Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-10-03

THE BURNING OF THE GAsPEE.
In another column Of to.day's paper will
be found an account Of this expedition, the
first blow struck in the American Revolution,
written by the venerable Colonel Ephraim
Bowen, the last survivor Of that gallant ad-
venture. The gun is still in existence.
II should not be forgotten that every man
who joined this expedition, exposed himself
in addition to necessary danger OF the act, to
the chance of an ignoninous death in case
of failure or detection, and the public man.
ner in which the expedition was undertaken,
rendered it easy for one so disposed to join
it for the purpose of betraying the actors
But although the British government took
every means to discover the men engaged in
il, appointcda special commissioner to inves-
tiga,e, and offered large rewards, equal to a
snug fortune in those days, and free pardon
to any man engaged in it who would turn
Kings evidence, yet with all the exertion,
not syllable of the matter, known to so ina
ny was ever disclosed. This fact is as cre-
dltable as the expedition itself.
Col. Bowen although he has passed through
more than fonr score years OF an unusually
active life, still moves amongst US in the en-
joyment Of robust health, passing a green old
age in the midst Of another generation. He
has never changed his principles, and is as
good Wing at this nome nt,as he was when
he loaded his gun for the Gaspee Expedition.
There Is not, perhaps, man in the whole
State who takes a deeper interest in the
great political questions Of the day, and he
now votes with the same zeal TO preserve
those institutions which in his youth he fought
to establish and he is ever early at the polls,
and feels as deep an interest in the Wing
cause Of 1889, as he did in the same cause of
i776.
I'm account of The Capture and Burning of
The British schooner Gaspee.'-In the year
l712, the British government had stationed
at Newport, Rhode Island, a soop of war,
with her tender, the schooner called the Gas
pee, of eight guns, commanded by William
Duddingston, a lieutenant in the British Ma.
Wy, for the purpose Of preventing the clan.
destne landing Of articles subject to the pay
ment Of duty. The Captain Of this schooner
made 1t his practice to stop and bourd all
vessels entering or leaving the ports OF Rhode
Island, or leaving Newport for Providence.
On the 18th day of June, l772, Captain
Thomas Lindsey left Newport in his packet
for Providence, about noon, with the wind al
north, and soon after the Gaspee was under
sail, in pursuit Of Lindsey, and continued the
chase as far as Namcut Point, which runs off
from the farm in Warwick, about miles be-
low Providence, and is now owned by Mr..
John b. Francis, our late governor. Lindsey
was standing easterly with the tide on ebb.
about two hours, when he hove about ut the
end Of Namcut Point, and stood to the west
ward, and Duddingston, in close chase,
changed his course and ran on the point near
its end, and grounded. Lindsey continued
in his course up the river, and arrived at Pro.
violence about sunset, when he Immediately
informed Mr.. John Brown, one OF our first
and most respectable merchants, Of the stu
alton Of the Gaspee. He Immediately con.
cluded that she would remain immovable un.
I'll after midnight, and that now an opportu-
nifty offered Of putting an end TO the trouble
and vexation she daily caused. Mr.. Brown
Immediately resolved on her destruction; and
he forthwith directed one of hs trusty ship.
masters to collect eight Of the largest long
boats in the harbor, with FIVE oars to each, to
have the oars and rowlocks well muffied, to
prevent noise, and to place them at Fenner's
wharf, directly opposite to the dwelling of
Mr.. James Sabin, who kept house Of enter
tanment for gentlemen, being the same house
purchased few years after by the late Wei
come Arnold; is now owned by, and is the
residence Of Colonel Richard J. Arnold, his
son.
About the time Of the shutting orthc shops,
soon after sunset, man passed along the
Main street, beating q drum and informing
the inhabitants Of the fact that the Gaspee
was aground on Namcut Point, md would
not float of until o'clock the next morning,
and inviting those persons who felt 1ispo-
siton to 60 and destroy that troublesome
vessel, 10 repair in the evening to Mr.. James
Sabn's house. About o o'clock, took my
fathers gun, and my powder-h horn and bullets,
and went to Mr.. Sabin's,and found the south
east room full Of people, where loaded my
gun and all remained there till about 10 o.
clock, casting some bullets in the kitchen,
and others making arrangements for depart.
ure when orders were given to cross the
street to Fcnner's wharf and embark, which
soon took place, and a sea captain acted as
steersman Of each boat, of whom recollect
Captain Abraham Whipple, Captain John b.
Hopkins, with whom enbarked,) and Cap.
tain Benjamin Dunn. A line from right TO
left was soon formed, with Captain Whipple
on the right, and Captain Hopkins on the
right Of the left wing.
The party thus proceeded till within about
sixty yards of the Gaspee, when a sentine
hailed, Who comes there p No answer
He hailed again, and no answer. ln about
minute, Duddingston mounted the starboard
gunwale in his shirt, and hailed, who comes
thereP No answer. fle hailed again, when
Captain Whipple answered as follows,-'I
am the sheriff Of the county Of Kent, Cd
d-n You ! have got warrant to apprehend
you, Cd d-n you, SO surrender, Cd d-n
YOU
] took my scat on the main ihwart near the
larboard row lock, with my gun by my righ,
side and facing forwards. As soon as Dud.
dingston began to hail, Joseph Buckln, who
was standing on the main thwart by my rgh,
side, said to me, 'Ephe, reach me your gun.
and can kill that fellow reached Il to
him accordingly, when, during Captain Whip.
pies replying, Buckn fired and DuddingstoD
fell and Bucklin exclaimed, have killed
the rascal. In less time than a minute, after
Captain Whipple's answer, the boats were
alongside Of the Gaspce, and boarded with
out opposition. The men on deck retreatedI
below as Duddingston entered the cabin.
AS il was discovered that he was wounded.
John Mawney, who had for two or three
years been studying physic aud surgery. was
ordered to go into The cabin and dress Dud-
wound, and was directed to as.
sist him. On examination IL was found the
ball took effect about five inches directly be.
low the navel. Duddingston called for Mr..
n -.