The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-11-29
A S E A S K E r G H

OF the HenoDScOt, Dut Admiral Grenetn
and Sir John G. Sherbrooke, the latter
being then the Governor of Nova Scotia,
had been sent with heavy force to take
possession, and had occupied the town of
Castine, which place commanded the en-
trance to the Penobscot River. Shortly
after the arrival of the English squadron,
Commodore Samuel Tucker had been sent
around to Penobscot Bay to protect the
American coasters there, and while the
British sailed up to Castine, the Cemmo-
dore lay with his vessel at Thomaston.
1t was a schooner that the Commodore
commanded, but she was heavy one, and
well armed and manned; and that she car
|ried the true Yankee grit upon her
decks the enemy had received many
proofs. On the morning of the 2Sth of
August, a messenger came down from
Belfast with the intelligence that the Brit
lish frigate was coming down from Castine
Tucker knew that the British feared him,
and that Sir John Seabrooke had offered
a large amount for his capture.
When the Commodore had received the
lintellis sence, his vessel was then lying at
one cf the low wharves, where he would
have to wait nearly couple of hours for
1.-The tide to set him of; but fastened to
have everything prepared to get Oft as
isoon as possible, for he had no desire to
meet the frigate. m
The schooner's keel was just cleared
from the mud, and one of the men had
been sent on the wharf to cut off the bow
line, when wagon, drawn by one horse,
came rattling down to the spot. The
driver, a rough looking countryman, got
out upon the wharf, and then assisted a
middle-aged lady from the vehicle. The
lady's first inquiry was for Commodore
Tucker. He was Immediately pointed out
to her. and she stepped on the schooner
deck, and approached him.
/ Commodore, she said, "when do you
J sail from here?' ~
"Right of-as soon as possible, Mad
am"
"Ohl then, know you will be kind te
me-" the lady urged in persuasive tones
9My poor husband died yesterday, and
wish to carry his corpse to Wicasset, where
we belong, and where his parents will take
proper care of it. -
'tBut, my good woman, don't intent
to go to Wicasset.
"If you land me at the mouth of th'
Shee2scot, I will ask no more. 1 can ca
lsily find boat there to take me UP"
IL "Where is the body?' asked Tucker.
"In the wagon" returned the lady-a
the same time raising the corner of he
shawl to wipe away the gathering tears
81 have small sum of money with me
sir, and you shall be paid for your troub
: le."
"Tut, tut! woman; if I accommodat
lyou, there won't be any pay about II"
The kind hearted old Commodore wa
not the man to refuse a favor, and thong
The liked not the bother of taking the VIC
man and her strange accompaniment o
!, board, yet he could not refuse; and whe
The told her that he would do as she re
Iquested, she thanked bim with many tear
', in her eyes.
Il Some of the men were sent upon th
j; wharf to bring the body on board. A len
buffalo robe was lifted off by the ma
Z who drove the wagon, and beneath it ar
!. peared neat black cefin. Some word
were passed by the seamen as they boz
the coffin on board, which went to sRo
s pretty plainly that the affair did not ez
5 actly suit them. 1t may have been pre-.
Iudice on their. part, but yet seamen sho'
s be allowed arprejudice once in while
Ie when we consider the many stern realitie
lthey have to encounter.
) ssHush, my good men, said the Com
: modore, as he heard their .murmured II
monstrances. "Suppose some of yo
sr were to die away from home, would yo
not wish that your last remains might /
carried toyour poor parents? Come, hui
Try now"
II The men said no more, and ere lon
q the coffin was placed in the hold, and Il
woman was directed to the cabin. In LEI
than half an hour the schooner was elea
y ed from the wharf, and standing out frc
y, the bay. The wind was light from Il
eastward, but Tucker had no fear of Il
lfrigate now that he was once fairly out
:. the bay.
@ In the evening the lady passenger car
upon deck, and the Commodore assur
her that he should be able to land her We
early on the next morning. She expires
ed her gratitude and satisfaction, and ,
marked that before she retired she shou
like to look and see that her HUSBAND
corpse was safe. This was of coul
granted, and one Of the men lifted off t
hatch that she might go, down into t
m, hold. A ..ss
81 declare" muttered Daniel Cart
q an old sailor, who had the wheel, ''s
takes on most dreadfully."
"Yes, poor thing" responded Tuck
as he heard the woman'ss ssobs and groal
sd ye notice what an eye she's go
continued Carter. a
= "No, said the Commodore, "only Il
lit was swollen with tears"
"My eyesl but they shone, thou;
when she stood here looking at the co
pass.
Tucker smiled at the mans quaint Q
. nestness, and without further remark W
tie down to the cabin. su
No, When the woman came out of the h
:th she looked about the deck of the scho
;no er for few moments, and then went
e nss There was something in her countena
- that puzzled Carter. He had been on
thoss who objected to the coffin be
is brought on board and hence was not ?
disnosed IN look verv favorahlv on