The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-03-19
capt. BEN" THOMPSON.

In MISS Llttlefield'S entertaining
book, can Old River Town." winter
porD we find mention of sea farer we'll
known at this port-Capt Benjamin
Thompson. He was born in Winter
port in 1888. the son of Capt. William
Thompson, but never sailed from that
port, though the declining years of his
life were spent there. His first command
was the brig Progressive Age, built at
Belfast in 1854. He took her at MAGIC,
China, to sail hom e. She was 800 tons
Then follows this mention of another
Belfast built vessel, the ship Sports
man of 626 tons, launched in 1856:
An oil painting of one of the fast
clippers, famous in the SOS hangs in the
Thompson home near Meeting House
Hill. This is the Sportsman, capt.
Ben's" second vessel. Even in the pic
ture she is going right along. The first
voyage was to Buenos Ayres, the first
year of the rebellion, and the return
voyage proved very exciting One
morning just at daybreak, the mate re-
ported strange acting vessel in the dis
lance. The captain went on deck. AS
the craft came nearer and nearer, it be-
came evident a privateer was on their
track-war had been declared after they
left that port, homeward bound.
Realizing the possibility of capture, the
Captain sat right beside the wheelman
to take advantage of wind and tide.
Mrs. Thompson had secured the watches
and valuables below, and wanted the
captain to 20 below, but he said: "No,
;c har
favored the Yankee vessel and she es-
capped After their arrival at New York
they learned of other crafts which had
been chased and taken by the stranger.
That same Sportsman was subse-
quently chartered by our government
and went to southern waters as sup
ply ship. The following letter, a testi-
monial to the young captains service,
is priced by Mrs. Thompson. 1t is
framed and above it on the wall hangs
the picture of the writer:
FLAGSHIP HARTFORD,
Western Gulf Blockading Squadron I
Off Pensacola April 20, 1864.
''Sir: Capt. Thompson commanded the
ship Sportsman, an ordnance ship In my
squadron, for upwards OF two years and
it gives me pleasure TO say that he was
always prompt i'll getting his vessel
from place to place as required, kept
her in good order, and was at all times
ready to supply the needs of the squad
ron. Captain Thompson is seaman
and a gentleman and would no doubt
make a good volunteer officer in the
Navy. Should it be his wish to enter
the service as such, l would cheerfully
recommend him to the favorable con-
sheraton of the DEPARTMENT.
Very Respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant,
d. G. FARRAGUT,
Rear Admiral.
Hon. GIDEON WELLS,
Secretary of the Navy,
Washington, D. c.
After the war Captain Thompson was
master of other vessels and took many
interesting voyages before his last COM
mand the ship Great Admiral. james
Otis has made him the hero OF 'The
Bay Captain" Mrs. Thompson was a
good sailor, too; she has been around
the world three times; around the Cape
of Good Hope six times; around Cape
Horn fifteen times, once passing through
the Straits of La Mar
The Sportsman was built by the
Peirces in their yard just above the
lower bridge. Her figure head was a
life size sportsman carrying a gun and
with game bag slung from one Shout
der. This figure was executed by Rufus
Emery of Bucksport, an expert wood
carver, and a brother of James Emery,
whose skill as an artist is well known.
Mr.. Rufus Emery is still living. The
writer, then attending the E. NJ. e..
Seminary, often saw this figure when
Mr. Emery was working on it and was
greatly interested in it, as in everything
relating to our merchant marine.