, 1886-12-16

TO BJtiltf forces LOT II supreme tllDIl 10
dislodge L.atour. The latter in the mean
time sought to open up a trade with the
people OF Massachusetts bay, and to en-
list their aid in his cause. In the first he
succeeded but not in the last, although
he made friends Ia Boston who proved
most scrviceable 10 him Mt n later day.
Blu what was more to the purpose, he
sent II tried agent TO Rochelle to obtain
the aid of his friends there against Char-
nissay. The response came in the shape
OF n fine ship, fully armed, lpden with
ammunition and supplies, and having on
board about li0mcn. But before this YES
sci would reach her destination Latour
was already in great straits. Early in the
spring Of 1913 Charnissay appeared at st.
John. with six vessels and 800 men, and
blockadcd Fort I.atour. Attack after
attack failed, but the blockade continued
and famine threatened in time 10 compel
Il surrender. But the willy Latour kept
watchers down the coast to intercept the
ship from Rochelle, and, when she APP
peared, 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 tho 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. l.atour Immediately waited ON
Governor Winthrop and told his crrand.
Next day the magistrates were called to-
gether and the matter discussed. The
result Of their deliberations, after II long
search Of the Old Testament for proceed
cnts, was to refuse Latour active aid, but
to give him permission to hire such
ships and men in Boston rs hc 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 a large
quantity of supplies. With this aug
mented force he returned to st. John,
drove Charnissay AWAY, and chased him
to Port Royal, where he attacked him
and captured n 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 Latour
did not daro to appear in France, it be
came necessary for her to 20 there to OBJ
ain further assistance against their
r~esolute cnomy. 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 II 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 wal and sup
plies she needed. Freighting n ship with
them, she set sail from London In March.
1914, for Fort Latour. In the same ship
-, lao rIra1 - nm, lftt1n 1.rn1 1r thn ..,
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. Charpissay, in the mean
time, had reached Acadia and was cruis-
ing in the Bay OF Fundy to intercept his
enemy. Latour, half distracted at 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 u close watch in the
Bay of Fundy, boarded Lady Latour's
ship, but she and her party were con
ccnled in the hold, and the master pre-
tended that no was bound direct to Bos-
ton. SO Charnissay had to let the vessel
go, and his prey escaped; but it was no
longer possible to reach Fort Latour, and
to Boston the vessel went. There Lady
Latour brought an action on the charter
party for deviation II delay, and re
covered a verdict of 60, 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
thnn a year.
Difficulties and dangers were now
gathering around the doomed fortress,
Charnissay had command of Che sea, and
was able to cut off his supplies. Then
I4atour, leaving his brave wife in com
mand of the fort, went to Boston early in
the winter and sent a small vessel laden
with provisions to st. John. Charnissay,
however, captured 1t, and LatouF found
himself unable to return 10 his fort. So
the brave lady was left to face her own
and her husbands enemies alone. It
was here that the great energy and the
heroism of her character were brought
into play. Although bothered with the
care of n child that was hardly more 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 han 100, and they
We're badly supplied with provisions and
mullllOuS VI WuT. IN cDludf1. fi.li4leul-
ntely after tho capture OF Iatour's pro
vision ship, Charnissay attacked the fort.
He 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 n
sinking condition, her decks covered with
dead and dying. 1t took Charnissay
nearly two months to repair the damage
done his vessel in that brief contest with
Fort Latour. In April he again returned
with n larger force, uud this time Mt
tacked the fort from the land side. For
three days and rs many nights the assault
proceeded, but Lady Latour conducted
the defense with such skill and courage
that the besiegers made no progress, and
Chnrnissay was OBLIGED to draw of 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 cues, would have failed but for
the foulcst treachery. C%harnissay found
sneans to bride u Swiss sentry who
guarded one of the bastions, and in the
dim light of Easter Sunday morning,
when the garrison were Mt 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 dnr-
ing ms when lighting behind the battle
ments. she placed herself ut the head OF
her little band, and made SO desperate q
defense that every foot that Charnissay
won in the fort was paved with dead
mon. II was only when further resist
ance was unavainng, and for the purpose
Of saving the lives OF her devoted men.
that she consented 20 accept the terms