The Republican journal., 1922-03-02

the outside forward end of her cabin
house, q handsome bronze tablet, inscrib-
ed as follows:
Polly
Schooner built in 1905
Priyateer in War of 1912
Captured II prizes
This Tablet
Placed November 2, 1910, by
The National Society
OF the United States Daughters of 1872
State of New York.
On the occasionlof the unwilling OF this
tablet the United States Navy was repre-
scented by officers and band from the
Brooklyn Navy Yard; and q grapddauah>
ter of one of the Polly's supposed COM
manders during the War of 1872, as indi-
csted by an old log book. still in her pos
aes,,,,,.,. acted as sponsor, by unwilling
the tablet.
OF her Commanders, of course Belfast
people are most interested in Capt. George
F. RYAN, whose widow and daughters still
live her. During the Polly's visit in Ames-
bury. Mass, at the Old Home Week cele-
bration, a visitor wrote to friend IN this
City that Capt Ryan was certainly the
right man in the right place. Gentle and
forbearing under very trying circumstan-
ces." he writes, "He made many friends
in Amesbury. Did believe in the trans
migration of souls, Icould we'll fancy that
beneath his bronzed and weather beaten
exterior was the spirit of Nichols, Paul
Jones and Decatur. Certainly, he is the
reproduction of the ideal privateersman
The links of that chain which unites your
eastern city with the banks of the Merri-
mac, will we trust only grow stronger
with time"
Much of historic and much of romantic
interest has been written about this an
Gent craft. In addition to various ac-
counts of her service in the War OF 1872,
it has been stated that she was among
the first vessels to fly the American flag
in the Mediterranean; that she went
around the the Horn with party OF gold
hunters in 1849; that she has twice clrcied
the globe; and that she was In the habit
of making occasional voyages on dark
missions TO the slave coast or Africa,
while the Custom-House records still at
test that she was more than once engaged
in smuggling. Admiral Peary, several
patriotic societies and some OF the resi-
dents of Amesbury, Mass, have at differ
ent times considered purchasing her, but
it is the intention of the present owner to
keep her. restore her as nearly as possible
to her condition in 1912, and to preserve
her as an historic relic, and a memorial 10
the men who built and fought so we'll IN
the early days of our Republic, and as the
sole survivor of her time and type. Those
early builders, although classed as artl-
sans, were animated with the true spirit
of the fine arts, and it was their handi-
work that was destined soon to make our
merchant fleet the marvel of the world.
The Polly has, of course, often had her
picture taken. Several oil paintings are
in existance, notably one by +. w. Dill
ingham, painter of historic houses and
places; and one by Walter L. Dean, paint
er of the W hite Squadron, which hangs
in the Capitol at Washington; one owned
by the Maine Historical Society, and one
by Jacobson.
The old pinky Maine, another type of
small vessel once in general use along our
coast both for freightine ami fishing, but
visited Belfast harbor She is only "a tons
burden, was built in Essex, Mass, in l845
but is now practically new vessel, hav-
ing been thoroughly rebuilt. Her lines,
rig and appearance. however, are those of
the original ''pinky."
Some brief statements of the wrecking
or other destruction of vessels belonging
or having been bui' t in Belfast, since 1875,
may be of interest.
On he 18th day of February, 1878, the
ship Paul Richard Hazeltine, the largest
ever built here until the revival of ship
| h.,ii in he fou nd h
500, 600, with cargo valued at S475, 600,
near Cape Horn, on the voyage from New
York to San Francisco, and Immediately
sank. The ships company were carried
to Valparaiso by passing vessels. She was
commanded by Captain Edwin Horace
Herman, who was accompanied by his
wife. His son was second mate. Yelling
ton M. White, son of the late George +.
White, and well known IN this City, was
also on board. The fate of the latter,
whose boat had parted company with the
others, was for sometime in suspense, II
being feared that he had been captured
by cannibals. Captain Herman, with
wrecking company, afterward attempted
to raise the Hazeltine, but without sue
cess. Wellington Mayo White later enter
ed the employ of the Peninsula q Occi.
dental Steamship Company, and hat
charge of their steamships for years As
captain of the Miami he made the winter
run between Miami, Florida, and Nassau
Bahama Islanos, thrice weekly for ten Oh
twelve years, and had charge OF TIT
dredging and stalking of the ship channe
| at Miami for the company in 1918.
On Oct. %, 1878, the ship A. s. Davis
Captain Ira M. Ford, owned in Belfas
and in Searsport, ran ashore near Cap
Henry, and all on board. twenty in mum
/ Der. with single exception, persisted. Tn
vessel was of 1899 tAns, and was built il
Belfast by Carter & Co., in 1875.
In January, 1879, the brig Don Quixote
from New York for Limerick, was wreck
ed near the island of Arran. She register
ed 40 tons and was built in Belfast il
1866
On Sept. 10, 1870. the bark Emma L
| Partridge, 400 tons, was abandoned at SCI
on 4 voyage from Liverpool to Matanzas
having struck . reef near Turks Island
| she was the last vesse! built in Belfast b,
Captain Henry McGiivery, being compile
ted in 1876.
In February, 1880. the brig Josie c
Hazeltine, 523 tons, Captain Aaron w
Nickerson, sailed from Troon. Scotland
for Cuba, and was never again heard from
suzurusx6uu