Footnotes to Long Island History
James Parks Ships Pilot of Early
Days
by
Thomas R. Bayles
James Parks
was born in Mystic Bridge, Conn., in 1844 and when a small boy showed a
great interest in the water, and after a trip on his father's smack,
decided he wanted to be a seaman. When only ten years old he was hooked
on his fathers vessel, and as he said, was old enough “to life the cook
pot on to the galley stove.” When only a boy of about 18, he secured a
position as assistant on the Stratford Shoal lightship, where he
remained for ten years.
About 1873
the little steamer “Brookhaven,” with H. G. Davis as captain, began to
run across the Sound to Bridgeport from Port Jefferson, and Mr. Parks
became its pilot. After several years running across the Sound in all
kinds of weather, and always making port safely, a larger boat was
required and the “Favorite” was put into service, until 1884 when the
“nonowantuc” was build and operated on this route with Mr. Parks as
pilot. He could tell many thrilling tales of his experiences running
across the Sound in all kinds of weather during the 19 years he was in
charge of the steamers. In all that time he lost but a half dozen
trips, and during that time was icebound many times; aground in exposed
places, and had all the experiences that make up the life of a sailor.
He estimated that he had crossed the Sound 13,000 times during his life,
more trips probably than any other man.
He said the
roughest trip he ever made was one day in the fall of 1889. On arrival
at Bridgeport he found that the City of Richmond, of Hartford, had put
into Bridgeport harbor for safety. They did not meet any boat on their
trip over from Port Jefferson, but the steamer Nonowantuc came through
safely.
He told about
standing on the bow of the Brookhaven and harpooning porpoises, and in
cold weather shooting ducks as they flew across the bow of the steamer
and picking them up with a crab net as the steamer passed. People in
Port Jefferson recalled how the steamer Idlewild foundered off Shippen
Point near Stratford, Conn. In a storm in February 1887, and a boat with
nine men put off from the steamer. All were drowned and Mr. Parks
helped in recovering some of the bodies. The same storm drove the
schooner Oriole ashore off Wading River, and the Nonowantuc went to her
assistance. It was here that Mr. Parks received his first injury, and
while working on the stranded schooner, a hatch fell on him and broke
three of his ribs. The same winter he assisted in getting the schooner
Sea Bird off the shore near Baiting Hollow.
The material
in this article has been taken from one appearing in the Port Jefferson
Times on Nov. 4, 1891, telling about Mr. Parks and his various
experiences on the water.