Morris tribune., 1883-09-22
AN HISTORIC SEA BATTLE.
The Encounter between the Enter
prise and Boxer on the Maine Coast.

The Lincoln County (Me.) News pub
| l;shes this account of the famous fight,
given by an old resident of Pamaquid:
"All along the coast the people were
scared about the British vessels COM
ing and landing their men to burn the
houses, and some Of 'em really took to
the woods and hid. There were two
British vessels cruising off the coast, the
Tenedos and Boxer. Well do i remem-
Der seeing their boats filled with men
pulling past Pamaquid Point, and some
one, don't know who twas, fired three
guns at 'em. l was running about the
hill here playing. I heard the report
and saw the flash, and the smoke DRIFT
ing away before the wind. The boa is
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 fired nineteen
shots at the boats, although some said
he was SO scared on hearing the firing
that he ran of and hid under bridge.
One Satut day afternoon, just after | had
driven the COWS home, [ saw the Boxer
coming into Johns Bay and another just
back o the island, between it and Penn
aouid Point; and the folks were pretty
we'll scared about it, and some Of 'em
was nigh going to the woods. But faith
err, who had seen the last of the Revolu-
ton and was Freewill Baptist besides,
was not mite uneasy about the British
er. 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 account of the yes
sci that none of 'em went to meeting. It
was nigh onto l o'clock, and boy-like, [
was mighty hungry and thinking about
my dinner, when all Of sudden | sa )
they appeared to be in great hurry
aboard the Boxer getting her under
weigh, and presently she was standing
out under all sail.
"'Climb upon the smoke-hous and
tell US what you see,' said my father.
Our house was built on rising ground,
and the smoke-house was about fifteen
feet high and built of poles. From the
top of it could see all around. Away
to the W'>t'd saw a vessel coming down
under all sail, with the stars and stripes
flying. I 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 sailer, and she out manOeGvred the
Boxer. The firing wasso rapid that they
we're soon hid in smoke. Once in
while, through rift in the cloud,
could catch glimpse of their tattercd |
sails and rigging. They drifted out to-
ward Monhegan, looking like cloud OF
thick vapor. from which burst incessant |
spouts of flame. I guess the folks all |
forgot dinner and everything else when |
the deep boom of the guns woke the |
echoes among the rock, and the win
doWs ratified in their frames. Watching |
the fight it seemed to be an age, al |
though it lasted only forty-five minutes. |
| tell you, sir, | have never forgotten |
that sight, though sixty years have |
and the old mans withered |
cheek flushed and his eyes kindled as |
he spoke. /
"By and by the firing slackened and
the smoke rolled away to leeward; one |
of 'em had lost its malnmast head, and |
sails of both hung in ribbons from the
yards. I almost strained my ey es out o"
my head to get glimpse of the colors, |
butthey were too far off to make them
Oub. by. SC0JuS CHI uTliJ away W lH0 |
est'd the folks thought the Enterprise
was beat: The suspense among US was
awful, even the women folk catching
their breath with a sob, and many
prayed aloud. Presently l saw them set
their courses, tack, and stand to the
west'd; then we felt the Brltisher was
Itell you was tired boy
when came off that smokehouse just
rs if l had worked hard
I'll day chopping klndling-wood. re-
nemder Henry Tibbets and his brother
pulled out in a dory from Christmas
cove to see how the fight had gone, but
hey could get no satisfaction in answer
O their hail. It was said that when the
Boxer was boarded her decks were slip
1ery with blood, and numbered up with
,plinters, coils of rigging, and bodies of
lie dying and dead, many of whom had
been tossed overheard, inst before her
.olors were hauled down, to conceal
heir losses.
81 heard that her boats crew watched
he fight from Monhegan, and when her
was shot away one of them
There it goes! ahd four of
,ur best men with it. mind, that's only
what folks told around, but what | saw
l know, ind I've tried to tell you about
he fight just as | saw it."