Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-28

sci would reach ner QeSJlnablOu 1sttONh
was already in great straits. Early In the
spring of 1913 Charnissay appeared at st.
John, with six vessels and 500 men, and
blockaded Fort Latour. Attack after
attack failed, but the blockade continued
and famine threatened in time to compel
a surrender. But the willy Latour kept
watchers down the coast to intercept the
ship from Rochelle, and, when she ap-
peazed, slipped thr ugh the blockading
squadron In the night and turned her
bow toward Boston, where he confidently
counted on getting help. His lady went
with him to add her persuasions to his
when dealing with the grave rulers OF
Massachusetts,. One pleasant Sunday IN
June, when the Boston people were re-
turning from church, Latour's ship sailed
boldly into the harbor to the great aston
ishment Of all and the CONSERVATION OF
many. Latour Immediately waited ON
Governor Winthrop and told his errand.
Next day the magistrates were called to-
0ether and the matter discussed. The
result Of their deliberations, after long
search Of the Old Testament for proceed
ents, was to refuse Latour active AID, put
to give him permission to hire such
ships and men in Boston as he required
TO enable him to reach his fort In safety.
This. however, was enough, and Latour
hired in Boston four armed vessels and
IA men, besides purchasing large
quantity Of supplies. With this aug
mented force he returned TO st. John,
drove Charnissay away, and chased him
to Port Royal, where ne attacked him
and captured q considerable amount OF
property. The New Englanders returned
to Boston in triumph, and CharnisSay
went back to France to organize another
attack on LatOur.
Up to this time Lady LatOur had stood
BY her husbands side as his chief adviser
and companion, but now the time came
when she had to act alone. As l4atOur
did not dare to appear in France, it be
came necessary for her to go there to OBJ
tain further assistance against their
resolute enemy. She accordingly set
sail for Rochelle, her old home, but had
scarcely arrived there when Charnissay
heard of her presence in France and pro
cured warrant for her arrest But she
had timely notice of her danger, and es-
capped to England, and there was able to
obtain all the munitions of war AMI sup
plies she needed. Freighting a ship with
them, she set sail from London in March,
1914, for Fort LatOur. In the same ship
embarked man little loved by the men
OF Massachusetts bay, Roger Williams,
the founder of the Providence plantation.
Unfortunately, the master of the ship,
instead Of proceeding on his voyage with
due diligence, lOitered on the way To
trade, and did not reach Cape Sable until
September. Charnissay, in the mean
time, had reached Acadia and was cruis-
ING in the Bay Of Fundy to intercept his
enemy. IatOur, half distracted az the
DELAY in his lady's return, had been TO
Boston seeking further help, only to find
that source of assistance closed against
him by the threats of CharnisSay. The
latter, maintaining i close watch in the
BAY of Fundy, boarded Lady LatOur's
shio, but she and her party were con
cealed i'm the hold, and the master pre-
tended that he was bound direct TO BOS-
ton. So Charnissay had To let the vessel
20, and his prey escaped; but it was no
longer possible to reach Fort Latour, and
to Boston the vessel went. There Lady
I.atOur brought an action on the charter
party for deviation and delay, and re-
covered a verdict Of e., 900. Then hiring
three armed ships in Boston to convey
her home she at length reached Fort La
tour, after having been absent for more
than year.
Difficulties and dangers were now
gathering around the doomed fortress.
CharniSsay had command of the sea, and
was able to cut Off his supplies. Then
I.atOur, leaving his brave wife in com
mand Of the fort, went To Boston early in
the winter and sent small vessel laden
with provisions to st. John. CharniaSay,
however captured il, and LatOur found
himself unable 10 return to his fort. So
the brave lady was left to face her own
and her husbands enemies alone. Ii
was here that the great energy and the
herOiSm of her character were brought
into play. Although bothered With the
care Of child that was hardly moro than
an infant, she showed herself in the full
est sense capable Of command. Her vigi-
lance never rested, and she inspired her
men with her own courage. But the
number, after wedding out traitors and
deserters, was less than 100, and they
were badly supplied with provisions and
munitions of war. In February, immedi-
ateiy after the capture of Latour's pro-
vision ship, CharniSSay attacked the fort.
lie expected an easy conquest, but found
himself sadly mistaken. From one Of
the bastiOnS Lady LatOur directed the
fire on his ships, and with such effect that
one Of them had 10 be lowed away in a
sinking condition, her decks covered with
dead and dying. Ii took CharniSSay
nearly two months to repair the damage
4 Nl.,N &c 4
Fort LatOur. In April he again returned
with larger force, and this time at
tackled the fort from the land side For
three days and rs many nights the assault
proceeded, but Lady IatOur conducted
the defense with such skill and courage
that the beSiegcrs made no progress, and
Charnissay was obliegd To draw Off his
forces with loss. With calm eyes that
looked upon danger without fear, the
heroine was ever foremost in the fight,
nerving the timid by her example and en-
cOuraging the bold. This siege, like the
former ones, would have failed but for
the fOulest treachery. Charnissay found
means to bride Swiss sentry who
guarded one Of the bastiOns, and in the
dim light Of Easter Sunday morning,
when the garrison were at prayers, this
traitor suffered the enemy to approach.
They had already scaled the walls before
the alarm was given. Lady Latour in
this extremity showed the same cool dar
ing as when fighting behind the battle
ments. She placed herself at the head Of
her little band, and made so desperate n
defense that every foot that CharnisSay
won in the fort was paved with dead
men. IL was only when further resist
ance was unayailing, and fU7 the purpose
Of saving the lives of her devoted men,
that she consented 10 accept the terms
offered by CharniSSay and surrender.
These terms, however. were shamefully
violated. CharniSSay was so much en-
ragged at the havoc that had been made in
his ranks that he resolved 10 wreak his
vengeance on the garrison. He caused
all the men in the fort to be hanged eN
cept one man, to whom he gave his life
on condition that he became the eXecu
toner Of his comrades in arms. Lady
LatOur would have shared the same fate
but for the fear that the court Of France
4 l. L