Saving Graces

From Gazette editions of February, 1911:

Capt. Samuel Jackson, of Cuttyhunk, a brother of Capts. Levi and Robert Jackson of this place, did gallant rescue work with his boat and crew, participating with another boat in the saving of 20 lives — a life saving crew whose boat had capsized and the crew of the Barkentine Stephen G. Hart, ashore on the ledge of Sow and Pigs.

Patrick Kelly, one of the rescuing party in Jackson’s boat, was with Levi Jackson when one year ago they went out in Jackson’s Priscilla to the daring rescue of Capt. Haskell and Mrs. Haskell and crew of the six masted schooner Mertie B. Crowley, which was wrecked off the south side of Martha’s Vineyard. He was visiting Jackson, and when it was learned of the wreck, the idea of going out with Jackson just appealed to him.

Clam diggers have been making use of the unusually low tides and have secured many bushels of clams. The eel and clam industry has been greatly stimulated by the work which the state has done in digging the sand out of the channel. Daniel B. Flanders, whose individual efforts have largely interested the state to spend some sixty thousand dollars on this work, is certainly entitled to the gratitude of Chilmark. The improvement contemplated was to furnish a harbor for small craft needing shelter. This result has been attained and the circulation of water has been so increased that Menemsha Pond is destined to be a substantial asset to both Chilmark and Gay Head.

These suffragettes are quite a bore.

They’d make us to believe

That Adam wasn’t any more

Than merely “Mr. Eve.”

Bearing the name of the famous Sankaty head of Nantucket, the steamboat Sankaty was launched in the presence of an enthusiastic party of citizens of New Bedford, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, and the U.S. naval officers on duty at the Fore River yards. Various officials of the railroad and steamboat companies in and around Boston were also guests at the launching.

The building of the Sankaty has been made necessary by the extraordinary increase in the summer patronage of the resorts of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The new ship represents the latest achievement in marine construction. A propeller, instead of the side-wheeled method of propulsion, was adopted for the new steamboat, as a result of long study, particularly since the extensive channel improvements have been completed at Woods Hole by the U.S. government. She will be propelled by triple expansion engines of a new type. It is probable that Engineer Orswell will be in charge of the engine at first.

A scene with but very few parallels in its history took place in the hall of the house of representatives when Col. George W. Goethals, corps of engineers and chairman of the Isthmian canal commission, addressed members of congress on the work that has been accomplished under his supervision at Panama. Arrangements were made for him to speak to members of the house and senate on the progress of the canal work.

Not since Charles Stewart Parnell, the Irish political leader, was invited to address the house in 1879 had such an honor been shown any one. Crowded upon the floor of the chamber were representatives, senators, members of the cabinet, justices of the supreme court and wives and daughters of members of both houses of congress. Col. Goethals spoke two hours and was frequently applauded. Stereoptican views with which the address was illustrated were also applauded.

Capt. T.J. Hegarty of the whaling brig Sullivan, after a 30 months whaling cruise in the Atlantic Ocean, has just arrived in. The vessel had very good luck taking in 30 months 3,300 barrels of sperm oil. There was no sickness during the voyage.

A match game of basketball between the high school teams of Vineyard Haven and Nantucket attracted a large crowd in the Nantucket gymnasium on Thursday night. The visiting team greatly exceeded the Nantucket boys in height and weight, and the sting of defeat is greatly lessened by the game fight the home team made to win.

The players from the Vineyard were given a royal good time; they were boarded with families of the home players and will take the impression away that the Nantucket boys are good sports in being good losers. The score of the game was Vineyard Haven 27 to Nantucket 10.

The snowstorms of the past week have made excellent coasting and all the hills have been populated by the “little people,” taking unbounded delight in this winter sport. Sleighing has been enjoyed by many of the older people in these fine moonlight nights.

Compiled by Cynthia Meisner

library@mvgazette.com