Middletown transcript., 1875-06-05


since called Gaspee Point, below Paw
tuxet, and the Hannah escaped. arriv
ing safely at Providence about sunset
The situation of the enemy was 500
proclaimed by beat of drum, callin,
upon those who desired to 90 and de
stroy the vessel to meet that evening a
the house of James Sabin. Eight long
boats, with five oars each, were provid
ed by Mr.. John Brown, and soon afte1
ten o'clock the party embarked at th'
wharf directly opposite the house and
proceeded with muf1ed oars, but undis.
guised. upon their daring enterprise
Captain Abraham Whipple, afterwards
Commodore, who. three years later,
fred in Narraganset bay the first Amer
ican broadside ever discharged at any
portion of his maissty's navy. command
ed the expedition. 1t was long past
midnight when the party approached
the vessel, where they were joined by
another boat from Bristol. Twice the
hail of the sentinel was disregarded,
when Duddingston himself, leaping on
the gunwale, hailed, but received no
answer. A second time he hailed, and
was answered in terms energetic and
profane by Whipple. who at the same
time ordered bis men to spring to their
oars Shots were then fred from the
vessel and returned by the boats
While Whippls was replying, musket
ball, fred by Joseph Bucklin, wounded
the lieutenant in the groin, and as he
fell the attacking party boarded the
schooner 1T the bow, and after a brief
struggle drove the crew below, and be-
came masters of the deck. Dudding-
ston was severely wounded in the arm
and body. He was attended by DR..
John Mawney, then student of mcdi-
cine, who accompanied the expedition
as surgeon. This was the first British
blood shed in the war of independence.
1t was near daylight when, the lieu
tenants wounds being dressed, he was
landed at Pawtuxet, and the captors,
having set fire to the vessel, returned
to Providence. In the flames of the
burning Gaspee were consumed that
night the last hope or wish of pardon.
The forms Of law were to be complied
with, a few short years Of increasing
irritation and of earnest preparation
were to ensue, but the end was already
foreseen, and for this colony there alone
remained to prepare, quietly but with
lvigor, for the inevitable war.
Midshipman Dickinson seBt repert
of the capture to the admiral, who
transmitted a copy Of it to Governor
Wanton, with the request that he would
take measures to apprehend the offend
ers. Deputy-Governor Sessions also
advised that large reward should be
offered for their detection, and stated
that such was the opinion of the princi-
pal gentlemen of the town The Gov
ernor issued proclamation according
ly, Offering e100 sterling to any person
who would furnish evidence sufficient
fer conviction. An active correspond
ence ensued between the Governor, the
admiral and the lieutenant, whose
wounds, though severe, proved not to
be mortal, and an account of the capture
was sent to Lord Hillsborough by Gov
ernor Wanton.
But the excitement occasioned by this
daring act did not prevent the steady
course Of justice 1t is one Of the most
striking facts connected with the affair,
hat at the July term of the common
pleas in Kent county an action was
brought by Jacob Green & Co. against
Duddingston, for the rum and sugars
'eized by him in the spring, on its pas
'age from Greenwich to Newport, and
'ent to Bosten for condemnation. A
'erdict for the plaintiffs was rendered,
With 9295 damages and costs. Dud-
lingston appealed to the superior court.
'ut failing to appear. the case went by
lefault. He afterwards petitioned the
Assembly for new trial, on the ground
i unavoidable detention from the meet
ng Of the court. The petition was
granted, on condition that be would de-
'esit the amount of the judgment with
he clerk of the court to await the re-
ult.
A mulatto slave named Aaron Briggs, ,
'hs was engaged in the expedition, and |
escaped from his master and {
vent on board the Beaver, came near
the whole party. most of whom .
psre among the leading men in Provi- !
lence, with some from Bristol. Ad-
niral Mentagu forwarded bis deposition t
. Governor Wanton. requesting him |
o arrest the persons therein named for s
but Wanton, although t
ventually loyalist. instead of obeying @
be request took depositions invalidat- e
ng the testimony of Aaron and fsrward- a
d them to Msntagu, who, although un-
as he afterwards informed .
~n< ,,bl;-.l l.. ...A ...:.c.l