The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-03-23
DAILY PRESS,
PORTLAND.
THURSDAY, MARCH %, 1871.
The Privateers Of she War of 1910.

Il
To The kditor Of The Press:
The Tlppoo Saib was the most Formidable
and heavily armed of the Portland PrivIteers
She was owned by Samnel and Seward Por
ter. The fam name was IS. e S. Porter the
owners of the brig Dash, and she was built. as
was The Dash, by Brewer OF Freepoit, the
Porlers' native place. He was very success
fun as b,'ilder OF Iast vessels. The Tippoo
Saib was inten ed to combine strength and
speed, Tor powerful vessel. She was of 432
tons, and was rieged as an hermaphroIite
oiig' with very long spars. Her sails were
made by John Powell, well remembered bv
many Podlanders. In her malnslil were
~ IL bo'ls OF Russia duck, which is several
inches wider than the American duck. The
main boom was 73 feet long. The naff ton
SAL was beat to yard G5 feet long, which
reached Is leet above the main-topmast head
when the sail was set. 1t was hoisted from
t1e deck by two halyards. She was provided
with all the sails possible TO be carried by a
vessel of her rig, several of which would now
be ruled ont by the yacht clubs as irregular
but these clippers were not amenable to any
rules, their only object being to overhaul Oh
run away from the enemy's vessels as circum
stances might require. In the building and
rigging OF these vessels the Yankees succeed
ed IN running away from Mr.. Bull, and he
has hot been able to ovel take them yet.
The Tippoo Saib had heavy armament for
Vessel OF her size at that time. She had I6
broadside guns, IS ID. carronades, with a
long 81 Ii. pivot gun between lbe masts and
two long 24's on pivots, one forward aud the
other ait. A modern sloop of war carries her
guns in about the same position but of heav-
Ter callbre. l have beard this description of
their crack privateer" repeated many times
by Capt. Seward Porter, one OF her owners,
expressing his disappointment at not having
the opportunity to "knock the sticks" out of
some oil the British cruisers, by the declara-
ton OF peace just as she was fitted for sea,
with men all on board and ready to sail. He
woald emphasize it with his cane on the flour
with au inverted blessing on tne enemy for
destroying his merchantmen.
Capt. Wm. Cammett, who had made two
successful cruises in the Dash, lett her to lake
copman OF the Tippoo Saib and on the next
cruise the Dash,in charge Of Capt. John Por-
ter,the wners'brother.was lost with all haads.
After the declaration of peace all The guns put
the forward pivot gun were taken out of her
and Capt. Cammett made voyage to Ha
vana in her carrying Sc men before The mast.
1t must be recoilected that her spars aud salts
were very heavy TOT her tonnage, and being
rieged for war vessel she was intended to
carry large crew. None but the old fash
ioped blocks and sheases were then in use.
with iarred hemp running rigging. Now
with the roer-bush sheaves aud manila cord
age one man will hoist sail that would have
required five 10 hoist then. There vas no
patent windlass purchase nor chain cable
then, but simply holes in the windlass Tor
each mans handspike, with hemp cables that
were about as unyielding IN cold weather rs
an oak sapliug OF the same size; and If the
anchor was deeply imbedded in the mud The
only way to get it was to "hea 5e short" at
low water and let the rising tide "break
ground" Ii was The intention to Sc the brig
at Havana, but vessels OF her description
were plenty, and Captain c. took cargo of
mo'asses to Boston where the vessel was soil
to Huntington &c Thorndike'' aud aUally
toundeIed at her anchors at Vera Cruz in
norther. OF all the captains OF tie Portland
privateers, Captain Cammett alone remains,
4
much that l have written of these vessels.
He has wonderful memory aud an uncom-
mon gilt OF description and anecdota, with a
decided taste for the ludicrous. He il six feet
two inches high, and "May his shadow never
be less" have spent many pleasant hours
within the past forty years listening to hun
yes,
"Many time we've merry been,
and many ore We hope TO be-
WINDHAM, MARCH 18th VIC