From the July 15, 1927 edition of the Vineyard Gazette:
It begins to appear as if Tashmoo water will be the ultimate means of making Martha’s Vineyard as well known as Saratoga Springs or Baden-Baden, in the opinion of Tisbury folks. Tons of the bottled water are being shipped from the Island daily and the demand is increasing rapidly.
While the greater part of this water is being consumed on Nantucket and Cape Cod, inquiries are constantly arriving from points as far west as Chicago and as far south as Florida.
It is strongly hinted by representatives of the bottling company that bottling water is by way of becoming the principal business of the concern, soda rapidly taking second place. Should any other line be added to the bottled soda, it is probably that the company will bottle a mineral water, of which there are one or two valuable springs on the Island.
“A little more time is all that is needed,” they say, explaining that distance prevents the shipment of many small lots to new territory. “As soon as we can send in fair-sized quantities Tashmoo water will be shipped to the western and southern people who are clamoring for it, and that time is nearly at hand.”
This report of the company is very pleasing to many, particularly up-Island people, who have long expressed the belief that certain sections of the Island are wonderfully adapted for sanitariums and health resorts. The purity of Island water thus being made known by the sale of that from Tashmoo Springs is bound to arouse the interest of members of the medical profession, in the opinion of a large number of Islanders.
Two strangers who bore all the earmarks of recently acquired prosperity, canvassed at least a part of Oak Bluffs during the holiday week in search of persons willing to take a long, long chance. Conversation overheard in a Circuit avenue store revealed the fact that the snappily-dressed but horny-handed gentlemen were a brand new type of bootlegger.
They were not selling hootch, redeye, shine, or the “real stuff.” No indeed. But they had a bunch of tickets upon which a group of fantastic code words appeared. If a person was willing to loosen up to the extent of 23 iron men, the strangers would give him full directions for gaining possession of a case of contraband liquor.
The ship upon which this liquor was supposed to be was so close that “you’d be surprised to learn how easy it is to get there.”
The two men, while not boasting, declared emphatically that secrecy was unnecessary in pursuing their business as no law could touch them. They had no liquor in their possession and as for the tickets, let anyone read them if he could.
It is not known how extensive their canvas was, or whether anyone took a chance on their honesty and parted with 23 dollars. Judging from the attitude of those who met the men, it seems unlikely that they found many customers.
Roger Amidon will probably gain the distinction of being the first civilian airplane pilot of Martha’s Vineyard. For some time he has been receiving instructions at the Boston Air Port and thus far has spent 44 hours in the air.
On his last flight about two weeks ago in company with Capt. G. H. Moir he operated a plane for 14 consecutive hours at a height varying between four and ten thousand feet and traveling about 400 miles to sea.
Amidon carried a radio instrument with him and picked up various messages from ships and also from Commander Byrd who was at that time making his flight across the Atlantic.
The prospect of airplane service between the Vineyard and mainland by one or more companies has stimulated Mr. Amidon’s interest in aviation and while he declines to discuss his plans it is inferred that he expects to be connected with the air service in an active capacity.
Luck is still lying a few fathoms offshore of the Bight traps, but the rest of ‘em have done quite a bit of fishing. Bonito are running the best in years and of a very good size. There were some scup and sea bass, too, and a few butters and mackerel.
These trapped mackerel, while always standing up better than gilled ones, are not as good as those seined or drailed. Being pursed with squid affects them in some way which causes them to soften sooner than the others, and squid are quite plentiful just now. It’s a queer thing, but very noticeable in the markets according to the lads behind the ice mills.
Everyone is glad to see the “jacks” coming back, and really they have arrived. Two big schools were seen on Saturday, one on the Bridge and another outside of the “Head.” Henry J. Cleveland, veteran handliner, wants to know what they will bite at.
Each year for the past three there has been a big increase in the catch of scup, bonito and bluefish and while the catch thus far this season is not anything like what the boys used to do years ago, still it’s a darned sight better than any recent year, and the quantities of small fish hold a promise of even better days to come.
Compiled by Hilary Wallcox
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