The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-07-30
REBECCA, THE DRUMMER.
A TRUE STORY OF THE WAR OF
1912.

A TRUE STORY OF THE WAR OF
1t was about nine O'clock in the
morning when the ship first appear.
ed. AT once there was the greatest
excitement in the village, it was a
British war ship. What would she
do? Would she stack about in the
bay to pick up stray coasters as prl.
zes, or would she land soldiers to
burn the town? In either case there
would be trouble enough.
Those were sad days, those old
war-times in 1912. The sight OF a
British war. snip in Boston bay was
not pleasant. We were poor then,
and had no monitors TO go out and
siak the enemy or drive him of.
Our navy was small, and, though we
afterwards had the victory and sent
the troublesome ships away, never to
return, at that time they often came
near enough, and the good people
in the little village of Scltuate Har-
Dor were in great distress over the
strange ship that had appeared at
the mouth of the harbor.
1t was fishing place in those days
and the harbor was full of smacks
and boats of all kinds. The soldiers
could easily enter the harbor and
burn up everything, and 40 one
could prevent them. There were
men enough to make good fight,
but they were poorly armed, and
had nothing but fowling pieces and
shot guns, while the soldiers had
muskets and cannon.
The tide was down during the
morning, SO that there was no dan
ger for few hours, and all the peo-
pie went out on the cliffs and beach
es to watch the ship and see what
would happen next.
On the end of the low, sandy spit
that makes one side of the harbor,
stood the little white tower known
as the Scituate Light. In the house
behind the light lived the keepers
family, consisting of himself, wife,
and several boys and girls. AT the
time the ship appeared, the keeper
was away, and there was no one at
home save Mrs. Bates, the eldest
daughter, Rebecca, about fourte en-
years old, two of the little boys, and
young girl named Sarah Winsor,
who was visiting Rebecca.
Rebecca had been the first to dis
cover the ship, while she was up in
the light house tower polishing the
reflector. She at once descended
the steep stairs and sent the boys off
to the village to give the alarm.
For an hour or two the ship tack
ed and stood off to sea, then tackled
again, and made for the shore. Men,
women, and children watched her
with anxious interest. Then the
tide turned and began to flow into
the harbor. The boats aground on
the fiat foated, and those in deep
water swung round at their moor.
ings. Now the soldiers would prob
ably land. If the people meant to
save anything it was time to be STIR
ing. Boats were hastily put out
from the wharf, and such clothing
nets aud other valuables as could be
handled were brought ashore. load.
ed into hay carts and carried away.
1t was of no use to resist. The
soldiers, of course, were well armed,
and if the people made a stand
among the houses, that would not
prevent the enemy from destroying
the shipping.
AS the tide spread out over the
sandy flats it filled the harbor SO
that instead of small channel, it be-.
came wide and beautiful bay. The
day was fine, and there was gentle
breeze rippling the water and max
ing it shine in the sun. What a
splendid day for fishing or sailing
Not much use to think of either
while that war ship crossed and re-
crossed before the harbor mouth.
About two O'Clock the tide reach
ed high water mark, and to the dis
may of the people, the ship let 90
her anchor, swung her yards round,
and lay quiet about half mile from
the first cliff. They were going to
land TO burn the town. With their
spy-glasses the peoplescould see the
boats lowered to take the soldiers
ashore.
Ah then was confusion and up
roar. Every horse in the village
was put IL. some kind of team, and
the women and children were hur-
ried off to the woods behind the
town. The men would stay and of
fer as brave a resistance as possible.
Their guns were light and poor, but
they coald use the old fish houses
as fort. and perhaps make brave
fight Of it. If worst came to worst,
they could at least retreat and take
to the woods for shelter.
1t was splendid sight. Five
large boats manned by sailors, and
filled with soldiers in gay red coats.
How their guns glittered in the sun.
The oars all moved together in regu.
lar order, and the officers in their fine
uniform stood up to direct the expe-
ditiop. 1t was courageous compa-
ny come with war ship and cannon
to fight helpless fishermen.
So Rebecca Bates and Sarah Wis
sor thought, as they sat up in the
light house tower looking down on
the procession of boats as it went
past the point and entered the har-
Dor.
ooh if / only were man !" cried
Rebecca.
"What could you do? See what
lot Of them; and look at their
guns !''
81 don't care. I'd fight. I'd use
fathers old shot gun-anythin 2.
Think of uncle's new boat and the
sloop ]"
eyes; and all the boats"
"It's too bad isn't it ?''
eyes, and to think we must sit
here and see it all and not lift a fng-
er to help"
"Do you think there will be a
fight ?"
81 don't know. Uncle and father
al ~x.IIo-o o~I