The Republican journal., 1904-03-03
SCHOONER POLLY OF BELFAST-BUILT IN 1906

when many of the fastest and best vessels
, in the world came from the shores of that
| river. Her record for speed was such that
she was one of the first vessels to be fitted
out as prvateer in the war Of 1872. She
made good account OF herself in this
role, and her slippery heels kept her clear
OF the English cruisers. During her career
as IA fighter she took for her owners prizes
that amounted to many times her cost. At
/ the close of the war she went back into the
packet service, and has been run year after
year, always making good return on the
money invested.
Since the foregoing was written we have
resurrected clipping from the Boston
journal of Oct y, 1901, giving fuller ac-
count of the Polly as a privateer, with other
! interesting facts in her history, and quote
as follows
Over four-score years ago the Polly's
decks bristed with guns as she secured
the seas, preying upon British commerce,
under command of Capt Jeduthun Upton
of Salem, Mass, until she was captured by
his Majesty's ship Phoebe of A guns. AL
| though captain and crew were taken to
England and held as prisoners for seven
months, the Polly escaped that ignominy,
her English prize crew joining the fortunes
of Uncle Sam.
! Capt Upton, who owned and commanded
the Polly in 1872, when he fitted her out as
a privateer, was one of the most noted sea-
faring men of Salem, and one of the most
patriotic men of that locality. He was
| born in Salem, Sept. 8, 1885, and died in
Havana July %, 1921. He married on May
l.. 1907, Sally Smith, whose father, Jerrie
Smith, was one OF Washlngton's body
guards and a noted patriot Capt. Uptons
! sister, Sally married Dr. llemenway of
| Boston, and was the mother Of Augustus
| " at nf
| Bostons wealthiest citizens. Capt. Upton
and IA crew of % sailed on the Polly on her
first privateerng cruise from Salem, Mass,
| Dec. 7, 1872; was captured BY the British
frigate Phoebe Dec %, after she had taken
| several prizes, and Capt Upton did not set
foot on American soil again until the july
| following
OF his sufferings and trials, his ndigna-
ton at the harsh treatment by the British
prisonship officials, the impressment OF
American sailors into British trading yes
sells, the collision of the American trans
port commissioner anu the British and
other interesting side lights on the war OF
1872, from privateersman point OF view,
| Captain Upton kept record in the Poliy..S
log. That log, though yellow with age, Is
clearly decipherabe and is in possession OF
| Mrs. 5. IL. Lincoln of Machias, Me,
| granddaughter of Captain Upton.
Many stories are told about the Polly and
about the part which she played in the war.
man, which was heavily armed, at pint
halfway between Mt. Desert and the Dnek
| Islands She was victorious in this battle
and captured rich prize.
One OF the battles which the Polly was
engaged in occurred on July IA, 1872. The
Polly and. the Dolphin we're cruising off the
Eastern coast Of New England, when they
saw ship. and a brig which they took to be
merchantmen, but which proved to be the
British, ship-of-War Indian and sloop-Of-
war
The two privateers discovered their mis-
take in the very nick Of time, and, knowing
that the enemy carried too much metal for
them, turned to. save themselves. The In
dian took AFTER the Polly, firing at her from
the long bow -chasers, but the Polly showed
a clean pair of heels, and the wind failing
the INDIAN at just the right moment, the
II Polly was given an advantage.
- With all the stubborn pluck Of English
men, the. crew of the Indian manned their
= each, and continued the pursuit. As they
neared the Polly, she gave them the con-
tents of her guns, which at that time were
language, the term used for scraPiron am
mnnition. The launch was hit, but before
the Polly could make amy captures the Ia
!, dian came up to it ana relieved it,
This delay gave the Polly chance to got
ahead, and getting out her sWe ps, moved
: ahead till the wind caught her and sha
made good her escape.
, | Inc NatlODal society OF bHe DauSnCeTSe1 VI
the War of 1912 are dClng everything. i
J their power to preserve the records of taat
! war. In their research much OF value and
, interest has come to light, among the most
interesting being a partial history OK the
r Polly from Capt. D. E. Prey of htOun1
Of the famous schooner. Capt Prey says
aShe was built of best white oak, firm anG
stout, and was new topped in 1890 WheI
4 she was ready for sea bought one-eightf
+ of her, and owned it for eight years. NJ!
father was on her until September, 1855
, In 1858, went in her as hand, in 1855 sh'
}. went to Lamoine. Capt. sam DoW tooh
!. her. l sold my part there. She was soil
several times after that. At one time Capt
!, Aver of Owls Head bought her after sh
v Polly was very good shape, had high quar-
, ter deck, cabin was under, deck, door opene
or went from main deck through bulkhead
d then down stairs to cabin door, had time
Il berths ON each side, two windows IN stem
;. was all right. Her mast was Souther
% pine, 70 feet long. We. took it out, hewe
70 It to square stick, then split through centre
d made two strakes plank, near whole leAgti
10 one on each side, sawed by hand, and wit
70 the ships saw. Her bow was bout as rOun
:. as ,s. pumpkin then sApers ait bout like
Several pictures Of the Polly are in exis
ence, among theR being small oil pain
Is ing Of the vessel when she lay in Portlan
ID harbOr off the breakwater. This paintll
r. is owned by Capt. Harding Tucker of Mort
street, Portland, Me-, but she is now
reach of caNerists, though time has shoI
% her of much that made her . romantic Of
~ ject. But in spite of all, she's the Folly
m glorious reputation.
10 The present skipper. of the Polly, Car
IN George F. Ryan of Belfast, also has
no table record as master mariner. For We
n many years he has been in the packet sc
ha vice between Belfast and Boston, and 1t
believed that he could sail his vessel fro
a. port to port blindfolded. When in commal
70 Of the schooner James Holmes. Of 1873 tor