Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-05-06


9th day Of June last, the schooner Gas
pee run aground on her passage to Prov
idence, on point Of land about two or
three miles below a small town, and
about five miles from the town of Provi-
dence that about three quarters after
twelve o'clock the mex, morning, being
the tenth Of June, he was standing upon
the quarter deck OF said schooner as
sentry, every other person belonging to
said schooner being below, he saw
number Of boats coming towards said
schooner, which he hailed, but no answer
was returned he then Immediately gave
notice to Lieutenant Duddingston and
the midshipman, who instantly came upon
deck the boats were again hailed, and
the answer returned by some Of the peo.
pie in soid boats was, damn your blood
we have you now" The captain order
ed them TO keep off, and told them IT.
they answered, they did not care, they
would be aboard directly. The captain
then ordered all hands on deck, but the
people who were in the bonts boarded
the schooner, and as they were entering
said schooner, they shot the captain, and
afterwards tied the people belonging to
said schooner and carried them on shore
nearly opposite TO the schooner they
then broke open the arm chest and took
posse ssion Of the small arms and after
they had landed all the Gaspee's people
he saw the said schooner on fire, but he
knowc,h not the names of any Of the per-
sops who were concerned in destroying
said schooner and that those who acted
ss principals were called the head sheriff
and the captain, and one Of them was
called constable. And this examinate
further saith, that while he was attending
upon Lieutenan, Duddings,on at town
called Pawtuxet, he saw two Of the per-
Sous who were concerned in destroying
said schooner but did not know their
names. his
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
mark.
Sworn to al Newport the day and year
above said, before
j. Wanton, Fred Smyhe,
Dan. Horsmanden, Peter Ohrer,
The examination Of John Cole, Of
Providence, in the colony OF Rhode Is.
land, Esq, taken on oath in Newport, in
said colony, this third day of June, A. D.
l773: Who saith, that the evening pre-.
cedIng the burning The Gaspee | spent,
at Mr.. James Sabin's tavern, in Provi-
dence aforesaid, in company with several
gentlemen about 7 or o'clock, hearing
a noise in the street of said town, pulled
back the shutter Of one of the windows
next the street, and saw several men,
abon, twelve, as | apprehend, but did
not know one them, collected together;
upon which, made inquiry of the gen
tlemen in the room If they knew the oc-
casion, and was answered by one Of the
company, but whom cannot particularly
recollect, that he hoped they were no,
upon any design Of mischief 10 which
] replied, 81 believed not ; if they were
@" such a design they would not be so
public." Some short time after, | heard
a drum beat in the street upon which !
again opened the shutter, saw three or
four boys passing along with the drum,
and no other persons /; between ! and
- O'Clock ia the same evening, left,
the said tavern, nj which time found the
street clear and still then observed
that ! believed If any mischief was in
tended, they bad thought better Of il and
gone home. Early IN that evening, and
before ] first opened the shutter, heard,
bat whether after joined the company
or in the street going to said tavern, II
thnf hn
then run on shore ; neither do remcm-
bcr the person giving me that iniorma-
inn | never heard any inlima,on Of an
intention to burn the Gaspee, nor do
know any person or persons concerned in
that transaction, or ever heard who they
were. The place where the said Gas
pee was burnt was in the township of
Warwick, in the county Of Kent, in the
colony Of Rhode Island From The cove
near MIR. Samuel Tompkns's house to
the place where the Gaspee schooner
was burnt, is, according to the best judg-
ment can form, near, if not quite four
leagues and further this deponent saith
not. JOHN COLE.
Taken and sworn TO at Newport on the
day and year before written, before
j. Uanion, Fred. Smyihe.
Dam. Horsmandea, Peter Ohrer.
Root. .iuehnuty.
The examination of John Andrew
Esq OF Cranston, in the colony Of Rhode
Island taken on oath at Newport, in said
colony, on the 9TH day Of June, 1913 :.
Who declares and says, that he was in
the town Of Providence the night that
the schooner Gaspee was destroyed, at
tavern where he spent the evening with
q number Of gentlemen and after sup
per he heard drum beat IL the street.
and inquired into the cause thereof and
received for answer, that il had been
training day, and the people were break
ing up their frolic about - O'Clock he
repaired to his lodgings, it being very
dark, and went to bed the next morning
the sun about half an hour high, was
surprised with hearing some persons say
the said schooner was burnt, upon which, Il
he .opcDcd the window md saw on tho