The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-05-21
REBECCI, TIE DRUu1gER.
a Truc story oc tI.e War of fIsre.


It was about nine o'clock in the morn
ing when the ship first appeared At once
there was the greatest excitement. ia.the
village. 1t was British war-ship. -Nhat
would she do? Would she tack about in
the bay to pick strange coasters as prizes.
or would she land soldiers to burn the town !?
lneItherc case there would be trouble enough
Those were sad days. those Old war times
in 1912. The sight of \ British war-sb;n
i'll Boston Bay was not pleasant. We we're
poor then, and had no monitors to 60 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
often came near enough, and the good peo-
pie in the little village of Sctuate Halbor
were in great distress over the strange
ship that had appeared at the mouth Of
the harbor.
1t was fishing g-place i'll those days, and
the harbor was fnll of smacks and boats of
all kinds. The soldiers could easily enter
the harbor and burn up everything, and
no one could prevent. There were men
enough to make good fight, but they
We're poorly armed, aud had nothing but
fowling pieces ard shot-guns, while the
soldiers had muskets and cannons,
The tide was down during the morning,
so that thece was no danger for a few hours;
and all the people went out on the cli0s
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 har6or, stood the
little white tower known as Scituate Light.
In the house behind the Lighs 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 Windsor.
who was visiting Rcbecca.
Rebecca had discovered the ship, while
she was up in the light-h house tower polish
ing 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 fioated, and those in deep water
swung around at their moorings. Now
the soldiers would probably land If the
people meant to save anything it 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 vas 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 fiat
1t filled the harbor so that, instead of a
small channel, it became wide and beam
tiful bay. The day was fine, and there was
! gentle breeze ripping the water and
making it sparkle in the sun. Not much
TO think of either while the war.sb;n