Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1857-02-26
ynteresting storp,
RUNNING A BLOCKADE;
OR HOW
THE YANKEE SCHOONER,
DID IT.
A SKETCH OF THE War OF l8l2-14.
BY srLvaNus corr, IR.

4 BY sYLvaNusscoBB, JR.
During the summer Of 1914 the British
took possession of all that part of the State
of Maine lying east Of the Penobscot, and
claimed it as a part of their lawful terri
tory. They established sort of naval
headquarters at Castine and from thence
sent out thsir cruisers. Upon the Kenne-
be; River at that time many thriving
towns, and quite number Of Yankee pri-
vateers were fitted out there. Several
sailed from Bath; and even as high up as
Hallowell were fitted and manned some
Of these troublesome little craft. In con.
sequence Of all this the British turned
their attention to this latter riwer, and es-
| tablished a blockade at its mouth. They
knew that some privateers were being fit
ted out somewhere up the stream, and
they were determined to take them if
| they came out.
And there was another thing which the
enemy had in view in this blockade
There was fort up the river short dis
lance, and also several military store
houses; and they 1.-THE British) had learned
that provisions and ammunition were ex-
peeted from Boston or Salem for these
places. So they meant to kill two birds
with one stone. They would prevent the
privateers from coming out; and also pre-
vent the stores from going in
Many still living, who resided upon the
kennebeck during that war, remember
we'll the season of that blockade. They
depended for much Of their provision up
Oh the coasters which came from Massa.
chusetts; and now that the small vessels
were prevented from corning in they suf-
Tered much. In Haliowell, Waterville.
Gardiner, and other places, provisions
were so scarce that many people who were
considered well off in ordinary times lived
upon the gatherings of the more
wealthy; and silver dollars worth of
meal could be carried away in a common
pockct-handkerchicf. The suffering was
great. The people knew that there were
several vessels anxious to get in, but the
British war-brig at the rivers mouth pre-
vented them.
Among the vessels which were expected
at Hallowell was heavy schooner named
" The Polly Ann" She was owned and
commanded by man named Eben Wait
Also another sch )oner, called ''The Eliza"
which belonged to Abner Jenkins.
The Polly Ann" and the Eliza both
cleared at Salem, Mass, the former load
ed with one of the most valuable cargoes
ever sent to the eastward; for beside a
large lot Of excellent provisions, such as
Hour, corn, rye, and pork and beef, she
had large quantity of arms and ammuni
tons for two privateers that were lying at
Bath. The loss of the o Polly Ann" would
have been severe blow in two ways: 1t
would have sadly added to the want of
the poor people Of the Kennebeck, and
have prevented the outfit of two staunch
prlvateers; and it would have also added
much to the power Of the enemy by furn-
ishing them with things which they much
needed
The " Polly Ann was new and valu
able craft; but not so the Eliza" The
latter was very old. and rotten; and she
was now upon her last trip. Her owner
had resolved to try the run to Hallowell.
and then pull his old schooner to pieces
for ire-wood, as that was about all she
was good for. On the present occasion
she was loaded with provisions: but the
load was necessarily light one as Jen-
kins dare not venture to sink her too
deeply
The two schooners sailed from Salem
together. In fact Jenkins would not have
dared to sail alone, for he was not sure
that his rickety old craft would carry him
through. The Polly Ann" was manned
by Capt. Wait; his son Nathan, youth
OF nineteen; man Of thirty, named Jim
TUFTS, and Samuel locke, a young man of
hve-and-twenty. The Eliza" had beside
her captain, David, brother Of the com
mander; Walter Davis and Charles Allen.
both young men and able.
When the two schooners reached Wood
Island, which lies at the mouth of the
Saco River, they were boarded by some
Yankee fishermen who resided there. and
who informed them thatit would be Of no
use for them to go any further.
Ye can't git into the river," said one
of them, : for cussed brig o'-war's layin'
off an on there all the time. An | ken
tell We one more thing, too: Them Brit.
ishers are on the lookout for qou. They
have heered as how't J ecu were comm in
with provisions an arms for privateers.-
They've been informed somhow."
This was damper. upon Capt. Eben
Wait. He had known that there were
British war vessels upon the coast; but
he had hoped that there might be none in
his way. He could not turn back. He
knew that those whom he loved were suf.
bfering for the want of the food he had