THE OLDEST BARGE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 25, 30 January 1932, Page 23

THE OLDEST BARGE

: There is a fascination about, barges which the average man cannot resist. Whether watching their slow sailing down canal, river, or by seashore,: or the apparent unhurried loading or unloading when at anchor, there always seems an air; of satisfaction about a: barge and a good humour which Mr. "W. W. Jacobs-has done his best to spread abroad. , ~ -

'■Mr. Frank' G. G. Carr has written a book'at:last. all about barges. It is entitled "Sailing Barges," and;tells of their history, their construction, their adventures, famous bargemen, barges as yachts, and methods of sailing; in fact, all tlK>se things about barges which tho ordinary man is vague about, says a London paper.. ■ . Mr. Carr, for example, tells the following story concerning the oldest barge still in'service in England:—"This is the Favourite, belonging to Messrs. Smeed, Dean, and Co., Ltd., of Sittingbourne. I am indebted to Mr. George Andrews, who has had. a long connection with that firm, for the following detailed account. She is in many respects, the most interesting sailing vessel now' under way. "The Favourite was built in 1803, is still in first-class condition, and larger and more valuable than when originally built.- As a result of a collision, she was rebuilt aft in about 1870, and had a Tounded stern of the ordinary modern pattern built into her. Many years later, in 1898, she was sunk by a steamer, which cut awav_ her swim, head.

REMARKABLE CRAFT

and when raised she was rebuilt with an ordinary round.bo,w< Quite"; a considerable part of the original hull remains, however, in the middle of the barge; she isj as before stated,: in excellent condition, and engaged regular^ ly in the cement and dry goods trade, where it is essential that a barge shall' carry her cargo without any risk of wetting it.?.' ;K. ' .■: •:. ■ ■'~', ■' "-.

.- The old barge's history has'been as eventful as it ;is long. . . Her' • most eventful trip was when the late Samuel Gorf was master. ".,..,While at sea,. the mate, who was. the only other, member of the crew,,. developed' -Bieiital trouble, which later on made him an inmate of the Chatham Asylum. • "The-passage from the Yorkshire coast across the Deeps and round' the Norfolk coast was a terrible time' for Captain Gorf. He had locked his mate in the cabin below, and for forty-eight hours he was unable to leave the helm. From Yarmouth, working his tides, he was able to navigate to SheernesW. During the whole passage he was virtually single-handed, and had tho added responsibility of having to look- after his mate; and to keep him under control. ... ■.■■-■■•■■

"During the many years that Sam Gorf had the Favourite he did much beach work with her. He would1 place her r on any shore from South wold to Brighton with cargoes of bricks'or, of road materials; the conditions being that, the .cargo jnu&t.be. cleared in onu tide. She freighted hundreds ot cargoes, |