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Canal Boat Days Although
there is little information on the day to day activities on the canal, we do have several
newspaper accounts of travels upon the canal. Here is one entitled "Five Days behind the mast: or life on the Canal Boat".
This was written by Robert Jordan Dingley and originally published by the Bridgton
Reporter on September 15, 1859.
Note: This article can be a little difficult to read as the author seems to write
from a stream of conciousness. I have chosen to present it as written and make no changes
I travelled on until I reached the wharf where the canal boat lay moored, all laden and
ready to start on the voyage. Long Pond glistened as the morning sun shone upon it, while
the breeze was so gentle as to cause a ripple on her fair blue bosom. At the wharf I found
our editor, who like me had determined to try "a life on the ocean wave", and
was waiting for the crews of the boats to make their appearance. The boatmen came at last,
and here begins my log-book.
Monday, August 29th
Weather pleasant - at 7:30 a.m. I stepped aboard the Green Lake bound for Yarmouth and
Portland. The crew consisted of Capt. Fields, Messers Plummer and Bates. We were
accompanied by the B. Walker, Capt. Gibbs, with the crew, Messers Ballard and Mains, and
the passengers, Messers Lamson (of the Bridgton Reporter), Hall and Weymouth. There was
scarcely and wind, and the two boats went along side by side till we reached the foot of
Long Pond - passed under the draw-bridge, and entered upon Brandy Pond, when the wind
springing up soon crossed and were following the crooked course of the Songo River. Time:
about noon. We passed through the Songo Lock and by the vine covered cottage of Mr.
Woodman and continued our voyage now pushing the boat along with heavy poles and now
setting the sails so as to catch the breeze as we followed the serpentine course of this
river.
The banks of the Songo are coverd with trees and underbrush, with the exception of here
and there a farm, and the channel is so crooked that at one place we sail several miles
and get back to a certain old decayed tree from where we started. Through the river, we
crossed Sebago Lake - under the bridge at the foot of the lake - across the
"basin" - then the head of the Presumpscot River, and entered the Canal. |
The Ben Walker followed a short distance, and
ever and anon the shouts of her jubilant crew were echoed by our own as we passed through
the locks, our glided along silently over the still, clear waters of the canal. We reached
"Gambo" at about sunset. Deep darkness soon settled over the land, and as we
threaded our way through the dark forest, Mr. Plummer, who had had long experience as a
voyager related many thrilling stories of the adventures of the Canal when boating there
was in it's infancy, how he and others had been followed by Catamounts and being met by
other wild beasts; how boat crews had been frightened and fled into the cabins, one night
while following the horse on the towpaths, by seeing a horse without a head coming towards
him bearing some fearfull monster on his back. We contiued on until we reached the
"Seven Locks", where we stopped for the night. Time - 11:30 p.m. Tuesday,
August 30th
Wetaher pleasant. We started at an early hour and reached Portland at 8 o'clock a.m.,
where we found quite a number of boats at the "Guard Lock". I strolled around
the city until afternoon, when in company with B. Walker and Ocean Ranger, Capt. Gammon,
we set sail with a fair wind for Yarmouth. While going down the harbor the three boats
were hitched one behind the others with all sails set, and the boatmen got together and
had a jolly time over figs, cigars and lemonade, which they had provided for the occasion.
But we soon parted company sailed a short distance apart, when Capt. Gammon seated himself
on the bow of his boat and with his clarinet played several spirit stirring tunes. We
passed several islands, on one of which a large picnic party had erected a tent and
appeared to be having a fine time. We passed many vessels and smaller crafts, the latter
of which we looked down upon with upmost contempt, quite forgetting that though they , the
occupants, were humble in their pretentions, yet "a man for a that". We reached
Yarmouth at sunset, having followed with difficulty the narrow crooked channel. The other
boats were not so fortunate, having got stuck in the mud. Soon after arrival we were
pleased to see Mr. Hall coming toward us, he having preceded us by railway. During the
night the tide having risen the two boats arrived and the cargoes on deck were unloaded. |
