Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-08-28
A SEA BATTLE.
The Encounter Between the Enterpriae
and Boxer on the Maine Coast.

| The Lincoln County News publishes this
account of the famous fight, given by an old
resident of Pemaquid: "All along the coast
| the people were scared about the British YES.
sells coming and landing their men to burn
the houses, and some of 'em really took to
to the woods and hid. There were two British
vessels cruising of the coast, the Tenedos
and Boxer; well do | remember seeing their
boats filled with men pulling past Pemaquid
Point, and some one, l don't know who it
was, fired three guns at 'em. l was running
about the hill here playing. heard the re-
port and saw the fash and the smoke drift
| ing away before the wind. The boats fired
canister into the bushes, and an awful rafting
il made. Many time have heard old Sam
Mcintyre swear, when he was in liquor, that
| he fred 10 shots at the boats, although some
said he was scared on hearing the firing
that he ran off and hid under bridge.
'iOne Saturday afternoon, just after had
driven the cows home. saw the Boxer com
ting into Johns Bay and anchor just back of
the island. between il and Pemaquid Point;
and the folks were pretty well scared about
it. and some of 'em was nigh going into the
woods. But father, who had seen the last of
the Revolution and was a Freewill Baptist
besides. not mite uneasy about the
Brtisher. On Sunday morning she laid there
to an anchor, her black hull shining in the
sun. One Of her boats with an officer had
pulled over to Monhegan. Our folks were so
unsettled on the account of the vessel that
none of 'em went to meeting. 1t was nigh
| onto one o'clock, and boy like | was mighty
hungry and thinking about my dinner, when
all OF sudden I saw they appeared to be in
n great hurry aboard the Boxer getting her
under weigh. and presently she was standing
out under all sail.
"'Clmb up on the smoke-house and tell
us what you see, said my father. Our house
was built on rising ground, and the smoke
house was about Is feet high and built of
poles. From the top of it could see all
around. Away to the w's't'd l saw vessel
coming down under sail, with the stars and
stripes flying. | commenced to feel pretty
safe then. 1t was not long before
they neared each other, and almost
| at the same time sheet of flame
and smoke burst from their sides and could
see the water torn up in spray by the shot
The American vessel was good deal the best
sailor and she out-msnpuvred the Boxer.
The firingwas rapid that they were soon
hid in smoke. Once in a while, through
rift in the cloud could catch a glance of
their tstiered sails snd rigging. They drift
! ed out towards Monhegan. looking like cloud
of thick vapor, from which burst ineessant
spouts of flame. | guess the folks forgot all
about dinner and everything else when the
deep boom of the guns woke the echoes
among the rocks. and the windows ratified in
their frames. Watching the fight it seemed
To be an aye. although it only lasted IS min
utes. tell YOU. sir have never forgotten
that sight, though co years have passed. and
the old mans withered cheek flushed and
his ewes kindled as he spoke.
..By and by the firing slackened and the
smoke rolled away to leeward One of 'em
had lost his msinmast head, and sails of both