Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1886-05-06
An Army Of Two.
how. THE BATES GIRLS SAVED scITUATE
Il 44. TOWN.

i TOWN.
The obsequies Of Miss Abigail Bates,
one of the heroines Of the war of 1872,
was held lately from her residence in
Scituate town. Rev. F. D. Sargent. OF
the Methodist Episcopal Church, con-
Quoted the services. The remains were
inclosed in coffin covered with broad
cloth, with heavy silver trimmings. On
silver plate was the inscription:
ABAaAIL BATES,
Aged s8 years, months,
16 days.
There we're numerous floral tributes.
The remains were inferred in Union
cemetery beside her sister, who died
December l3, 1881, in her eighty ninth
yeat. Her tombstone says that
"Shc lived beloved,
And died lamented."
"a heroine of 1872"
Miss Bates will be greatly missed by
the summer visitors, who always called
upon her TO hear her relate the story
of how she and her sister Rebecca pre-
vented the town being invaded by the
British sailors, ard saved two schoon-
ers lying in the harbor at the time, with
cargoes of -four.
The story was in effect that about
nine o'clock one morning ship ap-
reared. 1t was British war ship
What would she do? Would she tack
about in the bay to pick up strange
coasters as prizes, Or would she land
soldiers to burn the town? In either
case there would be trouble enough
Those were sad days in 1912. The
sight CT British war ship in Boston
bay was not pleasant. We had no
monitor to fight the enemy. The good
people of Scituate harbor were in great
distress over the strange ship that had
appeared at the mouth Of the harbor.
The town was a great fishing place
in those days, and the harbor was full
Of smacks and boats of all kiI, Is. The
British soldiers could have easily en-
tered the harbor and burnt everything.
There were men enough to make a good
fight, but they were poorly armed, and
had nothing but fowling pieces and
shot-gnns. The tide was down during
the morning. so that there was no dan
ger for few hours, and all the people
went out on the cliffs and beaches to
watch the great ship, and to see what
would happen next.
| On the end of the low, sandy spit
that forms one end Of the harboi stood
the little white tower known as Scitu-
ate light. In the house behind the
| lighthouse lived the keepers family
consisting Of himself. wife and several
boys and girls, At the time the ship
appeared the keeper was away, and
there was no one at home save Mrs
Bates, the eldest daughter, Rebecca
then about nineteen years old, and Alb.
igail, then about fifteen years of age.
and two of the little boys. Rebeccu
had discovered the ship while she was
up in the lighthouse tower polishing
the reflector. She at once descended
the steep stairs and sent the two little
boys to the village to give the alarm
For an hour or two the ship tackled
and stood off to sea, then tackled again
and made for the shore. Men, women
and children watched the ship with
/ anxious interest. The tide turned and
began to flow into the harbor. The
boats aground and on the flats foated
and those in deep water We're swim
ming around their moorlngs. Now the
soldiers would probably land. If the
people meant to save anything it was
time to be stirring. Boats were hastily
put out from the wharf, and such cloth
ing, nets aud other valuables as could
be bonded were. brought ashore, load
/ ed into hay carts and carried away. L
was of no use to resist. The. soldiers
of course, We're armed, and if the peo
pie made stand among the houses
THAT would not prevent the enemy
from destroying the shipping in 1thf
harbor. As the tide spread out oyel
the sandy flats II filled the harbor1
that. instead Of o small cha1H1
came wide and beaRi
day was fine, ar