his career, and his count- the ve-ssel's bills and papers weie ing rooms are now exactly as he left kept. them, the sole survivor of all the One of these great buildings of counting rooms which are visualized stone and brick, unadorned by archi- in the minds of those who remember tectural ornament, and reflecting the the fascinating industry, no less than tendencies of the business men of the the quaint old ships strongly char- period, in many cases Quakers, is still acterized by their clumsy wooden standing at the foot of Union street, davits and the crow's nests, the and is now occupied in part by the perches from which the lookouts offices of the N. Y., N. H. & H. rail- watched for whales. road. The great house of Isaac IIow- There is today, an odor of whale land. ,Tr.. & Co. occupied offiees here oil about Merrill's wharf, contributed and later on their successors, Edward by a few hundred casks of oil that Mott Robinson, the father of Hetty happen to be stored there at this Green, and Thomas Mandell. Othei lime, which Ijrings back memories uf departed days to the old citizen who spot where, in the only place on earth, gets a whiff of oil and seaweed once is exhaled the odor of the industry so familiar. which produced great fortunes and The power of smells to evoke pic- made the New Bedford of old the tures was recently emphasized by Mi. richest city in the country in propor- Kipling. "Have you noticed," wrote tion to its population. Mr. Kipling the other day. "wherever So. after the passing of decades one a few travelers gather together, one old counting room survives in a build- or the other is sure to say, 'Do you ing which was peculiar to the indus- remember the smell of such and such trj' and about it clings the old odo.. a place?' Then he may go to spealc It is one bit of New Bedford which of camel—pure camel—one whiff of is as it used to be. There even re- which is all Arabia; or of the smell mains the old shed which sheltered of rotten eggs at Hitt, on the Euphra- Mr. Bourne's "sundown," a type of tes, where Noah got the pitch for carriage affected by the whaling mer- the Ark; or the flavor of drying fish chants of his period and distinctive in Burma." like everything pertaining to whaling Mr. Kipling's allusion brought out days. a swarm of letters from people who tried to assign the characteristic But these reminders of the im- smell to great cities. One man tells mortal industry are vagrant and that the odor of Paris is a mingling transitory and it has devolved upon of the fragrance of burnt coffee, of the last of the generation connected caporal and of burning peat. Berlin, with and in touch with the men and we are told, has the clean, asphaity, aff.airs in the golden age of our disinfectant smell of all nev/ towns, unique industry to rear monuments while Vienna the windy, re?ks of dust. to the men who brought fame and The London Times, coming in here, opulence to the city through their is stirred to a pitch of poetical en- hazardous enterprise. Several years largement by the topic. "The sul)- ago William W. Crapo erected a ject of smells in their relation to the memorial on Library square to the traveler is an old and favorite topic whaleman. Bela Pratt, the sculptor, with Mr. Kipling. Has he not said selected the harpooner as typifying somewhere that the smell of the the whaleman. The harpooner is the Himalayas always calls a man back? most picturesque figure in whaling. And does not his time-expired solditr It is he who performed the task with sing of the 'spicy garlic smells' of the responsibility, the task with the Burma? The smells of travel are in- thrill. "It is the harpooner," as Mel- deed innumerable. The voyager gets ville wrote in "Moby Dick," "that his first real whiff of the east when makes the voyage." "Nowhere in he lands at Aden, and drives along America," wrote Melville of New Bed- a dusty road to the bazaar within ford in the high and far-off times, the Crater. It lingers in his nostrils "will you find more patrician-like for evermore. On the coast of Burma houses, parks and gardens more and down the straits, the air is redo opulent than in New Bedford. Whence lent of rotten fish and overripe fruit. came they? How planted upon this Tropical jungles have keen olfactory once scraggy scoria of a country? memories of decaying vegetation. The Go and gaze upon the iron emblemat- smell of Chinese villages is like noth- ical harpoons round yonder lofty ing else in the world, but the odd mansion and your question will be thing is that to the true traveler it ani'wered. Yes; all these brave ceases to be disagreeable." houses and flowery gardens came from So much for smells, apropos of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian those which linger on Merrill's wharf. oeeaiis. One and all they were har- In the old days casks of oil covered pooned and dragged up hither from with seaweed, covered every wharf the bottom of the sea." along the water front of New Bedford. But while the sea warrior malces The leakage saturated the soil and the first appeal to the fancy, the men air was redolent with the heavy odor. who built the ships, planned the voy- After a century in which it was the ages, financed them, took the risk distinctive New Bedford smell, it has and made the flag familiar on all the vanished excepting from this littic seas of earth, were no less daring ari'l exti'f.ordinary. The whaling in- stitution which was an active jihilan- dustry was the greatest gamble that throphy in whaling days. At first ever men ventured, and required no the idea of a building suggestive of less spoitsmanship on the part of a ship, with interior construction to the promoters ashore than upon the conform and deck arrangement for men who actually went down to the the first floor, was considered. This sea. was impracticable and then the idee Xow a memorial is building to the of a large model of a whaleship of late Jonathan Bourne, the most suc- the type of fifty years ago was pre- cessful of all the glorious host of sented to Miss Bourne and met hei New Bedford whaling merchants, by approval. The model grew in dimen- Miss Emily H. Bourne, a daughter. sions as well aiK in general appeal, Thi;-. memorial is no less unique than and at length Miss Bourne added to the industry or the man. The memo- her original land purchase, and a rial has taken form in a splendid building covering greater area than building in a historic neighborhood, was lirst proposed and of greater on the crest of Johnny Cake hill, for height was built to accommodate the whirh the architect, Henry Vaughan replica of the ship. of Boston, found his architectural in- The t'.-aditions of New Bedford's spiration in the old Salem custom history are woven on a Colonial back- house, made famous by Hawthorne. ground and to perpetuate this feel- The cupola which surmounts the ing the museum was designed in the building is a reproduction of the Georgian style, the architecture which cupola on the Salem custom house g.ave the Colonial period to the and surmounted by a vane in the colonies, and of which so many beau- design of a whaler, gives a touch to tiful examples still exist in this city. the skyline which is appropriate and The building is 118 feet long and prepares the visitor for the atmos- .5 7 feet wide; from the ground to the phere which surrounds him upon his top of the copper whaling ship which entrance to the building. swings lightly in the wind above the The great feature of the memorial cupola the height is 9b feet. The is a reproduction of Mr. Bourne's exterior is of red brick and l.'me- favorite ship, the Lagoda, which was stone trimmings with woodwork the most successful of his great fleet. painted white to recall in general This feature is an evolution of an aspect the character of our public idea that has made appeal to the buildings of earlier times. The in- lovers of old New Bedford. The hope terior consists essentially of one large has often been expressed that one of hall extending 50 feet from the en- the old square rigged whaleships of trance floor through two stories to which only a few are left, might be the barrel-vaulted ceiling above. preserved as a museum. The idea -Ground three sides of the great hall wad vague and Impractical, as such at the second floor level is a colon- a vessel would be a constant care, and naded gallery arranged for the re- would deteriorate very fast, while it ception of many exhibits of things would be inaccessable to visitors at percaining to the whaling industry; many seasons. Every time the sug- from this gallery one may .also get a gestion was made its lack of prac- closer view of the rigging and top ticability has been demonstrated, but sear of the large whaling ship which there was the germ of an idea which will be the chief centre of interest lingered. within the building. So when Miss Bourne expressed her Edgar B. Hammond, who was se- pjrpose to build a memorial to her lected to make the plans tor the father, the idea of reproducing a model, found many problems, which whaler again received attention. The he attacked with enthusiasm and the site for the building was selected in work is now well under way. The the rear of the museum of the Old Lagoda will be reproduced in hall Dartmouth Historical society which size. The model's length from her will be its custodian. This situation, figure head to the tip of her stern as we have said, is most appropriate, will be 59 feet, and the measurements on a hill near the water front in from the end of her flying Jibboom that part of the old town where to the end of her spanker boom will stands the Seaman's Bethel, an in- be 89 feet. Her mainmast will be r

< fr. 50 feet in height. The bowsprit will menced to make alter.ations in their be 15 >4 feet long, the fore and main picture, but discovering that the yards 28 feet long. The problem or' whalemen did not agree with each Mr. Hammond can be partly imagineci other more than with the artists, the when it is considered that there mus;: latter published their print for better be special blocks, special metal work, or worse. chain plates, hawser pipes, chocks, The old artisans who worked on windlass, man-rope stanchions, bob whaleships. like the ships, have large- stay eyes, pumps, davits, whale boats. ly gone to their last port. There are rudder hangings and .steering wheel. few men skilled in any branch oJ The first of Mr. Hammond's diffi- whalecraft left. Mr. Hammond has culties came from the fact that there found representatives, however, and was no model or photograph of The summoned them to his aid. There is Lagoda in existence. Her measure- no shipbuilding firm here now. and ments were found at the custom the contract for building the model house and it was known she was a was given to Frank B. Sistare, a f-ush deck vessel and very similar in builder of houses. But William H. all points to the whaling ba^'i; Charl'^s Crook, a master shipbuilder, who W. Morgan which now lies "loulder- worked on the Lagoda at various ing at Fairhaven. excepting that she times, aided Mr. Hammond and will was provided with a billet head bow have a general oversight of the work. in which the lines of a tub were more Several ship carpenters were found closely followed than in the ?dorK.an. and employed by Mr. Sistare. Mr. Hammond found Captain Edward The Lagoda carried seven whale- D. Lewis, who commanded The La- boats. They will be built, half size, goda on three voyages, living at by Joshua Delano, an old whaleboat Utica. Mrs. Lewis, the wife of the builder. Other boatbuilders if pro- captain, sailed on three voyages in vided with designs might build a the whaler, spending ten years of her whaleboat that would defy detection, life aboard the vessel. Captain and but no New Bedford whaleman would Mrs. Lewis were able to supply Mr. venture in them. Hammond with voUiminous informa- Building whaleboats in San Fran- tion as to the details of the bark'.= cisco was tried at the time when New rig—she was unusual in having car- Bedford sent a fleet into the Arctic ried a spencer, for example—the ar- from that port, but the whalemen rangement of her deck and cabin. Mr. would not use them, and the home Hammond has spent days in liunting product was eventually shipped across up and interviewing at every stage the continent as whaleboats have been of the work, old whalemen and ar- forwarded to the isles of the seas tisans who knew The Lagoda. He when a ship has lost her boat. Of- even took the chance of submittin.g ten a vessel has lain idle in a foreign the rigging and .sail plans to a group port for many months, awaiting a of old whaling masters for their O. shipment of boat.s. This idea has fol- K. Anybody who knows the critical lowed through the whaling Ijusiness spirit of the old whalemen will real from the beginning. No whaleman ize what a test Mr. Hammond chose would ever use a tub line that was to apply to his work. The story is made anywhere outside the New Bed- told that when that combination of ford Cordage works. Po-ssibly other artists. Von Beest. William Bradforc' cordage manufacturers could make a and Kobert Swain Clifford, prepared piece of rope just as strong and fine. the sketch of the paintings for the But a bowhead whale worth $10,000 whaling prints of The Chase, The might be held by that rope. The Conflict and The Capture, they pasted whalemen knew the New Bedford company's rope their sketch on a piece of cardboard could be trusted, they didn't know anything about the other leaving a very wide margin and left manufacturer and they never took the it where whalemen were wont to as- chance. The other day a whaleman semble with the request that the.v down south sent to Ed. Cole, a Fair- write criticisms of anything that waf' haven whalecraftsman, for ash poles inaccurate. The whalemen covered for his harpoons. He might have the margin with criticisms and asked found ash poles nearer his destination for more margin. The artists cona- but how could he know they were X o right and trustworthy unless they met air-seasoned oak that would not crack the approval uf a whaling expert? in a heated building, the country Briggs & Beckman will make the around was searched. The quest suc- sails and Frank Brown the whaling ceeded but a price was paid for the guns, harpoons and paraphernalia. oali for the timbers that was about

Men who : have built tryworks will that paid for the finest seasoned quar- build those on the ship and special tered oak used in waincoating. bricks will ibe made to afford the right The model will not be completed proportions. before September. New problems Already the timbers of the hull of with relation to it arise daily, but it is the model are in place in the a labor of love with all concerned and memorial building. The model is it is believed the memorial will quick- founded not on a keel, but on hard ly secure national f.ame. There is a pine "sills!" But they are fastened gallery about the museum where the as in ship building. The bow of the great whaling collection of the Old Lagoda is almost semi-circular. It Dartmouth Historical society will be might be well to correct an impression displayed, the other museum treas- that the model of whaleships were ures being displayed in the old peculiar or distinctive. The models museutn on Water street. of our old whalers were like the mer- chant vessels of the period. In fact the Ijagoda was originally a merchant Jonathan Bourne, for whom this vessel, but she was alinost identical in memorial is built was born in Sand- design with the Charles W. Morgan, wich, Mass., March 25, 1811, and at

built for ai whaler. The bows .were the age of 17, came to this city where necessarily heavy to accommodate the he entered (he store of John B. Tay- old fashiohed windlass construction. lor, remaining there nine month!. The things which different'ate an old Then he went back to Sandwich, spent whaler, in the eyes of the layman, the winter at school, and returning in from a merchantman of contemporary the spring was employed by John period arei the wooden davits from Webster in his store under the Man- which the whaleboats swing, the con sion House. He continued there as struction of the afterhouse on deck clerk and proprietor until IS 4 8 when and the crows' nest. Those versed in he opened the offices in the stone the technique of ships also note the building on Merrill's wharf which he location of a yard on the occupied until his death, Aug. 7, 1889. mizzenmast, and variance in rig- He was an alderman of the city five ging, made neces-sary in order to years, from 1848 to 1852, was a mem- work the sails without complication ber of three national Republican con- with the whaleboats a whaler carries ventions, a member of the executive along the rail. Merchantmen were council for five years, serving under blunt-nosed, originally, and when the Governor George D. Robinson in 1884, first designer turned out a sharp 1885 and 188B and Governor Oliver bowed vessel, there were dire predic- Ames in the years 1887 and 1SS8. Mr. tions that she would run her nose un- Bourne was married on Dec. 2, 1834, der and capsize. When the fast sail- at Fairhaven, by Rev. William H. ing qualities of a vessel with a sharp, Taylor, to Emily Summers Howland, concave bow were demonstrated, the daughter of John and Mercy Nye vogue of the clipper ship arrived. The Howland, who died May 12, 1909 at Lagoda was very blunt forward and the of 9 5. The children were Einily couldn't sail very close to the wind. Howland Bourne, Annie G. Bourne Captain Lewis said the other day that wIto married Thomas G. Hunt. Helen she rarely or never shipped a sea. Church Bourne who married William "She went so fast to leeward," ob- A. Abbe, Hannah Tobey Bourne, who served the captain, "that a sea married Mr. Abbe after the death of couldn't catch her." his first wife. Elizabeth L. Bourne, The model hull will be upbuilded who married Henry Pearce and Jona- from her natural water line when than Bourne, Jr. Of these children moderately loaded and will show there are three now living, Miss Emily about a foot of the copper on her H. Bourne, Mrs. Elizabeth L. Pearce. bottom. As far as practicable, wood and Jonathan Bourne. Jr. The latter of the same kind used in the old ships has served as United States senator will be employed. In order to find from Oregon.

Eenjamin Baker, who entered the 487 Vn barrels sperm oil. 1136 ban els employ of Mr. Bourne in ISSO and re- whale oil, 12,D04 pounds ot whale- mained with him until the close of his bone. The total sales of catch ot the service, still occupies the old counting twenty-four vessels managed at dif- rooms, where he carries on the af- ferent times by Iilr. Bourne, although fairs of the estate. Mr. Baker has not entirely owned by him, aggre- spent his leisure tiine in preparing; a gated $7,986,103.08." record of Mr. Bourne's connection The bark Lagoda, which was, as with the whaling industry, a record of has been stated, Mr. Bourne's favor- great and permanent historical value ite ship, was a vessel of 371.15 gro.^a and the writer is indebted to Mr. Bak- and 352 net tons, 107.5 feet in lengtii. er's record for the facts which follow: 26.8 feet beam and 18.3 feet deep, Mr. Bovirne's first venture in the waa built in Scituate. Mass.. in iJiiO whaling business was the bark Roscoe. by Seth and Samuel Foster. She was of 235 tons which made her first voy- of billet head, square stern, and two age for him under command of Cap- decks. She was probably built tor tain Robert Brown, sailing May 26. tho merchant service. Mr. Bournu 1836 on a South Atlantic voyage and bought her in Boston, Aug. 3, 1841. returning April 9, 1S3V, with a catch In 18 60 he changed her rig from that of 92 barrels of sperm, 1033 barrels of of a .ship to a bark. The Lagoda whale and 11,674 pounds of bone. arrived home June 3, 1886 under There were 22 in the vessel, and all but command of Captain K. D. Lewis and three were Americans. on July 10 of that year was sold by In May, 1S80, at the time Mr. Bak- Mr. Bourne to John McCullough for er entered Mr. Bourne's employ, he $2475, who, in turn, sold her to Wil- was agent for 12 vessels engaged in liam Lewis and others who continued whaling, with none at home, as fol- her in the whaling business, the vessel lows; Schooner Abbie Bradford, Cap- sailing from this port May 10, 18 57 tain Murphy, Hudson Bay; bark Ade- for the Arctic. She was condemned line Gibbs, Captain Besse, Atlantic as unseaworthy Aug. 7, 18'JO at ocean: bark Alaska, Captain Fisher. Yokohama, Japan. Theodore A. Lake Pacific ocean; bark Draco. Captain then being in command. The net Eliza, Reed, Atlantic ocean; bark Cap- profits of twelve voyages made by tain Kelley, Pacific ocean; bark this ve.ssel. covering a period from and Mary, Captain Baker, George Nov. 25. 1843 to July 10. 1886. were Hudsons Bay; bark Hunter. Captain $651,958.99. During these voyages E. B. Fisher, North Pacific ocean; her masters were Edmund Maxfield, Liagoda, Captain E. D. Lewis, bark Henry Colt, James Finch, Asa S. Pacific ocean; bark Napoleon, Captain Tobey, B. B. Lamphier, John I). Wil- Turner, Pacific ocean; bark Northern lard, Zebedee A. Devoll, Charles W. Light, Captain Mitchell, North Pacific Fisher. Stephen Swift and Edward D. ocean; bark President, Captain Chase, Lewis (three voyages). Atlantic ocean; bark Sea Breeze, Of the ten most successful whaling Captain Barnes, North Pacific oceau voyages made by Mr. Bourne's ves- "During the fifty-three years Mr. sels, the bark Lagoda made two, one Bourne was in the whaling business," taking fifth rank in the list and the Mr. Baker says, "his agency covered other tenth. The first of these two twenty-four vessels, with a tonnage voyages was one of forty-six months of 7461 and he had interests iu to the Pacific ocean in 1864-1868, twenty-two others of 7421 tons, a with Captain Charles W. Fisher in total of 14,882 whaling tons. His command: average ownership of 57.47 per cent in the twenty-four vessels managed h> The value of this voyage himself equalled an entire ownershiji was $200,755.68 of nearly fifteen ve.ssels and his Average catch per month . . 4,364.25

per , . . . 145.47 ownership elsewhere brought Iiis total Average catch day

. . 6.06 whaling ownership to the equivalent Average catch per hour of more than seventeen vessels. The The second of the voyages was one twenty-four vessels managed by Mr. of forty-four months, also to the Bourne made 148 voyages, covering Pacific ocean in 1860-1864, under 4421 months, an average per voyage Captain Zebedee A. Devoll, when the

of 2 9.9 months while the average Value of the voyage was . .$138,156.19

catch per voyage of each vessel was Average catch per month . . 3,139.91 Average catch per day .... 10 4.6i; risk. This, Mr. Baker declares, was

Average catch per hour . . . 4.36 the real secret of many a venture of On one voyage only in the vessel's Mr. Bourne's which others attributed history was there a loss, $14,460.47. to "luck." Mr. Baker states that Mr. Bourne Mr. Baker found on the office pay was particularly careful in the selec- rolls 101 ship carpenters, 18 caulkers, tion of the men who should have 21 spar makers, 20 riggers, 65 sail charge of his vessels, upon whom he makers, 13 stevedores, S ship keepers, mutt depend for good results. It 11 coopers, 3 gaugers, 4 oil fillers and was necessary to entrust a whaling 7 whalebone cleaners and bundlers. nia.ster with a vessel and outfits worth With the passing of the whaling in- fro:ii $40,000 to ;fGO,000, with which dustry their occupation has gone. A the master could do as he pleased at few men have survived the occupa- the first foreign port reached. When tions but in a few years there will one of his whaling masters was called be nothing left to remind the people by Mr. Bourne into his inner office of New Bedford of their ancient glory to receive final instructions, Mr. excepting the statue on the square, the Bourne said to him, "Captain, eternal Bourne memorial and the log books, vigilance is the price of success." Thit, was the method Mr. Bourne records and exhibits in the Old Dart- hiniself applied in all his transactions mouth Historical society and Free and provided against every known Public Library. NEW BEDFORD OUTFITTERS.

THE MORNING MERCURY.

With the passing within a year of The present generation remembers the Leander Brightman clothing firm, in a general way how in the latter from business, and the removal of days of the arrival of whaling ves- the J. & W. R. Wing & Co. store sels, runners of various clothing fli-ms from its familiar location on Union were always fir.st to board a whaling street, where it had been established vessel, and how each representative nearly 5 years, the last two firms strove to outdo another in getting which until this year outfitted and down to an incoming whaler first, in fitted whaling crews, the discovery hug the whalemen and tell how glad of the records of "The Outfitters they were to see him back .safe and Association of New Bedford, Mass., sound, give himi the news of his fam- of 1S59," of which Leander Bright- ily and friends, and incidentally to man was the last secretary, seems an get his promise of trade for the firm odd coincidence. he represented. The whalers, few in number, come The "sharks" of the olden whaling and go. But the almost daily arrival days were not much different from of a whaler is only memory, and the those of the present time. perusal of the old record of the Out- According to the old record re- fitters association seems an echo of the cently di.scovered and in the possession past. The incidents which it tells will of a collector of old log books and be remembered by but few, whose as- other whaling records, the facts set sociations carry them back 57 years. forth in the book tell how the one- "Trusts," by that 20th century ap- time fierce competition in the board- pellation, were hardly known 60 ing of vessels was curbed for the years ago, but see if the "sharks or period between the years 1859 and sharkers," as the old record says, the 187.3. expressions of which were strictly On the fly leaf is found the following: tabooed at a penalty of 25 cents for each offence, were not wise in their THE generation. OUTFITTERS ASSOCIATION This old record tells of the or.gan- OF ization of the association in 1S59 and NEW BEDFORD its discontinuance in 1873. In the RECORDS interval, for 14 years, the members MARCH 7th of the organization, which took in 1S59. practically all the firms that did busi- STANDING COMMITTEE: ness with whalin,g vessels, enjoyed the William R. Wing, benefits and profits, the same as the Fra.iklin P. Seabury, William S. Cobc. big firms of these latter days who are Treasurer Frederick Slocum. organized practically on the same — Secretary—David \V. Wardrop. lines, without the constant worry that somebody was getting the better of Skipping a page the following agree- them. ment is found.

This agreement made and entered into by and between the respective parties whose signatures and seals are hereunto atfixed. WITNESSETH** That whereas, the several parties aforesaid, being engaged in the business of outfitters and infitters of seamen in the City of New Bedford, and being desirous of so eondueting said business as to avoid the necessity of night watching for the arrival of ships at this port without losing the chances of a fair and honorable comiietition in the same, have united themselves together under the name and style of "The Outfitters Association of New Bedford," and do hereby covenant and agree to be governed by the following articles of association: FIRST—Every person who shall sign this instrument shall be a member of the association.

SECOND—The officers shall consist of a secretary whose duty it shall be to keep a record of its proceedings, a treasurer, and a standing eonunittee of three persons, 24

members of the association, all of whom shall be elected annuallj- on the first Monday of March in each year, by liallot, at a meeting of the association, to be notified for the jturpose by the secretary by leaving a notice at the place of busi- ness of each member, of the time and place at which snch meeting shall be held, all other meetings of the afsoeiation shall be called by the direction of the standing committee and be notified by the secretary in like manner. THIRD—No ship or vessel arriving at this port, or that of Fairhaven, shall be boarded by any member thereof, or l^y any person in his behalf, at any time between sunset and sunrise, in any part of the bay, river or harbor, until after the arrival of such ship or vessel in the bay, river or harbor, shall have been announced by signal or otherwise, and the party boarding the same shall not start from the shore, for the purpose of boarding such ship or vessel, at a point farther south thau the north side of Hathaway & Luce 's wharf at the foot of Walnut street. FOURTH—For any violation of the third article of this agreement the party violating the same shall forfeit and pay to the treasurer of the association for the use of the association the sum of one hundred dollars. FIFTH—All questions arising out of any ajleged violation of the third article aforesaid shall he determined by the standing committee, who shall certify to the treasurer every case of such violation that shall come to their knowledge, and it shall thereui)on be the duty of the treasurer to proceed and collect such penalty and it is hereby covenanted and agreed by all the parties hereto that the said treasurer shall have a right of action, in his own name, against any member thereof for the amount of said ];enalty, wlin shall have been found by the standing com- mittee, guilty of such violation. For the faithful performance of all the agreements contained in this instru- ment we herebj' bind ourselves eai'h to the other on this seventh day of MarL'h, A. D. IS.iO at New Bedford, aforesaid: . ^ /

^^^^ .^'C^^

From The MoniiiKj Uvnuiii. Very full records of the proceed- thusiastic member went so far as to ings were kept from the start of the include "bottled cider" in the taboo organization until the ciose of D. W. list. All the amendments were car- Wardrop's term of office as secretary, ried. April fl. 1800. when afterwards the Simeon Doane moved not to start mere fact of the annual meeting and from shore in the day time for the the names of the ofBcers elected were purpose of boarding a ship, until it written in the old document. was known such ship had arrived ai Some interesting proceedings were Round Hills. found in the first few jneetings of Captain West was present at this the association. meeting to find out about leaving The flr.st meeting was held at the members on board ship. It was agreed store of Alden Wordell at 10 a. m.. that "all shall return in the boat un- March 7, 1S59, when "the discon- less they stated to the boatman they tinuance of night watching upon the would remain on board. A fixed Point road, .md improving the general charge of 2'j cents was made for each condition of the business," was dis- seaman brought ashore. cussed. F. P. Seabury was chairman At a meeting held Feb. 27, 1860, and D. W. Wardrop secretary. Simeon Doane wanted the privilege The agreeinent a.s given above v/as of boarding the boats when going to drawn up by a committee consisting the ships from the Point road from of William R. Win.g, William S. Cobb sunset until 8:30, instead "of having and T. T>. Williams. The meeting ad- to run his horse up town, it being a journed to 7 p. in. the same day, when matter of serious inconvenience to it was unanimously voted to accept him." This caused a great deal of the report of the committee. Olflcers discussion, but it was finally voted to were elected and a committee appoint- allow N. S. Ellis and S. Doane to ed to secure looms for a meeting place board any boat with association mem- for the association. bers from the Point road from sunset At a meeting March 10th it was to 8:30, but not to board vessels in "agreed to have the members divide their own boats. themselves into squads and arrange It was voted "that the association for watchmen as can be individually hire a watchman whose duty it shall agreed to." It was voted that no be to station himself upon the Point member of the association shall char- road in the vicinity of the lighthouse ter any sailboat that is a common and there watch for ships, the asso- carrier, to go down the river in the ciation to furnish him with a horse night, to the exclusion of any mem- and wagon. When he raises a ship ber of the association. he shall call N. S. Ellis and S. Doane, A room was hired at 767 Union and wait for them, and bring them up street from Harvey Sullings, and it town, and call the rest of the mem- was called .Association hall, the lease bers of the association, and the boat- to run to .Ian. 1st, 1860. man after he has reached his boat, The first report of the treasurer shall wait 1." minutes in order to give showed the receipts were $15 and the time tor all the members of the asso- expenses $17 17, leaving a deficit of ciation to get there. The expenses of $2.8.3. It was voted to have regular the watchman shall be shared between meetings weekly at 7;.30. the members of the association." At a meeting March 11, 18r>'j, it At the annual meeting, March 5th. was voted "not to allow intoxicating 1860 the secetarv charged Nathan liquors on board ships, and to call on S. Ellis of the firm of Taber, Read Captain William West and request & Co., with having violated the third him not to allow any into.xicating article of the association's agreement liquors to be sold, or carried for sale, by starting from his wharf on the in his boat, and that ships should be Point road, and boarding bark Behring boarded quietly and peacefully." An after sunset, on Sunday, March 4th. assessment of $1 was levied on each 1800. member. On March 19th, William R. Wing. At the ne:-;t meeting it was reported AVilliam S. Cobb and J. W. Ellis, the by the committee that was sent to standing committee, reported finding Captain We.st, "that he was willing no possible evidence to sustain the to prohibit the carrying of ardent charge. spirits in his boat for ,sale, and also At the same meeting it was voted ale. if the committee wished him to." not to allow card playing in the sloop It was voted "not to allow any in Richmond, ,Ierrv. Angel, or any other toxicating liquors carried for sale in boats that the members of the asso- slooD Richmond, or any boat that ciation use. T. D. Williams and D. Captain We.st may have charge of W Wardroyi were appointed monitor; when used by the association in the to enforce all regulations. It was also transaction of their business." An seen fit to vote that every member amendment included ale, and one en- of the association constitute himself a member to ijrevent "rowdyism" on tary and at this meeting these names board the boats used by the associa- were found on a slip of paper in the tion. book, they being of members who At this time new rooms were se- seemed to be present at the meeting: cured at 3t) South Water street at Taber, Read & Co., A. H. Potter & an expense of $30 a year. Co.,' William & Doane, Pope & Rich- Hall &• "Worth, ou'.fitter.s wlio were ardson. D. W. Luce, P. D. Slocum, on the outside of tlie association, .lames C. Smith. J. W. Ellis, Alden were ret>orted as havingr violated the Wordell, J. & W. R. Wing &- Co., rules of the association. They werg Cobb, Pope & Co., Slocum, Cunnin.g- invited to join, and declined, but ham & Co., Chase & West, H. Russell, .stated they did not intend to go down Doane & Smith, A. Bullard & Son, A. the river for the purpose of boarding "Wordell. ships, in antagonism to the associa- It seems that the association was tion. reorganized at a meeting held March A committee v.as appointed to wait 7th. 1864, when a new agreement was ship agents to notify the har- upon drawn up, which was almost identical bor pilots of New Bedford not to with the first agreement, excepting carry persons engaged in business, or that :an extra article was added, re- their employes, in their boats when lating to the time when the discon- .^o out to cruise for ships. they tinuance of the association might be 19, 1860. At a meeting March on considered. motion of Mr. T\'ardrop, it was voted: "That any member of the association William R. Win.g was chairman un- using the terms 'sharks, or sharking,' der the reorganization. J. G. W'. Pope durins ;iny meeting of the. or while secretary, and Frederick Peleg Slo- in the rooms of the association, shall cum treasurer. This meeting ad- forfeit and pay to the treasurer of the journed to meet the following year. association, the sum of 25 cents for A dozen lines each covered the next each and every offence, said fines shall few annual meetings, with the same be used for the benefit or expenses of officers elected year after year, and the association." the meetings seemed to have been The secretary added in the records: held around at the different stores of "The chairman (AV. S. Cobb) in the the members. course of his remarks in answer to Leander Brightman was the secre- the committee's question was the first tary of the association for the last person to u?e the obnoxious epithet, two or three years. The last record for which the members held him re- in the old book was in 1872 when sponsible, and demanded the fine. He the officers elected at the annual excused himself, and ruled that the meeting were recorded and the roll law did not go into effect "until we call given as follows: Doane, Swift occupied our new room." The records t Co., J. & W. R. Wing & Co.. J. G. do not say that he had to pay the W. Pope & Co . Alden Wordell, Peleg fine. Slocum i

014 077 894 1 [\ i^-A .%>\

From lilt' Mi, nun, I M,i;,ini. Commodore Morris Figure Head.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

014 077 894 1

Holliog^ pH 8^ MiU Run F03-2193