Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-12-18
seth DooIi,tIc ships.


Patriots. The sea was the only avenue
of supply and communication. open to
them. and even in that direction there
was much trouble. 49,.
The quarters of Gen. Sir William
Howe were In modest mansion on the
southwest corner of Milk and Oliver
streets. On this evening there was
company inside the house, and outside,
beneath the shelter of a portico, stood
two men closely enveloped in thick
cloaks, and engaged in an earnest discus
sion.
Il assure you, Sir William, l cannot
snare a vessel from my fleet. Clinton
already has too many of them away. III
YOU must have the errand done you will
have to take the brig"
eBut my dear Admiral, the brig is the
property of private Individuals
''And her captain is a rank rebel !"
broke in the other with an oath.
Never mind what her captain may
he" said Howe. 81 know that the
principal owner is inclined to be friend
Nv TO the king, and we cannot afford to
lose even one of our influential friends
in this beleagured city"
There is no need of losing them, re-
turned the admiral, who was none other
than the rough, INSCRIPTIONS Shuldham,
who had lately relieved Graves in the
command of the kings naval forces in
the Colonies. Il can cOntriye way to
send her off upon this mission, and her
owners shall be none the wiser for
six-month.
"And how can that be done ?" asked
Sir William, ready to adopt any safe
measure that could serve his cause.
1.-The brig is waiting for run to Nir-
ginia, and only wants for men. can
let some Of my own men ship on
board"
81 see, said the general, ref1ectively.
And you would have enough of your
men to take possession when they get
outside ?"
Exactly, Sir William; and l don't
think the brig could be put to better use
than serving the king"
"Well, Admiral, replied Howe, after
duly weighing the matter, "you may do
as you please and if you succeed in get
ting a sufficient number of your men Oh
board to make the work sure and safe, /
will trust them with the dispatches.
You will see that cool-headed, trust
worthy men are selected"
'sLcave that to me, General. Ia three
days the brig shall have with her crew
eight of my best men, with a veteran
officer at their head.
After little further conversation the
two men separated, and few moments
later dark form glided out from be-
meath the shadow of heavy woodbine,
and crept stealthily away. The
kings officers knew not they had been
watched, and that third person was pos
sessed of their secret.
On the following morning Captain
Amos BuzZel went off to his brig. He
had been trying to get men and had not
succeeded. There were few Patriot sea-
men in Boston, and seamen of other
stripes had been impressed by the Brit
ish. This brig was the Matilda, a staunch
and seaworthy craft, which had made
more than one successful voyage across
the Atlantic. AS Captain Buzzel came
over the side he was informed that a
countryman had come off just after day
light, and was waiting for him in the
cabin.
Upon descending the ladder Buzzel
found his visitor ready to receive him,
and he was not a little struck, or i'm
pressed, by the appearance of the indi-
vidual. 1t was a genuine specimen of
the unadulterated Yankee, with his sax
feet and two inches of gaunt, sinewy
body quantity doubled up between the
cabin floor and the timbers of the deck
overhead. But there was nothing SIMS
ter in his look. Good nature and
shrewdness were the predominant char
acteristics of his sun-burnt and weather.
beaten face.
"Hel-low! is this yew, Capting?" ex-
claimed the visitor, as much at home as
though he had been hailing an OK in his
own barn-yard.
81 am captain of this brig, sir, if that's
what you're after, replied Buzzell, q
little stiffly.
''Wal, rally, Capting, that's lest what
I'm after. I've ben an took fancy
tew bein sailor, an | want tew go
ter sea an I'll be squashed eff l
shouldn't like tew go in this ere brig o
yourn."
swell, my good fellow" said the cap
tain, pleasantly, for the ring of true
Yankee voice was music in those times
to patriotic ears, 81 hardly know what
answer to give you. We want men; but
we want those that know something of
seamanship."
80, yeou git eout wasn't born an
bred on the Kennebec fur nothin'.
What can't larn in week bout yeour
brig ant with KNOWN, meow yeou jest
bet yer life. My names Seth Doolittle,
and I've helped dad an Uncle Josh build
scewners in Bath. Yeou needn't be
afraid tew trust the Doolittles. "
Without much further parley Capt.
Buzzell hired Seth for the trip to Rich
mond and back.
And on the very next day the captain
had the good fortune to pick up eight
good men at pot-house on Ship street !;
and these eight men were able seamen,
processing desire to get beyond reach
OF the press-gangs.
The crew now consisted of fifteen men
besides the captain, six of whom had for
some time sailed in the brig,
The Matilda left the harbor of Boston
with fair wind, and was soon outside of
Cape Cod, standing on her course. The
new men worked well, and proved them
selves thorough Seamen, and Capt Buz-
zell was inclined to be thankful that he
had secured their services.
On the second day out there was con-
siderable whispering among the new
men ; but they were old shipmates, and
the captain thought little of it. At
night the first watch consisted of five of
these new men and Seth Doolittle. Seth
had kept q sharp outlook upon the new
corners during the day, and he evidently
had something weighty upon his mind
At ten O'Clock, when the off-watch were
turned In and asleep, Seth crept down
into the cabin and obtained the key to
the paddock of the main-hatch and on
his return he sat down upon the comb
Ing of the hatchway, and very soon had
succeeded in removing the iron cross
bar, and in so adjusting the hatch that
man in treading upon it would be sure
to fall through into the hold .,, \
Come, .yeou chaps there by the
Wheel" called Seth, when his opera
tions had been completed, :" if you'll
come an set down side O. me, I'll tell We
that story promised ye"
The men were either curious to hear
the story, or were willing to humor the
Yankee.
EWe don't COLL Tho laftapap+ e., -, 4