The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-06-26
COOPER'S NAVAL HISTORY.

The FIRST Act OF REsIsrANCE.-"T The first
overt act OF resistance that took place in this
celebrated struggle, in 1872, in the waters of
Rhode Island. vessel of war had been sta
TONED on the coast TO force the la,cs, and
small schooner, with light armament and
twenty-seven men, called the Gaspe, was en-
ployed as tender, to run into the shallow wa
ters OF that coast. On the 18th of June,
Providence packet that piled between New
York and Rhode Island. named the Hannah,
and commanded by Capt. Lingee, hove in
sight OF the man -ot-war on her passage up the
bay. The Hannah was ordered to bring to,
III order to be examined but her master re-
fused to comply, and being favored with fresh
southern breeze, that was fast sweeping him
out OF gun shot, the Gaspe was signalled to
follow. For twenty-five miles the chase con-
tinued, under press of sail, when the Hannah
coming up with bar, with which her master
was familiar, and drawing less water than the
schooner Capt. Lingse led the latter on
shoal. where she struck. The tide falling, the
Gaspe sewed, and was not in condition to be
removed for several hours.
1.-The news of the chase was circulated on
the arrival of the Hannah at Providence. A
strong feeling was excited among the popula-
ton, and towards evening the town drummer
appeared in the streets, assembling the people
IN the ordinary manneT.-When a crowd was
collected, this man led his followers in front of
shed that stood near one of the stores, when
one disguised as an Indian, suddenly appeared
on the roof and proclaimed a secret expedition
for that night, inviting all of " stout hearts,
TO assemble on the wharf, precisely at nine,
disguised like himself. At the appointed hour,
most OF the men Of the place collected at the
spot designated. when sixty four were selected
for the bold undertaking that was in view.
The party embarked in eight Of the launches
OF the different vessels lying al the wharves, and
taking with them a quantity of round paving
stones, they pulled down the river in body.
The commander Of these men is supposed TO
be Captain Whipple, who afterwards held
commission in the service OF Congress, but
none of the names were publicly mentioned at
the time. On nearing the Gaspe about two
in the morning. the boats were hailed by
sentinel on deck. This man was driven below
by volley of stones. The commander Of the
Gaspe uow appeared on deck, and warning the
boats off he fired pistol at them.-This dis
charge was returned from musket, and the
officer was shot through the thigh. BY this
time the crew of the Gaspe had assembled,
and the party from Providence boarded. The
conflict was short the schooner's people being
soon knocked down and secured. All on board
were put into the boats, and the Gaspe set on
fire. Towards morning she blew up.
Cooper's Naral History.
From this statement of Cooper we beg leave
to dissent.
The Gaspe was not man Of wars tender, bu,
an armed vessel commissioned by the Kings
Commissioners Of Customs in Boston, for the
protection of the revenue.
And we further appeal, and say that the de-
struction of the Gaspe wa, not the first act Of
that took place " in the struggle" &c.
The armed sloop Liberty, Capt Ried, fitted
out by the like authority as the Gaspe was af-
terwards, (being what is now called Revenue
Cutter,) took Brig and Sloop in Long Is
land Sound and brought them into Newport.
While here, on the night Of the 18th Of July.
1869, the Captain was forcibly taken by large
collection of people and held in duress by them,
until he was compelled to order most Of his
men on shore, when the rioters boarded the
sloop, then at anchor, and brought her in to
,ne of The whsrves; while another party. at
he same time, took the Connecticut sloop and
delivered her to the former Captain, who pro-
seeded Immediately out Of port
The rioters then cut away the Libertys mast.
cuttled and sunk her, at the wharf, and threw
or destroyed all her armament. stores,
NC. The boats Of the Liberty were drawn in
rumph through the town and burned on the
common, the same evening.
A detailed account Of that transaction with
he documentary evidence) was published in
his paper, Nov. lst, 1887, which concluded
With these remarks
This took place in 1869. the Gaspe was de-
troyed in 1872, and the Tea was destroyed at
Boston in 1873" ..............
TBE PRosrEcr.--Let us see where the Fed
ralsts are TO gain any strength in the Presi-