Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-03-28
TIE MYSTERIOUS WIDOW.

During the summer of 1S41 the Brit
ISL had not only laid claim to all that
portion of the district of Maine lying
east of the Penobscot, but Admiral
Griff etc and Sir John Sherbrooke, the
Latter being the Governor General of
Nova Scotia, had been sent with
heavy force to take possession, and oc-
cupied the town of Castine, which
place commands the entrance to the
Penobscot river. Shortly before the
arrival of the English squadron, Com
modore Samuel Tucker had been sent
around to Penobscot Bay to protect the
Am eTican coasters, and while the Brit
fsh sailed up Castine, he lay at Thorn
asGon.
1t was s. schooner that the Commo-
dore commanded, but she was heavy
one, well armed and manned; and she
carried the true Yankee "grit" upon
her decks of which the enemy had re-
-ceived from them, rather too many
proofs. On the morning of the 28tE Of
August, messenger was sent down
from Belfast with the intelligence that
the British frigate was coming from
Castine to take him. Tucker knew
that the British feared him, and also
that Sir John Sherbrooke had offered
large amount for his capture.
When the Commodore received the
intelligence bis vessel was lying at one
of the low wharves, where he would
have to wait two hours for the tide to
set him off; but he fastened to have
everything prepared to get her off as
soon as possible, for he had no desire
60 meet the frigste.
The sch0oner's keel was just cleared
from the mud. and oneof the men had
been sent upon the wharf to cast off
the bovine, when q wagon, drawn by
one horse, came rafting down to the
spot The driver, a rough-leoklng
countryman, got out upon the wharf,
and then assisted middle-aged woman
from the vehicle. The lady's first in
quiry was for Commodore Tucker. He
was pointed out to her, and she stepped
upon the schooner's deck and ap-
pro acbed him.
Commodore" she asked, "when do
you sail from here?"
+" We sail right off, as soon as posi-
BILE, madam"
Oh, then, [ know you will be kind
20 me-" the lady urged, in persuasive
tones. My poor husband died yes
terday, and I wish to carry his corpse
to Wiscasset, where we belong, and
where bis parents will take care of it..
"But, my good woman, [ shan't go
20 Wiscasset"
eff you will only land me at the
mouth of the Sheepscot, will ask no
more. I can easily find boat there to
take me up"
Where is the body?" asked Tucker.
g In the wagon" returned the lady, at
shawl to wipe away the gathering tears.
have a sum OF money with me, and
you shall be paid for the trouble"
Tut, tut, woman; if I accommo-
date you, there won't be any pay about
r."
The kind-hearted old Commodore
was not the man to refuse favor, and
though he liked not the bother of tax
ing the woman and her strange accom-
paniment On board, yet be would not
refuse. When he told her he would
do as she had requested, she thanked
him with many tears in her eyes.
Some Of the men were sent upon the
wharf 60 bring the body on board. A
long buffalo robe was lifted off by the
man that drove the wagon, and beneath
1t appeared q neat black coffin. Some
words were passed by the seamen, as
Gley we're putting the coffin on board,
which went to show pretty plainly that
sbe affair did not exactly suit them.
hut 1t may have been but prejudice on
their part, but the seamen should be
allowed q prejudice once in while,
when we consider the many stern reali-
ties they have to encounter. Hush,
my good men," said the Commodore,
as he heard their murmured remon-
ssrance. Suppose you were to die
away from home-would you not wish
that your last remains might be carried
ia your parents? Come, hurry now"
The men said no more, end ere long
the coffin was placed into the hold,
and the woman was shown to the cabin.
In less than half an hour the schooner
was cleared from the wharf, and stand
ing out from the bay. The wind was
light from the eastward, but Tucker had
no fear CT the frlgate now that he was
once out of the bay.
In the evening the lady passenger
came on deck, and the commodore as
sured her that he should be able to land
her on the next morning. She express
her gratitude and satisfaction, and re-
marked that before she retired she
should like to Look and see that her
husbands corpse was safe. This was
of course granted, and oEH of the men
lifted off the hatch that she might 60
down into the hold.
e I declare" muttered Daniel Carter,