Face To The Sea - The Middle Coast 'Georgie' Was Leading Vessel Into New York BY FRED HUMISTON IN 1880, A. M. Smith of (119th In A Series) Portland, one of the largest The "Georgie Willard" was a individual owners of fishing sharp schooner and the fast- craft, was minded to try for est sailer in the haddocker and some of the speed honors. So mackerel fishing fleet. This he had a vessel built in Kenne- was not only due to her mod- bunk, from a model furnished eling and great expanse of sail, by Joseph Dyer. but to her commander, Capt. The "Elizabeth W Smith" George Willard, the outstand- was 82 tons of a new type fish- ing sailing master of his day. ing vessel She was fast, so in During the ten years that he 1882 Capt. Benjamin Spurling was master of the "Georgie", had the 80-ton "Fannie O. she was always the leading ves- Spurling' built from the same sel into New York and Fulton model: She too proved to be a Market. very fast sailer, and in the On her first voyage the mackerel fisheries she stocked "Georgie" had a time signing $24,000 in four months. That on a crew, for the fishermen same year the "Elsie M. Smith" were afraid of her, so sharp was built at Kennebunk, en- were her bows, so little her larged from the same model to dead rise. Even after they 110 tons. She was built for signed on, half her crew lost young Capt. Lincoln Jewett, their nerve and refused to sail. who made a national reputa- The "diving bell" they called tion for himself as her skipper. her, for she was bound to dive Captain "Linc" was consid- deep at the first heavy gale. ered to be the greatest sail- The "Georgie" fooled every- carrier and most skillful helms- body except her builders and man in the entire New England Captain George, for she proved fleet, and as such had become to be one of the very finest a legend in his own lifetime. sea boats, riding out the mean- In two trips to the Bay of est gales like a gull. Moreover, Chaleur, a total of ten weeks the was faster than ever when including coming and going, close-hauled. "Linc" stocked $13,000 worth of fish. The way he handled the "Elsie" was worth watching. For he pushed her under full sail in strong winds and heavy seas with the ease of a yacht, and instead of easing her in, he sailed her in to a dock crowded with vessels, berthing her without mishap, a feat the most experienced sailing mas- ter would not attempt. What manner of men were these fishermen, these "sail- ing masters" who were appar- ently so careless of their own lives and those of their crew, to say nothing of a valuable property that was the vessel itself? Were they exhibitionists, showoffs, and boastful of their ability? Were they rip-snort- ing buckos looking for ap- plause?