The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1878-06-22
SURVIVING HEROINE OF 1919.
IHarper's Magazine for June.l


There is an interesting story connected
with Cedar Point. Scituate harbor, Mass.
The heroine is Rebecoa Bates, now o
bright. genial old lady of 81, whose
memory continues remarkably clear.
The story. taken from her own lips, can
bs depended upon as thoroughly reliable.
Her father was Captain Simon Bates:
he WAS light.keeper at the time. and was
the first who lit the light, in April, 1911.
1n the spring Of the following year En-
glish cruisers were numerous in Massa-
ohusetts Bay, and on one occasion the
launches of an English frigate were sent
to Scituate harbor. They set fire to yes.
sells at the wharves, and towed out two,
at the same time threatening to destroy
the town If any resistance was offered.
After this event home guard was
formed, and detachments we're stationed
on Cedar and Grow points, and in front
Of the village, with a brass piece. When
there was no sail in sight the guards
were allowed to 60 off to their farms.
Nothing to occasion alarm occurred
until the following September Rebecca,
at that time 18 years of age. and her
sister Abigail, IA years old. and still
living. were sitting toward evening sew
ing with their mother. Captain Bates
and the rest of his large family and the
guards were all away. Mrs. Bates told
Rsbecca it was time to put on the kettle.
As Rebscca went into the kitchen she
for the first time perceived an English
ship.of-war close at hand and lowering
the boats. ~ knew the ship at q glance, "
she said. ut was the La Hague. 'Oh,
Lord! says l to my sister, the old La
Hague is off there again! What shall we
do2 Here are their barges coming again,
and they'll burn up our vessels Just as
they did afore.' You see, there were two
vessels at the wharf, loaded with -four,
and We couldn't afford to lose that in
those times, when the embargo made it
so hard to live we had to bile pumpkins
all day to get sweetening for sugar
There we're the muskets of the guards.
was good mind to take those out be.
yond the lighthouse and fire them at
the bargss; I might have killed one or
two. but it would have done no good,
for they would have turned round and
fred the village. III tell you what'l
de- said to my sister; look here.
says l, you take the drum, I'll take the
fife.' was fond OF military music, and
could play four tunes on the fife. Yam
kee Doodle was my masterpiece.
learned it on the fife which the soldiers
had at the lighthouse. They had drum
there too; 80 ! said to her. You take
the drum and III take the fife.' what
good that dor says she. Scare them,
says l.. Al! you've got to do is to cal
the roll. III scream the fife, and WI
must keep out of sight; il they see u.s.
they'll laugh US to scorn.' showed hel
how 10 handle the sticks, and we rar
down behind the cedar wood. So WI
put in, as the boys say, and pretty soor
looked, and could see the men in tn,
barges resting on their oars and listen
Ing. When I looked again I saw flat
nyIng from the masthead OF the ship
NY sister began to make speech, and
said Don't make noise; you make m,
laugh, and I can't pucker my mouth.
When I looked again I saw they hat
seen the flag, and they turned about 8,
quick man fell overheard, and the,
picked him up by the back of the necl
and hauled him in. When they went OF
l played Yankee Doodle" Is not thi
heroine, who saved two ships laden will
Hour, and perhaps other valuables from
destruction, entitled to pension? Sh
has five brothers and sisters still living
the eldest 85 and the youngest II. He
grandfather was 100 years and one mont
old at the time OF his death.