Kathleen Of The Outer Banks Read online

  Author

  Captain Gardner Martin Kelley

  175 K7 Lane

  Newport N.C. 28570

  Edited by

  Big Jim Kelley

  Terry Kelley

  252-241-7641

  Kathleen

  of the

  Outer Banks

  Svenska Flicker’s Great Love Story

  by

  CAPT. GARDNER MARTIN KELLEY

  AuthorHouse™

  1663 Liberty Drive

  Bloomington, IN 47403

  www.authorhouse.com

  Phone: 1-800-839-8640

  © 2012 Capt. Gardner Martin Kelley. All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

  Published by AuthorHouse 1/10/2012

  ISBN: 978-1-4685-3229-6 (sc)

  ISBN: 978-1-4685-3227-2 (e)

  ISBN: 978-1-4685-3228-9 (hc)

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2011963063

  Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

  and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

  Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

  This book is printed on acid-free paper.

  Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

  Contents

  Preface

  Foreword

  Cast of characters

  List of Chapters

  Synopsis

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  About the Author

  Preface

  The tale of “Kathleen of the Outer Banks” follows the tale of “Blackbeard, the pirate vs. The Outer Banks Boy from Nowhere” by several years. The ship log used to record events that took place over the years was more accurate of the events than the dates.

  The years passed and shipwrecks were less frequent. There was enough however that there were always boards from the wrecks to build homes. The old man had built a Charleston S.C. style house with columns. The old poop deck fortress was now well hidden behind the big house, along with the stable that housed the fine pair of carriage horses.

  In his old age, the old man was proud of his home and his accomplishments. He sent to New England for a ship load of supplies to spruce up the neighborhood. Enter Captain Kelley and the schooner “LIZZIE MAE”.

  The Captain of the “LIZZIE MAE” was pleased to receive the delivery order. With steam shipping now taking over the trade routes, he had let most of his crew drift away. With Chips, he sailed the schooner with only his two old men that were his grandfather’s brothers. They were aboard, rather than staying at Snug Harbor’s retirement center.

  Four weeks to the day after he had filled the order. The white sails were seen as with an act of bravery and good seamanship, he sailed his ship through the inlet. The white sails against the blue sky reminded Kathleen of the story of “Kathleen of the Outer Banks” that her grandmother had told her. The white sails were her “White Charger” and the Captain would be her “Prince Charming”.

  The schooner was turned into the wind and anchored as the sails were lowered. There were shouts and cheers of approval heard coming from the watching people. There was soon a welcome group that rowed out to the schooner.

  In the few days taken to unload the goods the Captain and Kathleen discovered that they were in love. The needle in the barometer predicted a storm was coming up from the Caribbean. The ship had to have sea room to out sail or maneuver around the storm. A quick marriage ceremony was performed and the schooner sailed with the fair tide out the inlet.

  The now old Patriarch watched the schooner departing from his seat high on the old poop deck and he was happy. He thought how far he had come from his early arrival here as “The Outer Banks Boy from Nowhere”. He decided that all was well with the world.

  The End

  Foreword

  A Sailor is Born on a Winter Morning

  The wild wind was from the southeast and threatening to bring snow. The ninety five foot Maine coastal schooner “LIZZIE MAE” hove into the wind under the light of the hundred foot tall tower of Boon Island Lighthouse. In the lee of the island with her sails reefed she was able to maintain a fairly smooth position. The vessel could not be anchored as she had to be ready to sail off if the winter wind veered.

  Boon Island Ledge, just beyond the scope of the bright light from the tower was too close for any relaxing of vigilance at the wheel.

  Captain Harry Milton Kelley let the schooner move ahead on first the post tack and then pointed the bow directly into the wind. The vessel dropped back toward the rough rocky ledge. When the wash of the waves showed off the rocks the schooner was allowed to fall off on the starboard tack toward the light tower ahead. This procedure was followed for four hours on the night of January nineteenth, 1913.

  The waves battered and the wind blew and the crew fought the elements of the winter storm. God must have closed his ears to the cursing of the captain against the wind. In the early morning of January 20, 1913 the captain’s wife had his son Gardner M. Kelley. The wind dropped to a good sailing breeze simultaneously with the screams from below.

  The “LIZZIE MAE” with her new crewman aboard sailed clear of Boon Island and headed for Portland Head Lighthouse. With the fair wind the Captain could now entrust the steering wheel to the old ship carpenter “Chips.” The old man had acted as midwife with the help of the cook, he was happy to relieve the captain at the wheel. The below deck cabin kept warm with a pot-belly wood stove and the duty that he had to perform had tired him out.

  Chips assumed the chore that was necessary. He was a very old man and was a good sailorman, always ready to do his part, just as the captain had done his part by staying at the wheel to keep the schooner from disaster. Now the captain was free to go below to the cabin and comfort his wife and hold his son.

  Chips watched as sparks showed around the “Charlie Noble” (smoke stack) indicating that the stove was being fed a supply of fire wood, he saw the smoke waft away to leeward.

  All was well with the world, the captain had his son. Chip watched Cappi grow and after another son was born, Eva moved ashore to live with “Gram” to take care of Cappi’s 2 year older sister and the new son. Cappi as his father insisted that he was to be called became Chips to be in charge of.

  The boy learned fast and the years just seemed to fly. The Maine built schooner sailed into ports from Eastport to Boston. The overnight stop overs at the ports were often for fun along the way. Cappi was often embarrassed by the attentions his father gave to young women. He blamed it on the frequent appearance of “John Barleycorn.” Never the less, Cappi wan
ted freedom. He wanted a ship of his own.

  The frequent indiscretions of his father along with the promiscuousness of the young women and girls allowed aboard helped to make Cappi a high minded sort. He wanted a ship of his own and went about the ways to get one. At nineteen he sat for his first captain’s license. He got his own ship, but not as he had expected.

  His father and several local basketball players were in the Machias Hospital down with rheumatic fever. He took over the family business, namely the “LIZZIE MAE”.

  Cappi’s grandfather had several brothers. Judd and Emery had just laid up the old “MARGUERITE” and were at loose ends. Cappi did not know of Judd’s early days, only that he was a licensed captain. Emery had spent most of his life at sea, away from home for long stretches of time. He had a large family of five boys, now young men. Five girls, aged from grown up to the most recent one about ten.

  Emery shipped aboard a three master sail boat and though he sent money home, he never returned. He and Judd were pleased to accept a proposition from Cappi to come aboard the “LIZZIE MAE” with him.

  In these lean times there would be no set wage, but good grub and keep as long as the schooner sailed. Both of the old men said, “Better than an old sailor’s home.”

  Cast of characters

  Capt. Kelley goes by Cappi - Husband of Kathleen.

  Kathleen Olsen Kelley – Wife of Cappi, known as the wild Svenska Flicker.

  Chips -The old ship carpenter; mid wife at Cappi’s birth aboard the “LIZZIE MAE” a Maine coaster schooner.

  Judd & Emery - Crew of the Maine coaster schooner. Both of these brothers of Cappi’s grandfather hold captains licenses.

  Doctor B.W. Taylor - A later arrival on the scene, crew member on the schooner the “LIZZIE MAE” as the surgeon doctor.

  List of Chapters

  Chapter 1 - Kathleen of the Outer Banks

  Chapter 2 - Outer Banks Oyster Roast

  Chapter 3 - Married and in Love

  Chapter 4 - Changes Aboard

  Chapter 5 - Sailing Down the Ocean Track

  Chapter 6 - Fair Winds and Blue Water

  Chapter 7 - Loading Molasses

  Chapter 8 - The Big House

  Chapter 9 - Homeward Bound

  Chapter 10 - New London, Connecticut

  Chapter 11 - Havana

  Chapter 12 - Dancing in the Moonlight

  Chapter 13 - New York City

  Chapter 14 - Yachting

  Chapter 15 - Tragedy Strikes

  Chapter 16 - Snug Aboard

  Chapter 17 - The Careen

  Chapter 18 - A Loss to the Whole Wide World

  Chapter 19 - A New Member of the Crew

  Chapter 20 - The Doctor’s New Plan of Action

  Chapter 21 - The “SOUTHERN CROSS”

  Synopsis

  Kathleen Olsen called Svenska Flicker by her grandmother is of Swedish stock. The two Olsen’s are from Svenska grandfather’s wrecked sailing schooner.

  The old grandmother wants better than a shack on these beautiful outer banks sea shore. She wants her to have the whole world as she did sailing with her husband. Kathleen is guarded well, not allowed to run loose as are many of the young girls of the banks. She is pure and innocent when a young captain flaunts his skill and daring to bring his schooner, white sails full into the inlet.

  Kathleen sees the captain and his ship, as her prince charming on his white charger. It was love at first sight and the romance blossoms. Married, the lovers sail on and on.

  She dances in the moonlight to the music of the bosun’s fiddle. Her young captain and his old men crew are so enthralled by her dancing that they all love her.

  Then Svenska shows a wild streak in her so demure ways and has to be punished. All is forgiven, the crew was happy. Then tragedy strikes, Kathleen dives from aloft in the rigging and hits the rail. Broken and bloody she is almost feed for the sharks.

  After the hospital, a hurricane forces an emergency departure of the area. Bunk ridden Kathleen is cared for by her loving young captain and the old bosun, he loves her as the daughter that he never had.

  Kathleen tries to kill herself; she wants to set her young husband free to live a life without an invalid wife. Captain Kelley saves a man from being killed by muggers while docked in New York. It is necessary to bring the man aboard. He is put on a drying out cure, when it turns out that he was once a famed surgeon turned into a drunk, he is signed on as ship doctor. He tends and studies Kathleen and becomes a non-drinking doctor. Months later as a skilled surgeon again, he operates to repair Kathleen’s ailments.

  The good doctor is so pleased and once more acclaimed. He makes the down payment on a small freighter for the man that saved his life and the little lady that gave him back his confidence.

  The captain and his faithful old men crew would be able to pay their bills while living an easier life on the steamship. “She will dance tonight,” he thought. The good doctor waved good bye as the small freighter weighed anchor. Kathleen was tucked under her captain’s arm as the ship turned into the sinking sun.

  Chapter 1

  Kathleen of the Outer Banks

  The old grandmother sat in the sand watching over the swimming frolicking children. It would have made a great subject for a painting by Norman Rockwell. The small waves washed up and flowed back down the smooth sand beach as it had been doing for hundreds of years. A lone conch shell with a hole worn by the constant wash up and down was an ever supplying ingredient to the beach.

  The woman was keeping a watch over all, but it was very evident that her reason for being here was to protect the blue eyed girl from harm. There were other blue eyes, though none had the shiny white tresses of her granddaughter.

  The girl walked from the water through the sand to the drying towel that was waiting for her. She carried a large live conch that would serve as the main course of their evening meal. The ease of getting food was the main reason that Mr. Olson had decided to settle here after the loss of his ship.

  The old woman stopped at the rain barrel and with a large shell used for this purpose, scooped fresh water to wash the salt water out of the hair of the girl. Later she would comb and brush it to a shiny luster.

  There were only two left of the Olson survivors and the grandmother was worried for the girl. She wanted more than a shack here on the banks for her, easy as this life was. She wanted her Svenska Flicker to see the world.

  Soon after dark under the glow of the kerosene lamp the grandmother read from the dog eared pages of two books. She had brought them with her from the ship in a huge carpet bag. The bag was also heavy with money from Olson’s trading ventures. The old woman, much younger then and stronger, let no one suspect how heavy it was. The money inside doled out when necessary and had paid their way over the years that followed.

  Kathleen loved the stories from the books. One told of her prince charming and how he would come for her riding on his white charger. The story the girl liked the best did not come from a book. This one was told with the grandmother’s emphasis. Her mother shouted and screamed as had been done against the wind that night aboard the ship so many years ago.

  The waves were bashing the ship to pieces; the yawl boat was crushed and lost. The last of the flares were gone into the murky overhead mist.

  Kathleen’s mother had shouted for her mirror to be bought up from her cabin. The mirror was thick, heavy and five feet tall by two feet across. Olson hesitated to do as she wanted. She whirled and screamed, her long blond hair streaming in the wind. The light ray’s from the tower was catching it in its glow. Captain Olson got the message. The mirror was placed so that the light reflected back to the station. Alerted, the lifeboat crew rowed to the lee of the ship to make the rescue.

  The old woman really got excited as she narrated how her daughter refused to go to the lifeboat. “Not unt
il my mirror is aboard,” she said.

  The Coast Guard officer in charge was anxious to be away while the wreck made a lee for the smaller boat. In desperation he acceded to her demand. Grandmother looked with affection at the big mirror even now reflecting the glow of the kerosene lamp.

  Another year had passed. Kathleen, her grandmother’s Svenska Flicker was shaping up nicely. The older boys and young married men constantly ogled her. No matter how hard they tried to get her off alone, either when swimming or dancing, her grandmother was there. The dance floor was a large piece of ship deck that had floated ashore on an extra high tide. This was a gathering place for the youngsters.

  The old woman had seen too many young girls slip off to the bushes with their boyfriends and into trouble. She wanted more for her Svenska Flicker than a shack here on the banks with a boodle of kids. She wanted her girl to see the world and its wonders and have a true love.

  Kathleen saw the white sails against the blue sky. Was this the white charger bringing her prince charming? The schooner under full sail came through the inlet.

  It was an act of bravado, showing off his seamanship to the swimming children and the crowd gathered on the bank near the inlet. It must have been some time since this place had a ship visit from the size of the crowd.

  It was a beautiful day with a good breeze for sailing. Cappi with the three old sailormen were all in the mood for showing off. The vessel made it through the inlet and headed into the wind. Down came the jibs. Stern way was next and Chips let the anchor drop to bottom. The watchers on the shore gave a combined shout and clapped their hands in appreciation of a job well done.

  The “LIZZIE MAE” with Captain G.M. Kelley at the helm after coming in the inlet under sail. Photo credit by: Jeremy D’Entremont

  Most of the swimmers and several small boats and canoes filled with well-wishers were soon alongside or already aboard. The kids used this opportunity to try dives from heights never before tried.