We are informed that at a meeting composed of the Directors of N. B. & T. B. R. R., together with the officers of the Boston & Providence Rail Road, and some influential capitalists of this and other cities, it was resolved to order the building of a first-class steamboat of 360 tons buthen, to ply between this city and Nantucket. As the Massachusetts is to be placed on the route between Nantucket and Hyannis, an arrangement like this is rendered absolutely necessary to supply the wants of the traveling public, as well as our business men who have relations with the Island.
The new and beautiful steamer Metacomet, which is to ply between this place and Fairhaven, arrived here, on her first trip, Thursday afternoon. As the Metacomet rounded the East Chop, a cannon was fired as a signal of her approach; and as she entered our harbor, a salute of fifty guns, and the hearty cheers of our people, welcomed her arrival among us.
“There is a point beyond which forbearance ceases to be a virtue,” and we think the people of Martha’s Vineyard have, long since, exceeded that point. To be sure you have cursed yourselves; you have waited patiently for “something to turn up,” until your patience has become supineness, and you have no one to blame but yourselves. But the Vineyard has just began to awaken from this morbid state, and has put forth a hand to help itself. One of the best efforts ever made upon this island has just been put into effective operation.
Our little boat has now been performing duty upon her route for one week, and we can confidently state that the public, generally, are satisfied with her accommodations. Although a “little boat,” and, perhaps will be many times during two months of the coming season over-burdened, yet taken throughout all the year, for all practical purposes, she will be found to be a “love of a boat.” Her commander, Capt. John L. Gibbs, pronounces her to be a good seaboat, and one that will do good service for the Vineyard people.
Bearing the name of the famous Sankaty head of Nantucket, which was bestowed upon her by a New Bedford girl, the steamboat Sankaty was launched from the Fore River yards at 12:05 Thursday, Feb. 2d, 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.
Crashing together in the dense fog Monday morning the steamers Miramar and Gay Head sustained serious damage. The collision came off Mosher’s Ledge, outside New Bedford harbor.
The upper-works of the Miramar were smashed and she was battered in only a short distance above the water-line. It is probable that the presence of mind and prompt action of both captains avoided a serious accident. As it was there were no serious injuries and the damage to the boats is the only result of the crash.
In just four and one-half months from the time her keel was stretched on Nov. 10 last, the steel steamer Nobska, built for the New Bedford, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket steamboat line of the New England Steamship Company, was launched at 12:43 Tuesday afternoon by the Bath Iron Works, Ltd., at Bath, Maine.
From this day forth the Islander and the Nobska are but names, not boats. The Islander becomes the Martha’s Vineyard, the Nobska the Nantucket. Deputy Collector of Customs Duffy of the port of New Bedford has announced that on application of the New England Steamship company the change of names for the vessels has been approved by the commissioner of navigation. The third new steamer of the line will be the New Bedford. Thus are honors distributed with mathematical precision between the ports of call of the Island line.
Christened with a smile, by Miss Alice C. Seaver, the New Bedford, the latest addition to the fleet of the N. B., M. V. and N. Steamboat Co., took to the water Saturday. With her flags flying in the sunshine she slid from the ways at the fore River shipyard at Quincy before an audience of several hundred.
Two tugs awaited the steamer which slid smoothly down the ways, and within two minutes they had lines aboard the vessel. They towed her to a nearby dock, where she was tied up until after luncheon was served to the launching party, which then proceeded to inspect the steamer.
Ferry boat service will link Martha’s Vineyard with the mainland within a few days time, according to an announcement made by Charles S. Norton, director of the New England Steamship company, yesterday.
The ferry, which has become necessary because of the greatly increased automobile traffic, will operated between Vineyard Haven and Woods Hole in connection with the regular New Bedford, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket steamship line, supplementing that service on a regular schedule timed between the trips of the larger steamers.
