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MAY x JUN, 1984 Page 59 GEORGE GOBLE: OSWEGO SHIPBUILDER by RICHARD F. PALMER Being a marine reporter in the mid-19th century must have indeed been an enjoyable vocation in a place like the port of Oswego. He wrote about a variety of activities along the waterfront, ranging from shipwrecks to steam and tugboat explosions. But one of his more pleasant tasks was covering a launch at the local shipyard, of which Oswego had many at one time. Take the case of launching of the fine schooner J. Maria Scott at Goble & MacFar- lane's shipyard on Saturday, May 9, 1874. The launching of a ship in Oswego was an occasion to celebrate. Stores and businesses closed for a time and everyone amassed at the local ship- yard to witness the spectacle. It was a scene of- ten repeated up and down the Great Lakes. At exactly 3 p.m., the ropes were cut and the handsome new vessel glided gracefully into the water amid the cheers of the crowd. Old-time reporters had a flowery way of describing such events. In this case, the Oswego Palladium writer said: "The cheers of the crowd mingled with the sound of the splashing disturbed the waters and as both died away, the new schooner settled down on the fluid with which she is to hereafter wrestle, lightly as though she scorned to displace too much of it." The J. Maria Scott was substantially larger than most vessels built of the schooner class in Oswego, being 142 feet in length, 20 feet, 3 inches beam, 12 feet hold and 348 tons. She was designed to carry 19,000 bushels of wheat through the Welland Canal, or 24,000 bushels to Buffalo. Rigging for the three-and-after was furnished by Daniel Lyons & Son, ship chandlers, while the sails were made by the veteran sail maker Robert Green. William Proud & Company did the painting. "It is hardly necessary to speak of the cabin other than to say that Archie Preston built it in his usual tasty manner, and that is large, well finished and furnished,"