Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-05-24
Rebecca, The Drummer.
TRUE STORY OF THE wAE OF 1912.


about in the bay to pick up strange
coasters as prizes. or would she land sol
diers to burn the town? In either case
there would be trouble enough
Those were sad days, those old times
in 1872 The sight Of British war
ship in Boston Bay was not pleasant
We were poor men then and had no
monitors to 20 aud sink the enemy or
drive him Of Our navy was small. and
though it afterward 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 Seituate Harbor were in
great distress over the strange ship that
had appeared at the mouth Ofthe harbor.
It was a fishing place in those days,
and the harbor was full of smaeks and
boats Of all kinds. The soldiers could
easily enter the harbor and burn up ey-
srything. 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 nuskets
and cannon
The tide was down during the morn
ing. 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 to see what would happen next.
On the end Of the low. sandy spit that
makes one side Of the harbor. stood the
little white tower known as Seituate
Light In the house behind the light
house lived the keepers family, consist
ing Of himself. wife. and several boys
and girls At the time the ship appear
ed. the keeper was away. and there was
no one at home save Mrs Bates, the eld-
est daughter, Rebeeea. about fourteen
years old. two Of the little boys, and a
young girl named Sarah Winsor. who
was visiting Rebeeea-
Rebecca had discovered the ship, while
she was up in the light house tower pol
ishing the reflector. She at once de-
scended the steep stairs and sent the
boys of to the village to give the alarm
For an hour or two the ship tackled
and stood Of TO sea, then tackled again,
and made for the shore. Men. women
and children watched her with anxious
interest. The tide turned and began to
flow into the harbor. The boats aground
and fats fOated. and those in deep wa
ter were swimming around their moor.
: ings- Now the soldiers would probably
land If the people meant to save any
thing it was time to be stirring. BOatl
! were hastily put out from the wharf
D and such clothing. nets and other valua
bles as could be handled were brough
E ashore. loaded into hay carts and car
ried away.
= Ii was Of no use to resist. The sol
: diers, Of course, were armed. and If th'
: people made stand among the houses
5 that would not prevent the enemy frou
r destroying the shipping.
T As the tide spread out over the sand,
/ fats it filed the harbor so that insteat
9 Of small channel, il became wide an,
/ beautiful bay. The day was fine, an
T there was a gentle breeze ripping tn
: water and making it sparkle in the sun
Il What splendid day for fishing or sail
: iugl Not much to think Of either Will
;. that war-ship crossed and recrOssed be
fore the harbor mouth
: About two o'clock the tide reache
high water mark. aud. TO the dismay c
the people the ship let 90 her anchor
swung her yards round. and lay que
about half = mile from the first elf
I They were going to land to burn th
= town With their spy glasses the pes
q pie could see the boats lowered to tax
II the soldiers ashore
= All then there was confusion an
-e uproar Every horse in the village va
: put into some kind Of team. and th
women and children were hurried of
l. the woods behind the town The NE
u would stay and offer as brave resiz
= ance as possible. Their guns were HgE
ID and poor. but they could use the Ol
p fsh-hOuse as = port and perhaps make
y brave fight Of it. Kworse came TO wors
= they could at last retreat and take
&c the shelter Of the woods
1t was splendid sight Five lar.
I. boats manned BY sailors. and filed wit
as soldiers in gay red eoats- How the
.h guns glittered in the SUM- The cars a
e- moved together in regular order. and Il
Il ofeers in their fine uniforms stood I
be to direct the expedition 1t vas eOu
" ageous company coming with v2r-sh
I'd and cannon to fight helpless fishermen.
h So Rsbecca Bates and Sarah Wins
IF thought. as they sat up in the ighthou
as tower looking down on the procession
he boats as it went past the point and e
N tered the hzrb0r.
be Oh If 1 only we're 4 man :" chi
" Bebecca-
ais What could you do? See what
bis Of them and look at their guns =
we Il don't care I'd fight Id use