The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-10-20

uaUitaut Oh tuo suou seu-ktrt village
of Rockport. Mass Tho first events
Of note In his history are connected
with the war Of 1912. which are gwen
in his own language. ''When the war
Of 1912 broke out (Rockport then San
dy Bav. was part OF Gloucester Mt
that time). l enlisted in company
called the Sea Fencbles. One day
large English frigate was seen in the
ofilng. headed directly for Sandy Bay.
Il soon became evident that she intend
ed to sack and piIlage the village.
Bells were rung. and the little compa-
ny Of Fencibles hastily mustered. de-
termined to do their best and defend
their homes. CourIers were hastily
despatched 20 Gloucester aud adjoining
towns for help. The frigate sailed by
Folly Cove and anchored near Halibut
Point
"A boats crew made an attempt to
land but were repulsed by the Fonci-
bles, who were reinforced by compa-
MES from Gloucester. Salem, Newbu-
ryport and elsewhere. who were on
tile spot within twelve hours of the
first alarm. The ship then sent an
other fleet of boats and tried to effect
landing. but were again beaten back.
General Appleton. Of Gloucester,
marched 1900 men down on Halibut
Poin. which had the effect OF overaw-
Ing the commander Of the frigate. and
be soon after got under way and
sailed of. firing some parting shots
which strcuk perilousIy near some of
the men.
"Shortly after this took place ship
ped aboard the privateer 'Orlando. of
Gloucester. 10 prey on the enemy's
commerce.. We went out in her and
somewhere near the Grand Banks we
captured topsail schooner from Ja-
maica and put prize crew aboard.
We hadn' been aboard OF her twelve
hours when il set in thick fog. Daring
the time we thought wc heard the rus
Ting of vessels sails. and soon voices
could be distinguished. The fog lifted
up bit and disclosed an English
frigate close alongside. They soon
had their boats out and our prize was
retaken. We were carried aboard and
put down in the lower hold and the
gratings fastened down over the hatch
way. There was also another frigatc
accompanying her.
This was on Friday and the two
ships were cruising on the American
shore. The captured prize was sent TO
Halifax. On the following Saturday
the ship struck on the Brazil rocks oil
Cape Sable and began to bill rapidly
with water. The hatchways were
knocked off and the prisoners Chamber
oil TO the decks. aud victors and van
quished with common zeal did every-
thing TO save themselves.
1.-The ship could not sink below the
deck, however. because the rock on
which she lay prevented her founder
ing.
ut was thick fog at the time. and
the companion ship had come TO
anchor near by. We cut away her
rigging and let the masts 60 over the
side. and hove her guns overheard.
We fired IN mute guns rs signals OF dis
tress. and tho boats of both ships were
soon engaged carrying the crew OF the
wrecked ship 10 her companion. Each
vessel had hundred men for crew.
with hundred prisoners. We were
carried into Halifax. not In the harbor.
but up river which runs TO the west
ward of the city. and up ut the head OF
the river is great basin OF water. IN
the center OF the basin was an island
on which prison was built. We were
marched up there by the soldiers. TAX
en- into counting'room and every
name taken down. There were ono
thousand American prisoners there
then and about five hundred French
men. They were parted of. tho
Frenchmen living in one end and the
Americans in the other. The officers
lived in the attic. We were there
about sixty days. When we were cast
away we lost everything we had but
what we stood In. and that was very
slim costume, 1 assure You. The wa
ter around the island flowed into the
prison, aud we used to go down and
take our shirts oil, wash aud hang
them up. and stripped TO the skin.
watch them until they were dry and
put them on again.
I'VE were there sixty days and they
were pretty lively days too. The Of
ficers organized band OF music and
they would 90 upon platform and
deliver patriotic orations. Once In
while the music would strike up
Yankee Doodle, TO the great amaze
ment of the soldiery. You know the
sConst. tuition sank the 'Guerricre.'
aud the crew OF the latter were taken
to Boston. A ship from the latter
port exchanged 507 prisoners. among
whom were the 'Guerrere's crew. and
we came to Boston.
=: came home and stayed few
days. aud then won't to Glou cester
n gain and shipped aboard the 'Macedo-
| al. n echaoner nriv ateer of about 400