The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-05-08
THE GOOD SCHOONER POLLY.
Now Owned by Mr.. Alfred Johnson. and
May Again be Seen in These Waters.
oho

boston Globe May 5th]
The lO8year-o privateer schooner
Polly, with her historical record famil-
lar to the whole New England Coast,
has become, by virtue of her recent
purchase by Alfred johnson of IA Ar
/ lington street, craft typically Boston
ian. Mr.. johnson has acquired the stout
little vessel because of mixture of rev.
erence for antiquities, fondness for
boats and civic pride.
Although he is a member of the So
ciety for the Preservation of New Eng
land Antiquities, Mr.. johnson has
bought the Polly, he stated yesterday,
not as the representative of any society
whatsoever, simply as an individually
respecter of ancient things, with de-
sire of caring for them and preserving
them.
1.-The Polly is now at Dighton, on the
Taunton river" said he. ~ have not
gone far enough yet to have any crys.
talized, concrete plans in regard to her
future
cit may be that l shall live in her a
little myself, as | would in house. boat,
inasmuch as | have recently sold nv
yacht to the Bermuda pilots. cannot
be sure. l have always had fondness
for long trips in fairly small boats.
''The Polly is well built-speedy, too.
Her lasting as long as she has consider
simply case of the survival of the fit
test. Fine workmanship must have been
devoted to her original construction. l
have pretty well verified her record be-
cause of my fondness of history.
81 mean to renovate and repair her
as much as necessary. Very likely
shall put a yard on the foremast-the
old topsail schooner fashion - making
her appear, in SO far as possible, as she
was in her privateer days. She has a
white band, four feet deep, round her
hull above the waterline and green
painted bottom There is a flying lib
boom at rakish angle, and the masts
have considerable rake aft. There is a
wooden windlass and a raised quarter
deck with distinct break. Take it al
together, her appearance gives one the
impression of whaler at first glance.
Certain marks and scratches on her ex-
terror indicate the former position of
her guns.
1.-The fact that her last previou
owner, Capt. Weldon, was man more
than 70 years old and could not con-
veniently keep up the necessary work
of repair, had good deal to do with
my buying her. As soon as it is posi-
BILE | shall take her round from the
Taunton River to Newport, where have
always kept my boats. Thereafter
may keep her at Pleasure Bay, City
Point, so that those who like may visit
her. Or, possibly, if it could be ar
ranged, might moor her in tn Charles
River Basin for the same purpose.
II am greatly interested in pageants.
Portland is to have one July 4, and they
have written asking me if l would put
the Polly on exhibition there. I shall try
to do so.
''There has been talk of my taking her
through the Panama Canal out to the
exposition in San Francisco in 1916. !
have not gone far enough to think about
that yet.
II feel that in a way the Polly is the
seed from which the American Navy
sprang. Her history and associations
are peculiarly attached to New England.
Now she is owned in Boston. That will
be her hailing port henceforth and
shall do my utmost to preserve her
long,"