Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-10-25

most of the public buildings burned.
The news spread like wildhre. and
thousands of Americans who had been
careless all along as to the result of the
war. now sprang to the defense Of their
country. Heretofore the war had been
chiefly on the northern border, but now
hostiiities had commenced on the east,
and the whole Atlantic coast seemed IN
defenseless condition.
Militia companies were hurriedly T aised
and seaport towns hastily fortified. The
whole Atlantic coast was in a state of eX-
element, and preparations for defense
were made at every seaport village. The
first speaker was Capt Griffith Alton, of
the United States volunteer service, who
had been dispatched with a single attend
ant, Sergeant Simon Kinman, a down
East Yankee" to take command of the
hastily collected militia at the small sea-
port town of Manoa. ManOR was situated
In a convenient harbOr, which was land
locked and surrounded by high cliffs,
promontories, and peaks.
It was on q rocky portion of@the main
coast north of Belfast, and its inhab-
itants once had hopes of its growing to
fiourishing city. But it's harbor was not
safe at all periods of the year and, it
being off the main line of land travel, it
has at this day dwindled down to an in
significant fishermGn's hamlet. At the
time Of which we write, however, it was
a dOurishing little village, and, having
some excellent farming lands near it, was
of no little Importance.
Captain Alton had asked to be sent
to the defense of Manoa, for it was his
home. His parents were both buried
there, and the girl who had promised to
become his wife lived in the large stone
house on the hill, at the north side of the
village. Her father was an old retired
sea captain who by economy had man
aged to lay by fortune, and Ola was his
only child. Her mother was dead.
Perhaps Captain Atoms an xiety was
not a little Increased by the rumOrs
which reached his ears that Major
Bridges, of the English army, in COM
mand of five hundred British soldiers
was advancing on Manoa- Major Bridges
was an unsuccessful rival of Captain
Atoms for the hand of the fair Ola. He
had met her three summers before our
story opens in New York, and pressed his
suit until rejected, when the British Of
fcer few into a passion and used such
threats as would have cost him his COM
mission had it been known by his su-
periors.
Capt. Alton and he had met once on
the field of honor, and the Major was
wounded IN the right arm. be had made
so many threats against the beautiful
but spirited American girl, that Capt.
Alton had some serious approximations
when he learned that the Major was near
ManOa with a cons derable land force,
ana q DIlLlB4 u4it4-Oi-WdE 4HQ D6GA SEM
to cooperate with him.
The country through which the Captain
and his single attendant we're riding was
broken and wooded. In places, fields had
been made by clearing the timber and
breaking the ground. Houses had been
built, and civilization appeared; but fo1
most of the way they were in a thick
wood.
How far are we from town naow?" the
Yankee asked.
cit must be ten or fifteen miles"
Simon whistled softly to himself, while
his keen blue eyes rOamed about the forest
Simon was typical Yankee, tall, with large
Roman nose, angular features and Ian.
tern Jaws. His long !, g come down be-
low the body of the sorrel horse he rode
The Captain wore sword and brace OF
pistols in his belt, with holsters at hi
saddle, and his attendant, ia addition Il
his pistols, carried a long rifle.
Simon declared that he was Jest itch
ing for a fight with them darned rex
coats. an We bet I'll make it lively 70
some o. them when it does commence"
IF We can only reach there In time Il