Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-03-13
Enterprise and Boxer.

y School-boys Holiday when the Amer
lean Brig Enterprise took the English
Brig Boxer.
Monday morning about the first of Sep
TENDER, 1913, large crowd were gather
ing on the brow of the hill at the head OF
Titcomb's wharf, Portland. where people
were wont 10 assemble To see the arrivals
and departures of vessels afloat in the har-
Dor. Rumors were stirring that a battle
had been fought the day before somewhere
on the Eastern shore below Sequin. Be
fore going to school thought | would 90
down and see.
reached there just as Capt. Atherton
was saying. Il tell you Il battle has been
fought, have just seen fisherman who
arrived last night he tells me he heard the
firing and saw the smoke but could not
indAc "uI "no "cIV motors.
guess ! shan't 90 to school to-day,
thought /. The suspense OF the people
was soon somewhat relieved when other
fishermen arrived and reported a Naval
engagement off Monhegan sunday p. NJ,
and Two brigs were seen heading West
ward at live i. NJ. Heading Westward
All light. Ii the enemy had prevailed they
would have steered East for Halifax
At noon the thing was rendered certain
the Enterprise and Boxer were CT Bangs
Island making for Portland harbor They
passed up by the Forts and rounded Spring
Point Ledge under easy canvas for both
were badly crippled. The town was gay
by this time. The streets seemed perfect
ly wild with joy. The Observatory was
dressed with flags from top 10 the ground.
Heavy annon booming on the hill and a:
the forts below and large bands OF drums,
ifes and the shrill bugle with long pro-
cessions marching TO it, gay strains. And
10 add TO this, the boys came running down
CRYING out. NO school, No school. till
next Thursday" Indeed the people seem
ed determined TO make "A great denonstra-
ton tor what they considered great thing.
For the Enterprise with her officers and
crew were favorites in those waters.
The cripples came slowly up the harbor
and anchored in the channel; very much
cut up in spars, sails and rigging. with loss
of ioretopmast on board the Boxer. Both
commanders, Lieut.. Burroughs of the En-
terprise and Capt. Blythe of the Boxer
were slain in the early part OF the action
Lieut.. Mccall Immediately came Oh
shore and landed at the foot of Titcomb's
wharf. His general appearance was not
progressing. When about half way up the
wharf some one cried out three cheers
and he was greeted with cheers from five
thousand people-men, women and chill
dren. He responded very prettily, blush
ed deeply-raised his hat and bowed grace
fully to the crowd. This brought forth
heavy rejoinder by clapping hands.
Lieut.. Mccall was in search of quarters
for the wounded. and after securing suffi-
cient accommodations for all he cared TO
take OIL shore, he went 10 his boarding
house, and in the evening was waited upon
by the citizens generally who came to pay
their respects to the conquerOr.
Wednesday was assigned as the day for
the burial of the gallant commanders.
There was no mark of distinction of one
over the other. since death had made none.
At 10 A. N. the cOffin's of each were pass
ed from the decks to the boats along side.
and under the discharge of minute guns,
la lded at the wharf. Thence preceded by
an immense display OF military, marching
to the solemn old tune of ..Roslin Castle"
and followed by large assembly of peo-
pie, the remains were deposited side by
side in the Eastern Cemetery.
Subsequently many poor fellow died
of his wounds received in that sharply
contested battle. Among the number
was Lieut.. Waters of Virginia. who
served as midshipnan on board. and
afterwards promoted for his ga!lantry in
the action.
But Lieut.. Tillinghast of Rho lie Island,
was the hero Of that fight. He was man
Of fine presence. Tall and straight, with
black, sharp flashing eyes, amiable in his
make up and as brave an officer as ever
walked aquarter deck. To him the officers
and crew always said belonged the credit
after the fall of Borroughs-of taking
the Boxer. ID. |