Weekly Trinity journal., 1875-06-26

The glory of far-off mountains,
The CLEAN of tho far-oiI sail
-
"TIIE LEXINGTON OF THE SEAS"
The attention paid to the centennals of
various events would seem to designate
this as the rightful hundredth anniversary
of American Independence, rather than
1876. North Carolina claims to have set
the ball of freedom rolling. Mecklenburg
puts in her claim, and puts forward her
Declaration of Independence, which,
whether it be true or Il subsequ produc-
ton, appears to be taken ms the worry
original by the people Of North Carolina,
and they have accordingly celebrated
their MAY Fourth of July" Then,
there is Lexington, Concord and the bat
tie Of Bunker Hill which is to stir up the
patriotism of Massachusetts and many
other sections of the country, and memo
ny is to be called upon to reach back to its
farthest limits, and history and tradition
will do the rest. Next Thursday will see
Bunker Hill trod by vastly greater
throng than on the seventeenth of June,
one hundred years before. How many
other great events that transpired during
that year which are worthy remembrance,
we cannot say ; doubtless there were
many. AT any rate, there was one, or
| th,. IN, 70,
days of each other which were of the ut
most importance to the cause for the rea-
son that they gave TO the country and to
England an indication of the spirit, as
prations and determination Of the people
and told her government by acts which
could not be misunderstood that the tyr
amy of the mother country had become
insupportable and the Americans had
made up their minds to bear it tamely no
longer.
Tho event to which allusion has been
made is what has been significantly called
tho " Lexington Of the Seas" and il was
at Machias, Maine, then II Province or
District forming part of Massachusetts,.
The rugged, hard working people of that
section had heard of the affairs at Concord
and Lexington, and late in April the
people of Machias, or few Of them, re-
solved to erect Liberty Pole. This they
did subsequently, in front Of the Town
House, on the motion of jeremiah O'Bri-
en-, one OF six brothers, who, with their
father, emigrated from Ireland. A Town
Meeting had been called on the motion Of
Mr.. Jones of Boston, then trading in
Machias. Thereat Committee Of Safe
ty was appointed and as stated above the
Liberty Pole was erected. A British
armed schooner soon arrived, conveying
two trading vessels. This n-of war
schooner Of twenty guns was commanded
by Captain Moore, an Irishman, whose
gallantry and gentlemanly conduct were
highly appreciated by the people. New
ertheless, he insisted that the Liberty Pole
should be taken down. John O'Brien
answered that the Pole had been erected
with the unanimous approval Of the peo-
pie, and that although the words were
easily said, he would find it not so easy OF
fulfillment. The attempt to take it down
was postponed, upon recommendation OF
Mr.. Jones, until the people could assem-
Bile and decide the question. The people
met, and devoted themselves to forming
plans Of resistance. They voted unani-
mously against the proposition that the
Liberty Pole should be taken down. Mr..
Jones succeeded again in porsuading Cap
tain Moore to postpone his threat to take
down the Pole.
Sunday came. Captain Moore came
on shore and attended church. During
the service he looked out the window and
saw armed men crossing the river into
town. The people of Machias had called
upon their fellow countrymen TO come to
their assistance. Capt Moore at once
understood the condition. The people
intended to arrest him. But he suddenly
made rush for window, jumped thro'
it, reached his boat, reached his man of
war, and Immediately commenced firing
upon the town, which the people replied
to with their musketry. Then he sailed
away. But the people led by O'Brien,
obtained a sloop, followed him, overlook
him in Machas Bay, some six miles
away, got alongside, boarded the English
schooner-twenty men armed with pitch
forks boarded her sharp conflict ensued
in which Captain Moore was MORALLY
wounded, ten of his men were killed, four
Americans were also killed and ten of the
English were wounded. The man-oR- war
schooner was taken and brought back to
Machias. The schooner was called the
Mar90retto. Soon two schooners were
armed and fitted out at Halifax TO proceed
TO retake her These vessels were called
the Diligence and the Tdpndquish, with
eight or ten guns and IA crew Of fifty men
for the former, and the latter armed with
Sixteen swivel guns, with crew Of TWEEN
ty men. Hearing Of this, the people Of
Machias took the armament out of the
Morgaretto and placed II in another YES