The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-12-19
A REVOLUTIONARY EPISODE.


Hassachusetts-A skeleton Found Which
Has Been Sought in Vain for Many Years.
BssToE, Dec. IA great sensation has
been caused in the quiet town of Winthrop,
Boston Harbor, by the discovery, day or
tive since, OF the skeleton of British officer
who was attached to a cruiser during the
Revolutionary War, and lost his life while
in command of cutters crew and detail
OF marines sent out to intercept and capture
\ party of Marblehead fishermen, who were
proceeding to their homes after having laid
in asupply OF provisions, etc. st Boston.
Mr. John Belcher and other old relatives of
Winthrop possess notes and papers written
sOOn after and giving details of the
officers death. Fo many years it
has been known that the body was
buried thereabouts, and the locality has
been examined time and again, but the ex-
act place OF interment remained a mystery
Hntil now. The discovery was made By
wOrkmen engaged in exeavating for a cellar
on the estate of q. Howard Wood. at Sunny
side, q part of the town which lies opposite
Apple Island The men had reached depth
of four feet when they suddenly laid bare
the feet of the skeleton. A further exam
iDStiOD, however, revealed the fact that the
BODY laid in SUCH position that the rest OF
the skeleton was inferred directly beneath
high stone wall, which had afterward been
kEilt over IL Work was temporarily sus-
pended. and after a consultation with the
proprietor it was decided to let the skeleton
remain where il was, rather than GO 30 the
expense of removing the stone wall. Rev.
p. Coles of the Methodist Church. howev-r,
actively interested himself in the matter,
and received permission to continue the
work.
He accordingly engaged Mr.. Mayo, a retir-
ed sea Captain, and Mr.. John WadswOrth, an
cid fisherman, to proceed with the work of
elimination. They removed the wall and,
after a few hours further labor, succeeded
in unearthing the entire frame. 1t was found
reclining u thick plank at n depth of be-
tween three and four feet. The soil in which
it was buried was a soft. damp blue clay,
which accounts for the excellent state Of
preservation in which the remains we're
found. The skeleton was that OF a man over
six feet in height the Jaw bones being yerv
massive and the rest of the limbs in proper
ton. The bones held well together. Around
the waist was an officers belt, from which
was suspended, by small chain an empty
seabbard, while the neck was encircled by the
regulation stock then in vogue among the
British marines. The waist belt was orna-
nented with brass buttons. upon which wss
engraved the British crown. The belt and
stock were well preserved. as was also the
, rough plank on which the skeleton lay when
d. discovered. The story of the officers death,
CLEANED from notes made at the time, and
rom other sources. Twas as follows: During
sthe summer following the evacuation of Bos-
ION by the British, the party of Marblehead
fishermen above alluded to dropped into
Boston hRrbortO- the purpose of replenishing
tAgir supplies before starting for home after
their long cruise They numbered twelve
Slen and occupied three smacks or barges
, a. they were then called. Having obtained
their supplies they put about and started for
their homes. which was situated on the
coast some eighteen miles 10 the northward.
Some time after they had started, and Just as
they were going through Point Shirley Gut,a
few miles below the city, they we're observed
by a British gunboat that was cruising
around, and Immediately cutter was
lowered from the side of the guEboat and
sssn after party of sailors and marines
started in pursuit of the hardy fishermen.
The latter crowded on all sail, and endea.
vored,to get out of the way, bat it became
apparent that escape was impossible, 30
they lowered their sails and calmly awaited
theiE pursuers. The latter, npon observing
this, set up shout OF triumph and bore
down upon what they deemed an easy prey.
but the piucky fishermen mad made prepare
lions 90 receive the British, and vixen the
officer in command stood up in the stern of
his boat and ordered the Americans 10 sur
render, a knocking laugh was sent back
across the water and was followed by
burst q flame and a ,vOlley
which KILLED two Of the ma
-Tines and one sailor. Tie British replied.
and tor a few minutes lively firing
kent Up on beth sides Finally, when the
bosts closed, ky skillful use of boat hooks
and other weapons, the fishermen succeeded
IN eApsizing the light cutter Of their oppo-
nents and throwing them into the water.
which runs with great velocity at that point.
Some-Of the men sank immedsetly, while
Others endeavorsd 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 mp the sur
viFors. None were tonnd alive. bat the
bodies of all were recovered save one that
of the officer of the cutter who had ordered
the surrender. A few days sftxward, how
ever. bis body was thrown up on the beach
of what is now Winthrop, where IL was dis
covered and inferred by some of the inhabi-
tants; and now, after the lapse of more than
century. it is again brought 10 light by the
descendants OF those who buried it there
generations ago. Il 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 80 desire.
The Senate and Tariff Reform