The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-10
Che 8utlana 9aily Globs,
SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1876.
HcDecca, the Drummer-A story OF
the war of 1912.

the war OF Isl
1t was about nine o'clock in the morn
ing when the ship appeared. AT once there
was the greatest excitement in the village
1t was British war-ship. What would
she do2 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 the 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 them off.
Our navy was small, and though we after
wards had the victory and sent the trouble
some 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 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 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 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 as Scituate Light.
In the house behind the light lived the
keepers family, consisting of himself, wife
and several boys and gils. 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 Wind
sor, who was visiting Rebecca.
Rebecca had been the first to discover
the ship, while she was up in the lighthouse
tower polished 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 at sea, then tackled again and
made for the shore. Men, women aud
children watched her with anxious interest.
Then the tide turned, and began to flow
into the harbor. The boats aground on
the flats foated, and those in deep water
swung around at their moorings. Now the
soldiers would probably land If the peo-
pie meant to save anything it was time to
be stirring. Boats were hastily put out
from the wharf, and such clothing, nets
and other yaluables as could be handled
were brought ashore, loaded into haycarts,
and carried away.
1t was of no use to resist. The soldiers,
of course, were well armed and if the peo-
II tho hon tba 4
would not prevent the enemy from the ship
ping.
As the tide spread out over the sandy
flats it filled the harbor SO that, instead of
a small channel, it became wide and beau
tfu bay. The day was fine and there was
a gentle breeze ripping the water and max
ing it sparkle in the sun. What splendid
day for fishing or sailing. Not much use
to think of either while that war-ship
crossed and recrossed before the harboI
mouth.
About o'clock the tide reached the high
water mark, and, to the dismay of the peo
Pile, the ship let go her anchor, swung hei
yards around and lay about half a mile
from the first cliff. They were going to
land to burn the town. With their spy
glasses the people could see the boats low
cred to take the soldiers ashore.
All! then there was confusion and up
roar. Every horse in the village was put
into some kind of team, and the woman
and children were hurried off to the woods
behind the town. The men would stay
and offer as brave a resistance as possible.
The guns were light and poor, but they
could use the old fish-house as fort, and,
perhaps, make brave fight of it. If worse
came to worse, they could at last retreat
and take to the shelter of the woods.
1t was a splendid sight Five large boats
manned by sailors, and filled by soldiers In
gray and red coats. How their guns gilt
tered in the sun. The oars all moved in
regular order, and the officers, in their fine
uniform, stood up to direct the expedition.
1t was courageous company come with a
war. ship and cannon to fight helpless fish
ermen.
So Rebecca Bates and Sarah Windsor
thought as they sat up in the lighthouse
looking down on the procession of boats
as it went past the point and entered the
harbor.
sob! If were only a man" cried Re-
becca.
"What could you do? See what lot OF
them; and look at their guns"
81 don't care. I'd fight. I'd use fathers
old shot-gun-anything. Think o. uncle's
new boat and the sloop."
eyes; and all the boats"
ats too bad isn't it?'
eyes; and to think that must set here
an d see it all and not lift finger to help
"Do you think there will be fght!"
81 don't know. Uncle and father are in
the village and they will do all they can.
"See how still It's in the town. There
not man to be seem"
"Oh, they are hiding till the soldiers are
nearer. Then we'll hear shots and the
drum"
"Thc drum How can they? It's here.
Father brought it home to mend it last
night"
tsDid he? Oh, then let's
"See, the first boat has reached the sloop.
Oh. oh They are going to burn her"
"Isn't it meau?"
ats 100 bad too
"Where is that drum2"
cts in the kitchen"
'sI've great mind to go down and beat
"what good would that dor
"Scare EN-"
''They'd see it was only two girls, and
they would laugh and 90 ON burning, just
the same.
'No. We could hide behind the sand
hills and the bushes. Come let's
ooh, look look the sloop's afire!"
''Come, cant stay and see any more.
The cowardly Britishers. to burn the boats,
Why dou't they go up to the town aud fight
like"
"Come, let's get the drum. It'll do no
harm and perhaps
swell, let's. There's the fife, too we
might take that with us.
ayes; and we'll"
No time for further talk. Down the
steep stairs of the tower rushed these two
Young patriots, bent on doing what they