302 THE ISLAND OF NANTUCKET. 



The " Marco Bozzaris " was commanded by Capt. 

 E. H. Barker, a nephew of Jacob Barker; and a gentle- 

 man who was the only passenger on the steamer dur- 

 ing her first trip to New Bedford from this port stated 

 to the compiler that in attempting to enter New Bed- 

 ford Harbor, Capt. Barker ran the steamer upon some 

 rocks, and was so chagrined at his mishap that he 

 begged his passenger and also his crew not to men- 

 tion the circumstance, which they conscientiously re- 

 frained from doing until the captain himself told the 

 story. 



The " Marco Bozzaris " was followed successively 

 by the " Telegraph," " Massachusetts," " Island 

 Home," " Eagle's Wing," and " River Queen." 



In 1875 two of our most skilful young mechanics, 

 Wm. F. Codd and Wm. M. Robinson, — the latter 

 died in 1879, only twenty-six years of age, — conceived 

 the idea of building a little excursion steamer. They 

 succeeded admirably in their undertaking, and the lit- 

 tle propeller " Island Belle," which has for several 

 years made regular trips to Wauwinet, was the result 

 of their united labors. She is beautifully modelled, is 

 thirty-six feet long, and can carry safely sixty passen- 

 gers. She has an upright engine of eight horse-power, 

 and was designed and built entirely by these two young 

 men, who are deserving of great credit. 



Previous to the building of the '• Island Home," the 

 "Massachusetts*' had been withdrawn from the New 

 Bedford route and placed on the Ilyannis route, at 

 which place connection was made with the Cape Cod 

 Railroad. 



In 1855 the old " Massachusetts " was withdrawn 



