The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-12

over six feet in height, the jaw bone being
very massive and the rest of the limbs in
proportion The bones held we'll together
Around the waist was an officers belt from
| which was suspended, by a small chain an
empty sca0bard, while the neck was en-
circled by the regulation stock then in
vogue among British marines. The
waIst-belt was ornamented with brass
buttons, upon which was engraved the
British crown. The belt and stock were well
preserved as was also the rough plank
on which the skeleton lay when dscOv-
cred. The story of the officers death,
as cleaned from notes made at the time, and
from other sources, was as follows: During
the summer following the evacuation of
Boston by the British, the party of Marble
head fishermen above alluded to dropped
into Boston harbor for the purpose ii re-
plenishing their supplies before starting for
home after their long cruise They num-
bered twelve men, and occupied three
smacks of barges rs they were then called.
Having obtained their supplies they put
about and started for their homes which
were situated on the coast some eighteen
miles to the northward. Some time after
they had started, and just as they were 60
ing through Point Shirly Gut, few miles
below the city, they were observed by Brit
ish gunboat that was cruising around, and
immediately cutter was lowered from the
side of the gunboat, and soon after a party
the hardy fishermen.
The latter crowded on all sail, and en-
deayored to get out of the way, butt became
apparent that escape was impossible, and SC
they lowered their sails and calmly awaited
their pursuers. The latter, upon observing
this, sent up shout of triumph and bore
down upon what they deemed an easy prey,
but the plucky fishermen had made prepare
tons to receive the British, and when the
officer in command stood up in the stern of
his boat and ordered the Americans to sur
render a hooking laugh was sent back across
the water, and was followed by a burst of
flame and a volley which killed two of the
marines and one sailor The British replied,
and for few minutes lively firing was kept
up on both sides. Finally, when the boats
closed, by a skillful use of boat-hooks and
other weapons, the fishermen succeeded in
capslzing the light cutter of their opponents
and throwing them into the water, which
runs with great velocity at that point. Some
OF the men sank Immediately, while
Others endeayored to board the fishing
smacks, but were beaten off and drowned.
The fishermen crowded on all sail again and
escaped. Noting the mishap to his men, the
officer in command of the gunboat ordered
away the second cutter to pick up the sur
vivors. None were found alive but the
bodies of all were recovered save one, that of
the officer of the cutter who had ordered the
surrender. A few days afterward, however,
his body was thrown up on the beach of
what is now Winthrop, where it was dis
covered and inferred by some OF the lnhab-
itants and now, after the lapse of more than
a century, it is again brought to light by the
descendants of those who buried it there gem
erations ago. 1t is understood that the
British government will be notified of the
discovery IN order that the officers identity
may be established and the remains sent
back to England, if his relatives SO desire.