Public Conveyances. 



247 



the trip was one hour, and she was considered, the fastest boat 

 in Boston Harbor. The rivalry between the " Nantasket " and 

 « Nelly Baker," the 

 Nahant boat, was very 

 great. Both boats left 

 on their afternoon trip 

 at the same hour 

 through the summer 

 months, and brushes 

 between these boats, 



as far as Deer Island, were frequent. The writer, on one occa- 

 sion, was on board the " Nantasket " when she was running so 

 closely alongside the " Nelly Baker," both boats being at full 

 speed, that a deck-hand of the "Nantasket" jumped aboard the 

 " Nelly Baker " and back again. Those who deprecate racing in 

 these later days hardly realize how spirited were the contests then. 



In the "Mayflower" and "Nantasket" days there was much 

 sociability and enjoyment on the trips among the passengers. It 

 was a daily meeting of intimate acquaintances and friends. The 

 merry jest went round and stories were told, giving life and ani- 

 mation to the trip. In later days, with more people and more 

 boats, each one feels less obligation to his neighbor, and it is 

 more common to see the man of business absorbed in his daily 

 newspaper. 



The landing in Hingham, until 1869, was the common centre 

 for all the neighboring towns, as well as Hingham, and it was 

 no uncommon sight, on the arrival of the boat, to see the pier 

 crowded with vehicles, which stretched away almost up to the head 

 of the wharf. The bustle was great as the South Scituate and 

 Rockland House stages and the other public and private carriages 

 rolled off, loaded with their merry companies o r passengers. 



In 1862 the " Nantasket " was in government employ in the 

 South, and during a part of that season the company put upon the 

 route the steamers " Gilpin " and " Halifax," the latter a " stern- 

 wheeler." The " Nantasket " resumed her trips in the autumn 

 of 1862, for a short time, when she was sold to the United States, 

 to be used as a transport steamer during the war of the Rebellion. 

 Another new boat was then built for the company, at Brooklyn, 

 N. Y., and named " Rose Standish." She had a saloon on the 

 upper deck, where her predecessors had been open. She arrived 

 in Hingham July 11, 1863, and began her regular trips July 13. 

 She was commanded bv the following : — 



1803 — Capt. Alfred L. Rouell. 



1864 — Capt. A. W. Calden. 



Capt. H. C. Mapes. 



1865 — Capt. Samuel Easterbrook. 



1866 — Capt. George F. Brown. 

 1867-68 — Capt. Charles E. Good. 

 And others in later years. 



