The Portland daily press., 1883-10-06
ENTERPRISE AND BOXER.
The Locality Of the Famous Sea Fight
Fixed Little East of seguin.

The following communications published in
the Rockland Opinion:
:. Inc nooted question as to the precise local.
Ivy where The Enterprise aud Boxer fought
their battle on the coast of Maine. in the war
OF lolz-lo, is again agitating the public mind
through the columns OF the press had s1r-
posed that the question had long since be an
asenniteiy settled, but it seems it has not. But
IL has in my own mind, at least, and will
give my authority and leave your readers to
Judge f'r themselves as to the facts.
About 1923 my fathertook me on vo77ape to
sea with him for my health, for was a feeble
lad OF consumptive tendency, and no one he
lieved that should live to the age of maturitv
Our snip was lying in Wilmington, N. O..
loading with naval stores for the English Gov
ernment and bound for st. George, Bermuda
Inc cabin OF our ship was tbroDged evenings
win captains OF other vessels lying in port
and among them was Captain James Spripcar
OF Bath, Maine. The evenings were nspaIlv
passed In relating adventures and bajrbreadth
escapes, which these 'od salts'' had encoun-
tered during their eventfnl lives. When it
oane 70 captain Springer's turn, he related
the following incident:
When was boy in nv teens had
stroDg inclination for seafaring life but nv
parents were so strongly opposed to il saw no
cnance OF having my wishes gratihed without
running away from home and shipping on
board some vessel in some other port The
Enterprise was at Portlands fitting opt for
cruise, and in want OF men. l said to myself
this is my opportunity. / immediately started
for home TO consult with my sister. who
after mnch persuasion, had not only given
her consent for mo to 30 to sea, but had pre-
pared my clothes privately for VOYAGE.
unknown to my parents. was in luck for
on arriving home, found nv sister alone. I
quickly informed her of my determination to
stArt immediately for Portland, go on board of
tne Enterprise, and enlist tor cruise and
before my parents would return should be
well on my way to Portland. took an extra
shirt only (my sister strapped it to nv back)
ana lett home within an hour on foot for
portland. arrived there the next day, went
on BOARD the Enterprise, enlisted, and before
night we were IN pursuit of the Boxer. The
next day we fought the battle, whipped her,
ana carried her into Portland, and ia less tb an
week was at home with over handred
dollars prize money in my pocket. We en-
countered her a little to the eastward of Sc
gai's, and made quick work of it. but Il was a
bloody battle, and I had enough of sea fights,
never mad any desire to engage in another
one."
:, Many OF the citizens of Thomaston, who
lived on the road west of the Meadows. wit
messed tue contest between the Enterprise and
Boxer. Among them were Major John Spear.
Eikanah Spear and Jeremiah Berry. each AZ
whom have heard relate the circumstances
connected with that contest, many a time.
They heard the distant booming Of cannop
very distinctly, and by it they knew that
battle was III progress between hostile forces:
and, grasping their spv-glssses, they assembled
Dodges mountain. On arriving at the top Of
the hill, lust above the Marsh house, they
turned their eyes to the south and beheld The
two vessels enveloped in smoke. They watched
their movements with the most intense inter-
eat during the conflict, for although they could
see nothing but huge bank of smoke, yet
they knew the contest must soon end, and the
course the vessels took after the smoke had
cleared would decide which had conquered.
The smoke lifted and the two vessels bore
Tor Portland. The Enterprise met her enemy
the Boxer, little to the eastward of Seguin,
and conquered her. n G. FLETcHER.
Camden September 49,