National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-08-13
The Mysterious UiiOtC.


Sherbrooke, the latter theT being
Governor of Nova Scotia, had been
sent with a heavy force to take pos
session, and occupy the town of
Castine which place commands the
entrance to the PenObScot River.
Shortly before the arrival Of the
English Squadron, Commodore
Samuel Tucker had been sent
around to Penobscot Bay to protect
the American coasters, and while
the British sailed up to Castine, he
lay at Thomaston.
1t was schooner that the Com
mod0rc commanded, but she was a
heavy one, c,well armed and manned
and that she carried the true Yankee
/ grit upon her decks the enemy had
received. from them, rather too
many proofs. On the morning Of
Augusta messenger was sent down
from Belfast with the iHrlllgence
that the British tIigate was coming
/ from taStinc to take him, and also
/ that Sir john ShcrbrOuke had Of
! tcred Il large amount for his capture.
When the Commodore received
/ the intelligence. his vessel was lying
at one of the wharveS where he
! would lave to wait two hours for the
tide to set him off; but he FASTENED
to have everything prepared to get
her off as soon as possible, for he
had no desire to meet the trigatc.
The schooner'S keel was Just
cleared from the mud, and one of
the men had been sent upon the
wharf to cast off the bowlinc, when
IA wagon drawn bY one horse came
rafting down tothe spot, The dri.
yer a rough looking countryman got
out upon the wharf, and then assist
ed a middlc-agcd woman from the
vehicle. The lady'S first inquiry
was for Commodore Tucker. He
was pointed out to her,and she step
ped upon the schoOncr'S deck and
approached him.
Commodore She asked, when do
YOU sail from here 2
'We sail right off, as soon as pos
Siblc, madame
'Oh then ! know you will be kind
to me, the lady urged, in persuasive
tones. My poor husband died yes.
tcrday, and ! wish to carry his
corpse to WiScasSet, where we be
long, and where his parents will
take care of it.
But my good woman, shan't GO
g to WiscaSsctt.'
If YOU will only land me at the
mouth Of the ShccpScct. will aSl,
no more. can easily find boat
there to take me mp
Where is the body ! asked Tuck
cr.
In the wagon returned the lady
: at the same time raising the corner
Of her shawl to wipe away the gath
erng tears i have sum of money
-, with me, and you Shall be paid fol
J" your trouble
Tut. tut. woman. If | accOmmo
date you there won't bc any pa,
about it,
The kind hearted old Commodor
was not a man to refuse favor. IL,
liked not the bother of taking tn
woman and her strange accompaui
meut on board. vet he told her h
would do as She had requested. Sh
!, thanked him with many tears IN he
* eyes.
Some Of the men were sent o
e. the wharf to bring the body o
board. \ long buffalo robe wa
lifted oli by the man that drove TN
wagon. and beneath it appeared
neat black coffin. Some words pas,
ed by the Scamcn, as they were put
ting the coffin on board, which wen
to show that the affair did not exact
lv suit them It may be prcludlc
on their part, but the seamcn shout
III be allowed a prejudice once III
while. when We consider the man
stern realities they Lave to cncoul
ter. 'lluSh. my good men, said tn
Commodore, rs he heard their mu
INJURED remonStranccS. suppose so
- were to- die away from home, WOul
YOU not wish that your last remain
might be carried to your poor pa
rents ? Come, hurry nCw.'
= The men said no more, ana ere Ion
IN the coffin was placed in the hold an
the woman was shown , the cahi
Il. In less than half an hou he schoo
Ia, er was cleared from the .,hl, an
standing out from the gay. III
VI wind was light from the cas-
; ward, but Tucker had no fear of Il
Y, lrigatc now he was once out on Il
NJ bay.
- In the cvcning,thc lady paSseng
~ came on deck, and the Commodo
ct assured her that he should bc all
TO land her early on the next NOR
ing. She expressed her gratituC
49, and satisfaction. and remarked th
before she retired she would like
look and see that her husbant
corpse was safe. This was of cour
me- granted, and one of them lifted I
=" the hatch that She might 20 dow
into the hold.
VI Il DECLARE muttcrcd Daniel CG
" !, ter. an old sailor who was standil
- at the wheel, 'shc takes on drcadi'
.Ycs, poor thing said Tucker,
n he heard her sobs and groanS.
YD'ye notice whatn eye she's go
continued Carter.
" NO. said Tucker, only twas sw
I Lon kxtfh t.utS