The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-11-12
MI / S @ eiIar1 ne o I'll s..
Rebecca, the Drummer.


was the greatest excitement in the village.
1t was British war ship. What would
she do? Would she tack around in the
bay and pick up stray coasters as prizes,
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 of 1912. The sight of British war
ship in Boston bay was not pleasant We
were poor tLen, and had no monitors to
go out and sink the enemy or drive them
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 Harbor were in great distress
over the strange ship that had appeared at
the mouth of the harbor
1t was a fishing place in those days, and
the harbor was full Of boats and smacks 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 a good fight, but
they were poorly armed, and had nothing
but fowling pieces and shot guns while
L
tide was down during the morning, so that
there was no danger 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 sand spit that
makes one side Of the harbor stood the lit
tie white tower known us Scituate Light
In the house behind the light lived the
keepers family, consisting ofhimself 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 and the eldest daughter, Rebecca
about fourteen years old, two of the little
boys, and young girl named Sarah
Windsor, who was visiting Rebecca.
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 iloated, and those in deep wa
ter 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
AS the tide spread out over the sandy
flats it filled the harbor so that, instead o.
a small channel it became q wide anG
beautiful bay. The day was fine, and there
was gentle breeze ripping the water and
make ii sparkle in the sun. What splen
did day for fishing or sailing. Not mucl
use to think of either, while that war shil
crossed and recrossed before the harbol
mouth
About2 o'clock the tide reached thu
high water mark, and, to the dsmay o
the people, the ship let go her anchor
swung her yards around, and lay abou
half mile from the first cliff. They were
going to land to burn the town. Will
their spy glasses the people could see thu
boats lowered to take the soldiers ON shore
All then there was confusion and up
roar. Every horse in the village was pu
into some kind of team, and the womel
and children were hurried Otto the wood
behind the town. The men would sta,
and offer as brave resistance as possible
The guns were light and poor, but the,
could use the old fish house as fort, ant
perhaps make brave fight of it. Ifwors
came to worse, they could at last retrea
and take to the shelter of the woods.
1t was q splendid sight. Five larg
boats manned by sailors, and filled by sol
diers in gray and red coats How thei
guns glittered in the sun. The oars al
moved in regular order, and the officers
in their fine uniform, stood up to direc
| Al - .
pany, come with a war ship aud canno
to fight helpless fishermen.
So Rebecca Bates and Sarah Windso
thought as they sat up in the lighthous
looking down on the procession of boat
as it went past the point and entered til
harbor.
"Ob, if only were man !" said Re
becca.
"What could you do q See what lot G
them-look at their guns"