Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-02-03
Rcbecca, the Drummer.
A STORY OF THE WAR OF 1872.


morning when the ship first appear
ed. At once there was the great,
est excitement in the village, it was
British ship of war. What would
she do9 Would she tack about in
the bay to pick up coasters as priz-
es, or would she land soldiers and
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 af-
forwards 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 Scit-
uate Harbor were in great distress
over the strange ship that had ap-
pearcd at the mouth of the harbor.
1t was a fishing place in those
days, and the harbor was full of
smacks and boats Of all kinds. The
soldiers could easily enter the har-
Dor and burn up everything, and
no one could prevent them. There
were men enough to make 4 good
fight, but they were poorly armed,
and had nothing but fowling pieces
and shot guns, while the soldiers
had muslzets and cannon.
The tide was down during the
morning, so that there was no dam
ger for few hours, and all the
people went out on the cliffs and
beaches 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 him
self, wife, and several boys and
girls. At the time the ship appear
ed the keeper was away, and there
was no one at home save Mrs.
Bates, the eldest daughter Rcbecca,
about fourteen years old, two of
the little boys, and young girl
named Sarah Winsor, who was
visitor. Rcbecca had been the first
to discover the ship, while she was
up in the light house tower polish
ing the reilectors. She at once de-
sccndcd 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 with anxious interest,"
Then the tide turned and began to
flow into the harbof. The boats
around the flats foated, and those
in deep water swung round 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 warf and such
clothing, nets and other valuables
as could be handled were brought
ashore, loaded into hay carts and
carried away.
1t was no use to resist. The SOL
diers, Of course, well armed, and if |
the people made a stand among the
houses that would not prevent the
enemy from destroying the ship
ping.
AS the tide spread out over the
sandy flats, it filed 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 shine in the sum-
What a splendid day for fishing or
sailing. Not much use to think of
either while that war ship crossed
and recrosscd before the harbor
mouth.
About two o'clock the tide reach
ed 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 were 60
ing to land to burn the town.
With their spy glasses the people
could see the boats lowered to take
the soldiers ashore.