The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-08-02
NEWPORT, July rs, 1916.
Yachting on the Naragawsett Bay-Histmical Re-

EcoLKR.
NEWPORT, July rs. 1876.
Yachting on the Management Bay-Historical Re-
miniscences.
Yesterday morning, by polite invitation Of Lieut.
Cornell, U. s. M, betook myself on board the
revenue cutter Jackson, and by good fortune,
found myself in the midst of party of friends,
bound upon a sailing excursion among the green
isles of the Narragansett.
Our party was small, but select, including Hon.
d. ]. Pearse, of Rhode Island; Judge Read, of
Ohio; Mr.. Wilbur, Collector of the port; and
number of ladies, whose beauty would have
graced the queenshp Of Cleopatra. / question
if revenue cutter ever before carried so fair
freight. They were all too, with one exception,
strangers to the sea; and now for the first time
experienced the delightful ~ sensation Of being
crooked on the cradle Of the Deep"
At 10 o'clock we were " all aboard" the cut.
ter's anchor soon rested upon her bow, and her
eagle wings grasping the wind, we were som
standing northward, along the silent shores of the
Narragansct.
To give you description of the many striking
objects that met our view, within the compass of
letter, Is beyond the privilege OF the pen. AS
we were borne over the blue water, every variety
OF scenery flashed upon the sight the farm
house and the forest the bold bluff and the
smooth shelving shore the snow white sand and
the shingy beach /; the ruined fortress and the
lonely isle the graceful curving of the distant
hills, with thousand artificial objects that con-
tnualy broke upon the sight, blending the beau
tful with the sublime. Let il be remembered that
the shores of this beautiful bay, the hills that
circle it, its nlcts and islands, are stamped with
historical interest, redoent Of romantic recolec-
tons. The rude ruin that crowns the islet and
the cliff tells of the times when those waters now
sleeping as peacefully as a summer lake, trem-
BLEED under the thunder of naval cannon, when
hla rlor
OF waf.
About 2 o'clock, the cutter clewed all sail, and
swung round upon her anchors, her head lying
northward. We were now in the middle Of a
had lulled and little vessel lay upon its bosom
without a motion. The sun that for some time
had been obscured by dark cloud, now shone
forth bright and smiling; and all our party We're
upon deck admirlng the picturesque scenery OF
the shores. Ii was a most interesting panorama;
and we were soon clustered around the old sailor,
Corn,ll, listening TO his description of it. There
IS not an object IN the NarragansenBay with which
he is not familiar, for he was born upon its wa
ters; and from boy" the old salt "has wanton-
ed with its breakers" Bullet the Jackson's COM
nander speak for himself.
This land upon your larboard is Conan
lieut. island right a-head you see the Halfway
Rocks and the CT ifs of Prudence, and the hills
upon the starboard are the Rhode Island bills.
That conical hill upon our starboard bow, is
Mount Hope, once the head quarters OF the cee-
frequently called, King Philip. 1t lies near the
town of Providence, and is much visited on ac-
count of the Indian traditions connected with
1t. On the south you another conical
hill--thls too, during the early settlements
was the residence OF an Indian Sachem, call
ed Miantanimo. The hill is named after him
-Tonomy, or, as II Is generally pronounced,
Tammany, Hill so you see, although once
royal residence, it has now received a most de-
mocratic appelIation. On its top you can see
small tower. This structure was built for an OBJ
servatory by the owner of the hill, and affords
fire prospect OF the whole bay, Look in this di-
rection-to the eastward. Another ofthese beau
titul hills. You see the remains OF ruined torti-
ficaton upon its top. That was thrown up by
General Sullivan, in the Revolutionary war. 1t
was there that he made his last stand, when pur-
sued by far superior force. Many patriots
bones moulder there, many patriots blood mois-
tened that green hills side, poured out like water
in the cause OF freedom"
s'What strange, quaintIooklng, double-rooied
old mansion stands htte more 10 the south. IL
looks as though it had taken part in the ReVou-
ton too" "You mean the old house standing
almost under the shadow OF an immense oak
tree % "The same. There is legend, captain,
is there not % " You are right, and most inter-
esting legend at that g Oh Captain Cornell,
let us hear it," cried dozen silvery voices at
once. With all my heart, ladies' but you have
no doubt heard it before IL forms part of our
country's history. That is the house III which the
British general, Prescott, was captured by the
gallant Barton. Ii was one OF the most daring
acts of the revolution. An English frigate lay at
anchor not five fathoms from where we are
floating Another was anchored off here TO lee
ward, and close in shore was soop OF war.
The whole island was occupied by English
troops. The army was encamped yonder on
the hill, while the general held his head. quarters
in the old house we are looking at. II was the
dead hour of night, and the British general, not
thinking of an enemy, was fast asleep in his COM
Portable quarters. Awaking suddenly, he found
himself surrounded by a determined band of his
enemies, who gave him no chance to raise an
alarm. He was pinioned and carried to their
boats before he could comprehend the nature of
his situation, and in half an hour after was con-
veyed safely beyond the British lines. You will
wonder how they accomplished this daring enter
prise will tell you. You perceive small creek
or mill stream empying itself into the bay, right
opposite to where we are anchored. IL runs
through deep ravine and leads up almost to the
old house Now Col. Barton and his comrades
had sworn to take Prescott prisoner, as an offset
to the capture of the American general, Lee, or
perish in the attempt and passing with muffled
lofn f sl,oE