Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-05-16
NO. 116.
RUNNING A BLOCKADE.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.


Sketch of the War of 1al9-1A.
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 their cruisers. Upon the kenne-
bee river at that time were many thriving
towns. and quite number Of Yankee
privateers 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 this the British turned their
attention to this latter river, and establish
ed a blockade at its mouth. They knew
that some privateers were being fitted 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
tance and also several military store
houses and they Qle British) had learned
that provision and ammunition were ex-
pected from Boston OF 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
Kennebec during that war, remember
well the season of that blockade. They
depended for much of their provisions up
on the coasters which came from Massa-
chusetts; and now that the small vessels
were prevented from coming in. they suf-
fered much. In Hallowell, Waterville,
Gardiner and other places, provisions
were SO scarce that many people who
were considered well-offin ordinary times,
lived upon the swill-gatherings of the
more wealthy; and a silver dollars worth
of meal could be carried away in COM
mon pocket 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
prevented them.
Among the vessels which were expected
at Hallowell was heavy schooner named
1.-The Polly Ann She was owned and
Also another schooner, called ..The
Eliza" which belonged to Abner Jenkins.
The polly Ann" and the Eliza" both
cleared at Salem, Mass the former loaded
with one of the most valuable cargoes ever
sent to the eastward for besides large
lot of excellent provisions, such as flour,
corn, rye, pork and beef, she had large
quantity of arms and ammunition for two
privateers that were lying at Bath. The
loss of the "Polly Ann" would have been
severe blow in two ways: 1t would have
sadly added to the want Of the poor peo-
pie OF the kennebec, and have prevented
the outfit of two stanch privateers and it
would have also added much to the power
of the enemy by furnishing them with
things which they needed
The Polly Ann" was a new and valua-
bic craft not so the ELIZA" The latter
was very old and very 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
tirewood, 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 jenkins
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 Captain Wait his son Nathan, a youth
of nineteen a man of thirty, named Jim
Tufts, and Samuel Locke. young man
of five and twenty. The Eliza" had be-
sides her captain, David, brother of the
commander: 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
fisherman who resided there, and who in
formed them that it would be of no use for
them to go any farther.
"Ye can't git into the river" said one
of them, "for n cussed brig-o-war's a w.
in off an on there all the time. AMI
ken tell we one more thing, too; them
Brtishers are on the lookout for you.
They've heered as how't you were COM
| ing in with provisions an arms for priva-
teers. They've been informed somehow"
| This was u damper upon Captain Eben
Wait. He had known that there were
British war-veSsels upon the coast, but
he had hoped there might be none in his
way. He could not turn back. He knew
that those whom he loved were suffering
for the want of the food he had with him;
and that the privateers could not sail until
they had stores he had in charge for them.
And the cargo might spoil by being kept
too long in the hold of his vessel.
If he failed to make his trip would be 4
great; but he thought not so much OF
that as he did of the loss to those who
were depending upon him for the very
means of sustaining life. He questioned
the fishermen very closely, and was con-
vinced that they spoke truly. Three OF
them had come from Monhegan only two
days before, and had been been robbed of
their fish by this same brig.
And" continued the informant, lone
o. the officers asked us cf we knowed the
Yankee schooner "Polly Ann" We pre-
tended we didn't know anything about
it. He said he'd have We eff We come that
way"
Capt. Wait pondered long while upon
the information he had received.
''It's a hard case" he said to his friend
Capt. jenkins. Il know how those fel.
lows watch. There's no getting by them"
''Ffis confounded bad,n returned Jen-
kins. Nov, if 'twasn't for the cargo
Eve got aboard they might have my old
hulk in welcome. don't know ia be
willin' pay 'em somethin' to carry her
off; for the tire-wood she'll make won't