The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-08-14
REBECCA, THE DRUMMER.
A True STORY OF The WAR or 1912


ed. At once there was the greatest
excitement in the village. 1t was a
British war ship. What would she
do? Would she stack about in the
bay to pick up stray coasters 5s
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 1872. The sight of
British war ship in Boston bay was
not pleasant We were poor then,
and had no monitors to go out md
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 often came
near enough, and the good people
in the little village of Scituate Har-
Dor were in great distress over the
strange ship that had appeared at
the mouth of the harbor.
1t was q 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 q 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 q 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 S
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
wears old, two of the little boys, and
a 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 Oft
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 flat foated, and those in deep
water swung tound at their moor
ings. Now the soldiers would prob
ably land. If the people meant to
save anything it was time to be stir,
mo Boats we're hastily put Out
from the wharf, and such clothing
nets and other valuables as could be
handled were brought ashore, load
ed into hay carts and carried away;
It was Of no use to resist. The
soldiers, of course, were well armed
and if the people made q stanc
among the houses that would no
prevent the enemy from destroying
the shipping. IL,
As the tide spread out over thu
sandy flats it filed the harbor 81
that instead Of small channel, it be
came a wide and beautiful bay. Th'
day was fine, and, there was q gentl
breeze rippling the water and max
inc it shine in the sun. What
splendid day for fishing or sailing
Not much use to think of eithe
) while that war ship crossed and re
crossed befor the harbor mouth.
-, About two o'clock the tide. reach
ed high water mark, and to the dis
NAV Of the people, the ship let 6
her anchor, swung her yards round
and Law quiet about half q mile frol
- the first cliff. They were going t
land to burn the town. With the
spy-glasses the people could see tn
boats lowered to take the soldier
\ ashore.
II All then was confusion and VI
roar. Every horse in the villa9
was put in some kind Of team, an
the women and children were hu
d! ried off to the woods behind I'll
town. The men would stay and Q
s. fer as brave resistance as posslbl
. The guns were light and poor, b1
thew could use the old fish hous
u, as fort, and perhaps make q bra
~ fight of it. If worst came to wors
thew could at least retreat and tai
to the woods for shelter.
= 1t was splendid sight. FL
large boats manned by sailors, al
filed with soldiers in gay red coat
/, !, How their guns glittered in the su
h. The oars all moved together IN reg
lg lar order, and the officers in the
il fine uniform stood up to direct t
O. expedition. 1t was a courageo
company come with a war ship al
cannon to fight helpless fishermen.
y; y; So Rebecca Bates and Sarah Wi
" sor thought, as they sat up in Il
light house tower looking down {
: t6e procession of boats as it we
past the point and entered the ha
Dor. -.
"Ohl if I only were man. cri'
Rebecca.
'sWhat could you do? See VIII
lot of them; and look at the
! gunsF' .,
fathers old shotgun -- anythii
< Think of uncle's new boat and Il
&c sloop!
20 ssYes; and all the boats"