Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-10-29
The ARMY OF TWO.

| II was ABOUT nine CLOCK IN the NOR
ming when the snip first appeared. Al
once there was great excitement in
the village--it was British war-ship
What would she do! Would she tack
about in the bay to pick up stray
coasters as prizes, 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-ship in Boston Bay, was not
pleasant. We were poor then, and had
no monitors to go out and sink the
enemy or drive him off Our navy was
small, and though we afterwards had
the victory and sent the troublesome
ships away never to return, at that time
they 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, andsno one could prevent
them. There were men enough to
make a good fight, but poorly armed,
and had nothing but fowling~piecos and
shot-guns, while the soldiers had
muskets and cannon.
The tide was down during the NOR
ming, so that there was no danger for a
few hours, and all the people went out
on the cliffs and beaches to watck 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
Scitua,e 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 fourteen years old, two of the
little boys, and a young girl named
Sarah Winsor, who was visiting Re
becca and had been the fl, ST 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
interest. Then the tide turned and
began to flow into the harbor. The
boats aground on the flats foated, and
those in deep water swung around at
their mornings. Now the soldiers
would probably land. If the people
meant to save anything it was time to
be stirring. Boats were hastily put on,
from the wharf, and such clothing, nets
and other valuables as could he handled
were brought ashore, loaded into ha,
carts and carried away.
| 1t was no use to resist. The soldiers
of course, were we'll armed, and if the
people made stand am ong 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, go 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 shine in the
sun. What splendid day for fishing
Or sailing! Not much use to think Of
either while that war ship crossed and
recrosscd before the harbor month.
| 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 around, and lay quiet
ab out half mile from the first cliff
They were going 20 land to burn the
town. With their spvglasses the
/ people could see the boats lowered to
take the soldiers ashore.
/ All! then there was confusion and
uproar. Every horse in the village was
put into some kind Of a team, and the