The Republican journal., 1911-12-28
sEAFARINc "REMINISCENCES,
In Which There are Some Remarkable
Condolences.

In Which There are Some Remarkable
Condolences.
STOCKTON SPRINGS. One day recently
Capt. L. M. Partridge had rather re-
markable experience, which he consider
ed very interesting and perhaps worthy
of mention. A stranger came to the
door somewhat early in the morning and
asked to see Capt. Partridge. Capt.
Partridge, being in poor health, had not
arisen, consequently Mrs. Partridge told
the man she did not think he would be
able to see him. The caller seemed
greatly disappointed, and when he said
that he had been trying for 81 years to
get an opportunity to see Capt. P, he
was at once invited in. He proved to
have been a sailor who was with Capt.
Partridge on board the schooner Wind
ward, which was built for him at our
once busy shipyard town, and was max
ing her second voyage, when, in 1861,
she was captured by the privateer "Jeff
Davis" and in all these years had never
been able to see Capt. Partridge before.
He was on a government dredger that
had been working at Camden and had
come into our harbor for a few hours
and took this, his first opportunity, to
come ashore and make a call upon his old
captain. Many interesting experiences
were recalled. One in particular proves
once more that "facts are stranger than
fiction" Perhaps some of the readers
may recall that Capt. Partridge secured
possession of his schooner, for some al
most unaccountable reason, and brought
her into Portland. On board the priva-
teer was one officer in particular, the
End Lieutenant, who seemed inclined to
be very friendly. He was young man,
by the way, who was educated at West
Point, and Capt Partridge always
thought that he was, in some way, in
fuential in securing his release.
After the sailor mentioned, Morgan by
name, left Capt. Partridge he enlisted in
the navy, and served through the re-
mainder of the war, and during that
time who should he meet but the very
officer of the "Jeff Davis" fighting on
the side of the North. Mr. Morgan at
once recognized him, and upon further
acquaintance they found themselves to be
relatives. One other coincidence seemed
rather singular. Captain Partridge's
grandfather, Captain James Grant,
commanded in the days of her youth the
now famous sch. Polly, and in the War
of 1872 he was taken captive by an Eng
lish man-of-war, and also regained pos
session of his vessel, though in far diff
ferent way; and, as did his descendant,
many years later, brought her safely in
to Portland. Many, no doubt, have read
how he managed to get away, but per-
haps the story will bear repeating. The
schooner had on board cargo of general
which in those days gen.
orally included supply of New England
rum. A prize crew was put on board
the Polly, and she was ordered to be
taken to Halifax. The Englishmen were
not slow in locating the ardent spirits,
and after putting Capt. Grant and his
men in irons, proceeded TO imbibe SO
freely that they were soon in no con-
lition to keep very sharp lookout for
their prisoners, who took this opportunity
to liberate themselves and turn the
,ables, by transferring the manacles to
heir captors. Capt. Grant then turned |
about and sailed gaily away with the
yaliant little Polly, proudly delivering |
lis English prisoners to the authorities
;pon reaching port.