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Show MAINE'S "APPLE-TREE FLEET Antiquated Coasting Vessels Have Earned Peculiar Name Amusing Amus-ing Story in Connection. "The humorists 'long shore call them the 'apple-tree fleet,' " writes Holman Day, "because their skippers intend tc keep them on the safe side of the sea faring or seafearin', as the aforesaid humorists insist; so carefully on the safe side that they do not venture of! shore far enough to lose sight of the apple trees." The "apple-tree fleet' consists of certain antiquated coast ing vessels that run cargoes from Maine into the New England ports Many of these relics date back foi nearly a century; one or them, the Polly, was a privateer in the war oi 1812. Many are the amusing stories which the author tells of these ships and their skippers. One Capt. Skibles sailed from Thomastown with a cargo of lime, but. found a dull market in Chesapeake bay. "I know what I'll do," said Capt Skibles to himself. "I'll put on my best clothes and go up to Washington and see President Andrew An-drew Jackson." The captain did so, and was admitted to the White House, arid, with his "plug hat" under his arm, thus delivered himself: "President "Presi-dent Andrew Jackson, esquire, I have called to pay my respects to a man I admire, and to say that I shall continue con-tinue to vote for you as long as you live. And not to take up any more of your valuable time, I want to ask you if you have any use in your business, busi-ness, or in the business of the United States, for a cargo of Maine lime?" The president bought it for the navy 1 yard. Harper's Weekly. |