The Life Of George Washington Readey • Part 3
Story and images courtesy of Lisa J. King
On December 5, 1893, calls went out from the Nauset Life Saving Station to all the Outer Cape stations to keep an eye out for the English ship JASON. The gale was blowing from the southeast creating massive waves no lifeboat could withstand. They knew she would ground but were unsure of where, so all the life savers on the back shore from Eastham to Provincetown made ready for the inevitable tragedy unfolding before their eyes. Loaded with jute to be delivered from Calcutta to Boston, she never made it to her destination. They were helpless to prevent the staggering loss of life from the beach and could only watch as twenty-five men met their maker. When the waves and wind pushed her up on the backside bars near the Pamet River in Truro, word came to George that the ship he served on as Quartermaster for many years had foundered on the deadly Cape Cod bars and met her end, the iron hull sunk deep into the sand far off shore. George Washington Readey arrived at the Pamet River Life Saving Station in the early morning after the wreck to speak with the sole survivor, nineteen-year-old seamen Samuel Evans, who was pushed to safety on a bale of jute by the tempest; he barely survived the freezing temperatures. George asked the young man if that was indeed the JASON stranded off shore. He answered that it was, and George then told him he was familiar with the ship as he served many years on her. Because George was well known for spinning tall tales, no one believed him initially. He told them, “I knew her, I sailed on her to Bombay and to Australia, and a fine ship she was. If you don’t believe it go down into her fo’cas’le and look up on a beam overhead near the bow and see if you don’t find the initials ‘G.W.R.’ cut in the oak.” When the storm died down sufficiently to get to the ship, there they found George Washington Readey’s initials where he said they would be.
In 1886, George Washington Readey made up an elaborate story which caused quite a stir in our small village. He was so convincing in its telling that many were very frightened. According to the tall tale George first saw the behemoth when it spouted water 50 feet into the air offshore. His description of the incident is as follows, “He was fully 300 feet long and about the middle, he was about 12 feet through. The body was covered with huge scales as large as a barrel head, and these were regularly tinted red, green, and blue. He had an enormous mouth with four rows of teeth. On the end of his snout was a long tusk, something like the sword of a swordfish, at least eight feet long.” The creature smelled strongly of sulphur, clearing a path with its huge belly and tail as it dragged itself to a kettle pond where it disappeared in its depths. He eventually admitted to fabricating the story which caused a panic on Cape Cod and had everyone on edge for months.
As he traveled ringing a heavy bronze bell on Commercial Street with a genial demeanor and brisk gait, his booming voice carried the latest news from abroad and the goings-on in town, keeping the denizens well informed. George served Provincetown in this capacity into his 80s. His ability to spin a yarn was unsurpassed and he was considered one of the best storytellers to have ever lived in Provincetown. This raconteur had the ability to spin a tale which captured and held his audience’s attention. I am sure his years at sea helped perfect this talent as he passed the time. He was so convincing that people had a difficult time telling between truth and fiction.
George Washington Readey, world traveler, fisherman, town crier, and teller of tall tales passed away at the age of 88 on February 20th, 1920, while visiting his niece in New Hampshire. I like to think he is sailing the high seas, wherever he may be.