John F. Kennedy and Onset

Like everyone else, I have been reflecting on my own memories of this day 50 years ago and the traumatic loss suffered by an entire country with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. There is a local connection to him and today seems a most appropriate time to share this with everyone. This story comes from a book, "Onset Island. A Collection of Memories," edited by Thomas and Jeanne Richards with Priscilla Browne, that was privately published by the Onset Island Association in 1978. Included in it is the memories of life on the island of John U. Bete. He relates a most remarkable tale:

"Around 1930, ex Mayor of Boston, John Fitzgerald, 'Honey Fitz', also JFK's grandfather, was accustomed to renting the Boyle Estate, now demolished, near the Onset Island main-land pier, for the summer.

At the time I was the proud owner of a fast runabout, 16 feet long, and powered by a 20 horse-power Evinrude with which I made many trips to and from the Island. On many occasions, 'Honey Fitz' would appear on the pier and ask if I would take him for a ride around the harbor. This I did and was rewarded with a fee.

'Honey Fitz' had a flat bottom skiff about 16 feet long, equipped with a centerboard and sail, but of questionable sea-worthiness. One Sunday afternoon in September, 1930, I was fishing for flounder in the hole off the south-east point of Onset Island. A typical south-wester was blowing a good breeze. The Fitzgerald boat passed me along the back of the Island, heading out. Besides 'Honey Fitz', there were four young men who I found out later were his Kennedy grandchildren. Coming out from the lee of the Island, the skiff was hit by a good gust and suddenly capsized. All were in the water, shouting for help. I reached the boat in less than a minute and hauled all five wet sailors aboard my boat and brought them back to the dock. I was given a $5.00 reward. My claim to fame is that I rescued a president, two senators, and an ex-Mayor of Boston."