The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-04-14
Single Copies S Cents.

]
treat to the fort. They we're compelled e
abandon the gun Williams fled to the fori
and was murdered. Young Bailey stopped
10 spike the gun, and when he reached the
fort the gate was closed and barred. lie
jumped oyera fence into a corn field, here
he lay concealed until the battle was over
and the massacre was ended. and 50 he was
saved. ma
"Iie was counting me, Miss Anna Warn.
er, a. that very time. boy as he was" said
Mrs. Bailey, as she related the cIrcum-
stances TO me. III was six months older
than he" she said; 'just old enough to
make him draw the cider after we we're
married."
Mrs Bailey had many things to tell me
Of her experience there during the war Of
lsl215-lhe Second War for independence.
Commodore Decatur, with the frigates
United States and Macedonian, ran into
the Thames up to New London and aboye
in the summer Of 1913, and was there
blockaded by a British squadron. At one
time, when that squadron threatened TO
lombard New London the military forces
tha, manned Fort Trumbull, in the harbor,
were deficient in flannel for making cannon
cartridges. Every family In New London
and Groton was visited in search Of the
needed material, and a considerable quan.
tity was cheerfully sent to the garrison.
Mr.. Latham, neighbor Of Mrs. Bailey.
came TO her seeking more. She started
out and collected all the little pettlcoats Of
children that she could find In the village.
I" This is not half enough, Mrs. Bailey
said Latham to me; can't you find moreP'
You shall have mine too said, as /
cut with my scissors the string that held Il
to my waist and handed IL to Latham. Il
was heavy new one. which / had spun
and woven myself, but didn't care groat
for that. All wanted was 10 have 1t do
duty for my country" and her blue eyes
sparkled with the recollection.
When Latham told the story 10 some of
Decatur's men, who were assisting the
garrison, they declared II would be shame
to cut up that garment into cartridge pat
terms; 1t ought to futter at the masthead
of one of their frigates as an ensign, under
which they would fight right calamity out
on the broad ocean. But those irigates
had no occasion TO raise an ensign or open
their ports, for they were kept prisoners In
the Thames for the remainder of the war.
period of about twenty months.
Mrs. Bailey gave me an account Of the
festivities at New London after the Presi-
dents proclamation of peace, early in 1915,
was received, in which she and her hus-
band participated. On the evening Of the
2lst of February ball was given at the
courthouse. The town was brilliantly H.
Illuminated. Admiral Hothan was the COM
mander OF the British squadron blockadlng
the Thames. He was highly esteemed by
the citizens, for, like his predecessor, Com
modore Hardy, he was gentleman, and
his conduct had been marked by foTber
ance and courtesy. His flagship was the
Superb. He determined to join in the fes-
tivties on that occasion. Announcing the
parole on his ship to be "Amena," and the
countersign "Amity," he and his officers
went on shore, mingled freely and cordially
with the inhabitants, and danced at the
ball with the ladies of New London.
81 was then just fifty years DID," said
Mrs. Bailey when telling me the story,
but | was as spry as any OF the girls,
plump and fair, dressed in Canton-crepe
gown, low-necked, short-waisted and short
sleeyed. remember had a string of gold
beads around my neck and white slippers
on my feet. The Admiral was almost sew
enty years old, yet he was as frisky as
fox, with jolly red face and whlts hair.
danced two cotillons with him. Captain
Bailey said 1 was the prettlest woman at
the ball, and he was good judge. Now
don't laugh at me because of my vanity.
love to remember it because my husband
said it,'' and tears glistened In her eyes.
haYe no doubt of the justice Of the
Captains remark, for at the great age OF
elghty-five years there were in the face OF
this remarkable woman remains OF former
beauty. She was still viyacious, her smile
was winning, and her large blue eyes re-
tanned much of their former lustre. And
when little later asked her permission
to make pencil sketch of her face, she
consented with almost coquettish readiness.
When remarked, as was tracing the out
lines, Captain Bailey was a good judge"
she Instantly replied:
~ was never ashamed of my face"
Alas, poor Anna Bailey On the 10th Of
January, 1851, little more than three
years after my visit, her clothes took fire
and, ,shewais burned to death at the age of
over eighty-eight years. She died the YEN
erable postmlstress of Groton.
BENSON j. LOSING, LID.