Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-07-16
REBECCA, THE DRUMMER.
BY CHARLES BARNARD.

BY CHARLES BARNARD.
1t was about nine o'clock in the morn
ing when the ship first appeared AT
once there was the greatest excitement
in the village 1t was British war
ship. What would she do9 Would she
tack about in the bay to pick up stray
coasters as prizes, or would she land sol
diers to burn the town? In either case
there would be trouble enough.
Those were sad days, those old war
times in 1913 The sight of British
war-ship in Boston Bay was not pleasant.
We were poor then, and had no monitors
to 90 out and sink the enemy or drive
him off Our navy was small, and though
we afterward had the victory and sent
the troublesome ships away, never to re-
turn at that time they often came near
enough, and the good people in the little
village of Scituate Harbor 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 no 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 morn
ing, so that there was no danger for a
few hours; and all the people went out
on the cliffs and beaches to watch the
ship and to 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 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, Re-
becca, about fourteen years old, two of
the little boys, and young girl named
Sarah Winsor, who was visiting Re-
becca.
Rebecca had been the first to discover
the ship, while she was up in the light
house tower polishing the reflector. She
at once descended the steep stairs and
sent off the boys to the village to give the
alarm.
For an hour or two the ship tackled and
stood off to sea, then tackled again and
made for the shore Men, women and
children watched her with anxious inter
est. Then the tide turned and began to
flow into the harbor The boats aground
on the flats floated, and those in deep
water swung round at their moorings.
Now the soldiers would probably land.
If the people meant to save anything 1t
was time to be stirring. Boats were
hastily put out from the wharf, and such
clothing, nets and other valuables as
could be handled were brought ashore,
loaded into hay-carts and carried away.
1t was of no use to resist. The sol
diers, of coarse, were well armed, and if
the people made stand among the
houses that would not prevent the enc
my from destroying the shipping.
AS the tide spread out over the sandy
flats it filled the harbor so that, instead
of small channel, it became wide and
beautiful bay. The day was fine, and
there was gentle breeze ripping the
water and making it sparkle in the sun.
What splendid day for fishing or sail
ing! Not much use to think OF either
while that war-ship crossed and recrossed
before the harbor mouth.
About two o'clock the tide reached
high-water mark and, to the dismay of
the people, the ship let go her anchor,
swung her yards round, and lay quiet
about half mile from the first cliff. They
"CiC SO1DS W ldUu w DuiH thS w" H.
With their spy-glasses the people could
see the boats lowered to take the soldiers
ashore.
All! then there was confusion and up
roar. Every horse in the village was
put into some kind of team, and the
women and children were hurried off to
the woods behind the town. The men
would stay and offer as brave resist
ance as possible. Their guns were light
and poor, but they could use the old
fish-houses as a fort, and perhaps make
brave fight of it, III worse came to worse,
they could at least retreat and take to
the shelter of the woods
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 regular order, and the
officers in their fine uniforms stood up to
direct the expedition. 1t was a coura-
geous company come with war-sbip and
cannon to fight helpless fishermen.
So Rebecca Bates and Sarah Winsor
thought, as they sat up in the lighthouse
tower looking down on the procession OF
boats as it went past the point and en-
tered the harbor.
AOh! If l only were mani" cried
Rebecca.
What would you do? See what lot
of them; and look at their guns!"
Il don't care. I'd fight. I'd use fathers
old shot-gun-anything. Think OF uncle's
new boat and the sloop!"
Yes; and all the boats"
It's too bad; isn't it?"
Yes, and to think we must sit here and
see it all and not lift finger TO help"
DO you think there will be fight"