Daily Republican., 1881-12-17
AMATDEN's srRATAGEH.
Tho Death Of Miss Rebeccs Rates or
3eltuate. Mass.

l v
Seituate, MASS.
Miss Robecca Bates died at Scituate,
Mass, on Wednesday, at the age of IS
years.
In 1912 the borders of Massachusetts,
Bay were looked after by a number of
British cruisers. Inhabitants of the
fishing villages were forced to band
themselves in sort of military fashion,
and repel by arms attacks made upon
their chicken coops. The maratime en-
emy had their hearts set On poultry.
which was natural, considering their
long AMI forced subst lnce upon tough
salt meats. To thwart them vas to ex-
cite their anger and malice, and not un-
frequently failing to get chickens, they
r"sorted TO harsh measures in retail a.
ton. In tbs spring of the year named,
n British fri3ate ran into Scituate har-
boz, set fire to some vessels aud seized
others, ard threatened, if resistance was
offered, to lombard the town. When
the fig,ts departed, c.tiz ms of Scitu-
ate banded themselves into u home
guard, and fortified Grow Point with
brass cannon. The Bri ish took the
hint and stopped away, ard gradually
as alarm subsidized, the home guard went
ab)ut its farming.
September came. One pleasant even
ing OF that month Miss Bates, then II
maiden Of Is, sat sewing. Her sister,
Abigail, then II years Old. and her
mother sat with her. Captain Simeon
Bates, the father, likewise the keeper
Home Guard were sea tered about.
Mrs. Bates had just said to Eebecca
that it WAS time to pnt the keith on
The maiden rose aud went into the
kitchen. Glancing through the window
as she passed she saw British frigate
close ut hand and about lowering her
boats. In her own narrative of the oc.
currenGe Miss Bates said she kneA the
ship at q glance a. the LI Hogue, and
she called out to her sister:
., Lord! the old La H'gue is off here
again. What shall we d.? Here are
th-ir burgess c)m,ny, and they'll
burn up oar vessels just as they did be-
fore"
Two vessels lly at tn, wharf llden
with flour, ana Miss Bates in her mar
rative says, I've could not aif,rl to
lo.e that IN those days, when the en-.
barge mada it 50 hard to live we had to
bile pumpkins all day to Get sweet"n.
ing for sugar" Her quick mind do
cidtd 20 repel the enemy by st-atAgem.
The mu Sical instruments Of the Home
Guard were in the house. She could
play four tunes on the hf3. and her Sis
ter Abigail could bsat the drum in All
exceedingly wild nanner, Yankee
Doodle" was their MASTERPIECES.
The idea 1hus conceived was quickly
put through, Rebecca and Abigail, with
the drum and the fife, ran down behind
the cedar woods and in moment the
quiet "p.ember evening was startled
b. the most remarkable martial out
burst that 'vas ever heard. ~ looked"
says Miss Bates, "ani could see the
men in thu barges resting on rheir oars
and listening. Then ! saw flag flying
from The masthead Of the ship, recalling
hem. NV sister began to make IA speech
aud | said: Don't make ms laugh, for
oau't pucker my mouth When the
men in the hargas saw the tilg they
went about 40 quick that one fell over
board, aud they picked him up by the
back of his neck and hauled him in.
A quarter of an hour later the La
Hogue vail. Il away, the strains OF CYAN
kee Doodle pursuing her.