The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-10

A
WITH vIsIToRs-A GRAND MILITARY PRocEs-
s1oN-A DINNER AND ELOQUENT sPEEcHu
AND HrsroR1cBL ADDRESS BY HON. JOHN >.
BABsoN
GLOUCESTER Mass, August 0, 1875
Although Massachusetts, has had surfet Of centen-
anniversaries the stirring times Of the Revolution
they were not all exhausted until the celebration here
in Gloucester to-day First came the commemorative
Of the North Bridge affair In Salem followed In RAPID
succession by the Concord Lexington and Bunker Hill
celebrations and finally this stid bat industrious and
thriving has had enthusiastic demonstration IN
commemoraton Of an important and lively naval event
which took place in her waters just hundred years
ago The celebration although hastily arranged, has
been by no means an Insignificant modest one, and
the occasion was made general and pleasing holiday
by all the inhabitants Of Cape Ann
RKNNIscEScEs EVENT CELEBRATED.
Just a century snce-when Gloucester was then
thriving of five thousand or six thousand inhab-
itants-an attempt was made by Captain Lindsay and
crew of the British shp-ofwar Falcon TO destroy the
town The Falcon OF the ships which had
aided the British the battle of Bunker Hill. On
August 5, 1873 she appeared Ipswich Bay where
attempt was made steal sheep from the farmers but
Major Coffin and a few of his neighbors made
such noise with few stray
kets that the foragers thought there must
be a whole company OF troops and retreated Lindsay
continued cruise around the Cape and August s.
fell in with schooners from the West Indies bound
To Salem. He captured and chased the other into
Gloucester Harbor The latter run ashore between
Pearces wharf and Five Pound Island. Lindsay followed
her as far as could anchor and prepared 70
take possession of her
RESISTANCE THE CITIZENS OF GLOUCESTER
The citizens objected this and commenced prepare
tions give the British a reception The people
had guns mounted and little ammunition; but they
got old swivcls and hastily mounting them ON car
riages proceeded with these and all the old muskeu
could be procured protect the schooner One OF
the swves placed under the direction of Captain
Joseph Foster the other under that of Captain Brad
bury Sanders both Jealous patriots Part Of our men
repaired the wharf and the the hill the OPP
poste side of Wilson'S Cove BY this time Lindsay had
manned two bsrgcs with fifteen each, armed with
muskcts and swivels and Them under command OF
n lieutenant with six prvaes In another boat to seize
the schooner and bring her under the Falcons bow Az
they reached the vessel of the bargemen
boarded her at the cabin windows. whcreupon
SMART FIRE OPENED UPON THEA
by people on the shore, which killed three OF thu
enemy and wounded the lieutenant in the thigh. The
latter returned to the ship and Lindsay then sent IN
the other schooner and cutter he had to attend him,
well armed with orders To the commanding officer 10
fire the damned rebels" wherever he could una
them. At the same time he commenced cannonadih9
the town from the ship and poured several broadsdea
into the most thicky settled part of the place NOW,
my boys" said he, will aim at the damned
Presbyterian church =, some shot more my brave fel
lows and the house Of God will fall before you!n
To complete the work of destruction which he had thui
commenced the Infatuated captain then sent boat,
with of his men, to land on Fort Point and at
tempt to set the town in flames by kndng IRE among
the fish flakes the beach; but this purpose VAS lrus
rated by body of our people, who went round to Tho
spot and made prisoners of all the men During all
this time the party ut the waterside was performing
wonders and their bravery was at length rewarded by
complete victory They got possession of both
schooners the cutter and barges and with them tool
thirty five men.
In this fight two Gloucester men were LOST Benjamin
Rowe instantly killed and Peter Dur.ey mortallJ
wounded and died shortly after During the engage
ment shots struck several houses and one which
struck the Unitarian meeting house is stil preserved
To-day 1t hangs in the centre Of the old church
sALUrEs
The celebration, before intimatcd, was modest
affair but yet it very enthusiastic and enjoyable
There was the inevitable ringing of bells and sautes at
morning and Eight and all the available banners
and bunting for miles and miles around were appropri
aed for the temporary decoration of Gloucester Early
in the morning the citizens from the sur
rounding towns commenced TO pour IN en-
niasse and for the Glouccsterites none OF
them seemed to have any other business but To CON-
that Falcon gunboa affair of hundred years
One of the conspicuous features OF the day was
and military procession, which, for this place
simply an enormous affair II comprised the various
militia and Grand Army organizations the fire COM
panes and various secret societies the whole forming
brilliant and enlivening
''NINE HUNDRED NINETY MINES. F"
In the ranks secret organization denomi-
mated the mine Hundred and Ninety mines, which,
although comprises several fedora; office holders 10
understood be of the sections of the Banks and
Lamar ring against Grant and Wilson After the pro-
/ cesson had gone through the principal streets Of
Gloucester wendell its way to Cape Pond Grove where
the formal exercises and other festivities took place
There absence of windy orators and prosy speak
ers and hence the dinner and general rolckng OF the
day highly enjoyed by everybody The Rev
Richard Eddy made happy speech nj the close OF thu
dinner Mr.. John Babson also gave brief address,
There the customary amount of traditional patriot
ism in everything that said, and of course such
sentiments were heartily applauded
This evening the festivities were brought to close BY
dancing.
SKETCH GLOUCESTER.
Gloucester Is noted the world for its fishing in
dustrics and lattcry has attained considerable of
reputation as summer resort II was Incorporated into
a town May % 1899, and into city in 1873 There are
five postal villages in the city proper Bay View Is
fashionable watering place on the northwestern shore.
In the vicinity of Anisquam there some immense
boulders and rolling stones which attract the attention
of the curious One of these immense rocks weighing
300 tons, at Squam Common Is so evenly
poised that u child move II with its finger.
At West Gloucester the scenery Is very wild and ro-
mantle; at rhompson's Mountain, 205 feet high, the
spectator has most magnificent ocean view extending
In a clear day Massachusetts Bay, distance Of
more than forty miles to Provincetown East Glouces
ter Is becoming and more fashionable summer
resort Gloucester has eighty four farms, 2 l62 dwell
ing houses and 5000 legal voters. The city Is very
beautiful having fine views of the harbor from Cover
nor's Hill only a short walk from the Atlantic House.
There are three good hotels, the Atlantic Webster
House and Pavilion; very fine City Hail. free Public
Library the gift of Samuel +. Sawyer and twenty six
schoohouses Gloucester furnished 1900 men for the
army and navy during the late war and about 100 Of