The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-05-07


I0- The following Renaissance ofthe
last war with England, which occurred
in this vicinity, we cut from the New
port Journal. Lodwick, son of Capt.
Peleg Sisson, spoken of in the article,
now resides ear Rockville, and Pcleg,
the other son, now resides at Stillman-
vile.
As is we'll known our commerce was
at that time very much harra.sed by the
British. Every opportunity was imProv-
cd to terrify our Seamen and even our
smallest aud most inoffensive craft were
objects Of vengeance. One morning in
the latter part Of August in 1914 a
small Schooner of II tons left Say brook a.,
Conn, bound for Pawcatuck with car
90 of dried Fish, Leather, Shingles,
Whiskey and Lard. The Capt. Peleg
Sisson aud his two sons, Lodwick and
Peleg, constituted the crew. New Lon
don was at that time blockaded by the
British and it was rather delicate bus
mess for our vessels 10 be much in their
vicinity as they kept their barges in ac-
tive operation. Capt. 5. aud his sons
knew this and it was the knowledge OF
this fact which caused them to cast has
ty but earnest & lanccs upon the water
about them. They were not on the
lookout for rocks and sand bars, but
Z" British Barges" were what they fear
ed. When in Black Point bay, halt q
mile north of Tutcry Island and of
Waterford or Milestone Point Barge
was discovered by Lodwick, coming from
behind Tutery Island making directly
for the Schooner. " Father, | belicv,
we're goncr for here is Barge - cx'
claimed l.. Capt. S. stopped and look
ed under the boom. He Instantly com
p, ,ehended his danger and quick al
thought his plan was formed and he cx
claimed, | don't know about that, W,
will beach her - and immediatl y put th'
helm down aud made for Waterford
Point. He ordered the range cable to
be carried ashore and imbcdded in the
sand as soon as she struck in order t,
secure the vessel. The shot from tb,
Barge flew lively but caused no damag'
The race was short but exciting. L
was evident the Barge was gaining upot
the Schooner, and unless she should sooI
cach the shore, must become the piiz'
Of the British. The Barge is within ;
few rods of her, but the schooner strike,
instantly Capt. s. uusbipa The helm
slaves hole in the vessels bottom. l.
grasped the cable and anchor, rushed
} over the bows into the water, hich wa
about waist deep, and gained the shor,
, aud ran over the hill and buried tn,
anchor securely in the sand as comman
dcd. In 90 minutes time she filled -
But few minutes elapsed before 10 o
20 of the Militia we're on the spot full
, armed. The Barge, disappointed il
losing its prey, soon left for the ship =
The militia turned to and helped un
load the vessel with will. Ii was th
cardboard streak which was stove and
required a plank feet in length to re
y pair it. In the afternoon she was read
to pursue her journey. Capt. S. order
ed l. to 60 to the Captain Of the guar
aud state the circumstances, and ask fo
the countersign, as our militia was sta
toned along the coast and it would b
: necessary to be able to give the sign whe
hailed to prevent their being fired upol
: as they wished to keep near the shore
They eventually arrived safe at Pawca
tuck without much trouble.