| 2. | William Irwin CONARY was born on 6 Aug 1873 in Deer Isle, Hancock, Maine (son of William Wallace CONARY and Frances Susan “Fannie” WESCOTT); died on 4 Jan 1958 in Deer Isle, Hancock, Maine; was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Sunshine, Hancock, Maine. Other Events:
- Noteworthy: Yacht master for Joseph Pulitzer (yes, that one)
- Occupation: Yachtsman, Master of Pulitzer yachts
- Census: 1880, Deer Isle, Hancock, Maine
Notes:
Joseph Pulitzer II and the Post-Dispatch: A Newspaperman's Life
By Daniel W. Pfaff
Published by Penn State Press, 1991
page 149
Except for inclement days, most afternoons were spent on the yacht, which from 1924 until the war was the 75-foot schooner Discoverer he had built at a cost of $53,000. Captain William I. Conary of Deer Isle, Maine, was her skipper, with a crew of four. Pulitzer had employed Conary for a number of years to run and care for his smaller boats. In fact, Conary had taught him how to sail. Pulitzer regarded the man as a friend as much as an employee, and as something of a practical political philosopher who could help him stay in touch with the attitudes of working-class Americans. His daughter Kate Davis remembered the two men often having long talks out on the water, her father asking questions and listening intently to Conary’s views on issues of the day. After Conary retired on a pension provided by his employer, Pulitzer hired his nephew, Maynard Conary, to run the yachts Troubador and Victoria, Discoverer’s smaller successors. Pulitzer turned over Discoverer to the Coast Guard in 1942 for use as a patrol boat against possible submarine attacks on the coast. She was returned after the war, stripped of her luxurious appointments and damaged by fire. Pulitzer accepted a $12,000 settlement from the government and sold the boat for $4,900.
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“Maine Retired Skippers Race” history:
The third race (1954) found thirteen old skippers ready to start from Seal Harbor on September 11, but the night before, hurricane Edna had passed through raising havoc with the coast. Five yachts made it to the starting line "Sea Dust" - Capt. Len Young of Bar Harbor; "Sylph" - Capt. Shirley Bowden; "Dipper" - Capt. Leroy Greenlaw" ; "Arundel" - Capt. Bill Black (age 73); and "Cirrus" - Capt. William Conary (age 81); and 0 sailed a 20 mile course around Baker Island ending in Somes Sound. Large and small craft braved the large swells from Edna. Hundreds lined the highway along the east shore of the sound as the boats approached the finish of the 62 hour contest. It was a great battle right from the start between Capt. Black on the "Arundel" and Capt. Conary on the "Cirrus". It was a nerve-chilling performance for spectators right to the end of the course, with seconds separating the two rivals. Suddenly, under intense strain, the Deer Isle skipper violated a cardinal rule of boat racing - failing to give way to a boat crossing on the starboard side. Capt. Conary was disqualified making Capt. Bill Black the winner & retaining his trophy. Wow, what a race! This win gave Capt. Black two wins for the Captain Henry Whitney Challenge Cup. Three wins by an old skipper retires the cup to the captain. That evening Admiral Edward Ellsberg presented trophies to the winning skippers at the Sea Street Clubhouse at Northeast Harbor.
The 5th race, 1956, was again held in Eggemoggin Reach with the same format. Seven old skippers lined up for the start. - Capt. Leroy H. Greenlaw (75) - on yawl "Cirrus" owner Alan Bemis; Capt. William H. Black (73) - on sloop "Pier", owner Walter Paine; Capt. Wesley I. Ford (79) on yawl "Jorna, owner Dr. Gamble; Capt. Verrnon Haskell (66) on sloop "Sea Dust", owner Robert Ayer; Capt. Frank J. Eaton (74) on sloop "Elaine II, owner Dr. W. E. Clark; Capt. William I. Conary (83), on yawl "Avelinda, owner Thomas Cabot; Capt. Frank H. Delano (74) on yawl "James Hostess, owner Philip Chase; Capt Fred Haskell(70) a brother of Vern on Haskell, on yawl Gitana, owned by R. S. Danforth of Blue Hill.
Senator Frederwick G. Payne and Mrs. Payne were guests aboard the Maine Maritime Academy’s sub-chaser captained by Capt. Russell Terry. The official race committee was aboard the "Explorer" supplied by the State Department of the Sea and Shore Fisheries. John Merriman, race committee secretary, fired the stating gun. Capt. Greenlaw finished 1st an hour ahead of Capt. Black. Wesley Ford was 3rd and Vern Haskell with a crew from the staff of MMA finished last. Eaton, Conary, F. Haskell and Delano were becalmed as the wind died out completely while still a distance from the bridge and did not finish. Presentation of the cup was made by Francis Hatch, the donor, of Castine & Boston. Greenlaw also received the $100 from the Arnold W. Lunt award, and $25 for the crew. Black was presented with the committee’s $50 award, an Atlantic salmon reel, donated by Thomas Rod Co. of Bangor, and a case of blueberries for his crew - a gift from the Maine Blueberry Grower’s Assoc. Ford, (who placed third), received a $30 prize. Haskell won $30 committee prize and a barometer from Manset Marine. Capt. Black who "inherited " the clam hod from last year, presented it full of lobsters to Capt. Haskell.
The 6th annual MRSR was sailed in Blue Hill Bay on Friday, August 30, 1957... Nine old skippers were registered, most of them from neighboring towns. Three skippers were in their eighties: Westly Ford, 81 from Ellsworth on the 34’ yawl "Torna" owned by Dr. Gamble of Surrento; W. I. Conary, 84 from Sunshine on the 39’-10" yawl "Icranca" owned by David Heilner of Blue Hill; and Warren A. Spurlin, 86 from Islesford sailing the 39.5’ yawl "Halcyon" owned by George Parsons of Brooklin. Others racing were: Leroy H. Greenlaw, 76 Stonington on a 43’ yawl "Cirrus" owned by Alan Bemis from; Fred Haskell, 71 Rockland raced 43’ yawl "Hostess III" owned by Philip P. Chase from Harborside; Vernon Haskell, 66 Castine on the 39’ sloop "Tocata II" owned by Andrew Wanning of Blue Hill; Mace Eaton, 65 Castine raced the 38’8" "Fidelio" owned by Vale G. Marvin; Richard Stanley, 72 Northeast Harbor on the cutter "Woodcock" owned by Stewart Janney and Henry K. Morey, 73 Deer Isle on the 42’ yawl "Abanaki" owned by Douglas Byers.
The MMA sub-chaser "Sewall B. Smith" was there to carry VIP’s, press, and Blue Hill American Legion personnel, sponsors of the race. Sea & Shore’s vessel "Explorer" carried the race committee consisting of A. G. Heanssler, P. Buxton, J. B. Waters, Mrs. Philip Young, Adm. J. A. Glick, and J. Merriman.
The yachts started off Blue Hill Harbor in the forenoon and were plagued with calm winds, but the winds soon picked up to a gentle breeze that held out to the finish. Greenlaw sailed the "Cirrus" to a commanding lead midway in the race, but through a misunderstanding at a turn he sailed off on an unscheduled course and was disqualified. Stanley in the "Woodcock" found a good breeze and established an advantage that would have won him 1st place, but for a last minute drive by "Toccata" which won the race. Capt. Mace Eaton of Castine finished 3rd in the yacht "Fidelio". In the ceremonies at the finish line members of the Duffy-Wescot American Legion Post dropped a wreath off the bow of the Sewall B. Smith in a tribute to the late Capt. William Black, veteran mariner and former contender in the late summer classic. A fleet of pleasure craft followed the yachts around the 17-mile course, and a record crowd took advantage of the perfect weather to watch the finish of the race.
The 8th race in 1959 found four old skippers at the starting line off Sand Point in Blue Hill Bay: Capt. Greenlaw on the "Cirrus" still hoping to retire the Whitney Challenge Cup, Vernon Haskell on "Toccata"; Henry Morey on the "Diana"; Warren Spauling on the "Clio" (an MMA sloop); and Fred Haskell sailing "Anne". This was the first race that the Academy entered one of its sailing yachts. After an 11:00AM start the boats had light winds till the last part of the afternoon. Capt. Greenlaw came in 1st and received the Capt. Henry Whitney Challenge Cup presented to him by Francis W. Hatch of Castine. Capt. Greenlaw would be the first retired skipper to retire the cup. He also was awarded $100, the Arnold W. Lunt Prize, from the Blue Hill American Legion Post. As 2nd place winner, Capt. Vernon Haskell received the William Conary Memorial Trophy presented by Alan Bemis and the Capt. Bill Black Prize of $50 presented by the Blue Hill Legion Post. Capt. Morey received the Viking prize, a $25 check presented by Mrs. Anna K. Young. Capt. Spurling the Chisholm prize, presented by Mr. & Mrs. William Chisholm. Capt. Fred Haskell, won a case of blueberries and the traditional last place trophy, the clam basket. A plaque was presented to Alan Bemis to be permanently placed on the "Cirrus". Owner Bemis & "Cirrus" were to win the race five times, while sailing in 21 races through the years 1954 to 1976.
William married Lizilla Sellers STEVENS Lizilla (daughter of William Chase STEVENS and Cyrene Charlotte CONARY) was born on 5 Dec 1875 in Deer Isle, Hancock, Maine; died on 7 Jul 1965 in Deer Isle, Hancock, Maine; was buried in Sunshine, Hancock, Maine. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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Old Dead Relatives
1907 - 1977 (70 years)