The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-05-28
History OF the Private Armed Rrir Dash
IF

History OF the Private Armed Brig Dash
of Portland.
To the Editor of the Press:
l don't find in the history of Portland any
thing of the privateers fitted out there during
the war Of 1912.
propose to give you some account of them
which have gathered from the few men left
who sailed in them, and what have learned
from the owners and others now dead. The
war of 1912 was caused by the course of the
British government in robbing our merchant
vessels of their men to man their large navy,
at That time the largest of any nation. They
claimed and exercised the right, as they had
the power, to search our vessels and take out
as many men as they pleased, by pretending
to think they were Englishmen, no matter
where born, or what certificates they had o
place OF birth from Custom house officers
where the vessels sailed from. This, with
other aggressions, caused first "non- -interven-
tion," then embargo" and finally, open war.
We had but small navy at that time, and
our government encouraged the fitting out Of
private armed vessels for defence or reprisal
as the circumstances might require. This
brought into existence large number of small
vessels built or altered expressly for speed. As
suitable armament was hard to be got, they de-
pended more upon their "legs" than upon their
lighting qualities in case ofmeeting the enemy's
men of war which swarmed on our coast, rob-
bing and destroying our almost defenceless
merchantmen. The embargo had left large
numbers Of daring ship captains, mates and
men out of employ, ready for any expedition
to punish the enemy for repealed insults by
taking their shipmates and obliging them tC
fight against us in their navy. This bitterness
with the hope of getting prize money 10
which half went to the vessel and half to th
officers and crew. caused them to enter rea
Oily into .privateering and man these small
vessels with as brave and skilful officers ant
crews as ever trod the deck of a war vessel.
will give you the story of the Dash. 1t has
been told by many widows on stormy winter.
nights, to their children how their father:
were lost in similar storm. Probably there
never was more general interest taken in
any vessel that ever sailed from Portland thar
in this brig, manned as she was by officers
and crew from Portland and the neiehborine
towns. She had been successful and was {
favorite vessel, and the uncertainty of her fate
has made her history an interesting one fol
nearly go years.
learned most of her history from the lat,
Capt. Seward Porter, one of her owners, VIII,
died ON visit TO Augusta in 1898. l spen
the first year Of my married life in his famil,
and of whom may say something more i
connection with the introduction of steam
boats into Maine waters, he being the owner
OF several of the first on this coast.
am also indebted to Capt. VIM. Cammet
for refreshing my memory and giving me al
account of two cruises in her as Captain, ano
| no one can do it better, although he IS IN III:
S5th wear. He may be daily seen in youl
streets six feet and three inches high, erect
and cheerful as any one so years younger.
| The Dash was built at Freeport, the Por
ters' native town, by Brewer, in 1918. She
was of $50 tons, and was first rugged as
schooner. She was owned by Seward ant
Samuel Porter, formerly sea captains, bu
then merchants doing business under thu
name of S. & S. Porter.
Capt. Edward Kellevan made one voyage in
her to st. Domingo, and brought home a cargo
OF coffee, which was sent to Gorham, fearing q
visit from the English fleet 1t was stored
with Captain Harding, Mr.. Gould and Mr.
Chadbourn, harness maker. After the war {
a large part was burned in the Porters' store
on Union wharf
The schooner carried away her foremast OF
the homeward passage from st. Domingo, ant
was rigged into hermaphrodite brig, will
standing royal, with all the sails possible t.
carry in light wind. She had sliding SPA
on her main boom like a studdingsail boom
which could be run out. and an additiona