The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-05-31

4 surviving Heroine Of 1912.
There Il an interesting story connect,
ed with Cedar Point, Scituaie Harhor
Mass. The heroine Is Miss Rehsca,'
Bates. now bright genial old !.ldv I,
eighty-four, whose memory continues
remarkably clear. The story, aiken
from her own lips, can be dependsa
upon as thoroughly reliable. Her f.,h'
or was Captain Simeon Bates: he wa
light-keeper Mt the time, and was ,hs
first who liz the light, in April, ISL
In the spring Of the following wear
English cruisers were numerous IN Mas.
sachusetts Bay, and on one occasion the
launches Of an English fEigate were
sent into Scituate Harbor. They -,
lire to vessels at the wharves, and towed
out two, at the same time threatening
to destroy the town il any resistance
was offered. After this event a homs
guard was formed, and detachments
were stationed at Cedar and Grow Points.
and in front Of the village, with bras
piece. When there was no sail In sight.
the guards were allowed to 20 of 10.
their farms.
again until the following September.
Rebecca. at that time eighteen years Of
age, and her sister Abigail, fourteen
years old, and still living, were sitting
toward evening sewing with their moth.
or. Captain Bates and the rest Of his
large family and the guards
were all away. Mrs. Bates told
kebecca It was time 10
put on the kettle. As Rebccca went
into the kitchen she for the first time
perceived an English ship Of war close
at hand and lowering her boats. II
knew the ship at q glance" she said
" 1t was the La Hogue. 20 Lord,' saws
to my sister the old La Hoqus i On
here again! What shall we dop here
are their barges coming again, and
they'll burn up our vessels jus. as they
did afore.' You see, there were two
vessels at the wharf. loaded with flour.
and we couldn't afford to lose that in
those times, when the embargo made II
so hard TO live we had TO bile pumpkins
all day to get sweetening for sugar.
There were the muskets of the guards.
l was good mind to take those out be-
yond the lighthouse and fire them a,
the barges; might have killed one or
two, but II would have done no good.
for they would have turned round and
fired the village. I'm tell you what
we'll do said l to my sister; look
here says /, you take the drum, I'll
take the fife.' was fond of military
music, and could play four tunes on the
fife. Yankee Doodle was INV master
piece. l learned on the fife which
the soldiers had at the light
house. They had a drum there. too:
20 l said to her, you take the drum.
and I'll take the FIFE What goodll
that doP' said she. Scare them,' said
|. All you've got to do is 10 call the
roll, Ill scream the fife, and we must
keep out Of sight; II they see u, they'll
augh us to scorn.' showed her how
% handle the sticks, and we ran down
behind the cedar wood. So we put in,
= the boys say, and pretty soon look
ID, and / could see the men In the
Darges resting on their oars and listen
ng. Whom | looked again saw flag
lying from the masthead Of the ship.
Ny sister began to make y speech, and
said, Don't make noise; you make
ne laugh, and can 4 pucker my mouth
When l looked again l saw they had
zen the flag, and they turned about 50
quick man fell overheard, and they
picked him up by the back Of his neck
md hauled him in. When they went
a, l played Yankee Doodle" i not
his heroine. who saved two ships laden
With Hour, and perhaps other valuables.
rom destruction, entitled to pension'
The has five brothers and sisters still liy-
ng, the eldest s., and the youngest II.
Ter grandfather was 100 years and one
Month old at the time Of his death
!. q. W. Benjamin, IN Harper's Magazine
or June.