The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-06-28
r I | ] !!
! ! Sc HaI1||AB z! :
3 Romance Of Colonial Days
By ROBERT A. CUNNING
[coPYR1GHr, 1901

dennesS and force of the blow, Mercer
concentrated his fire on the point Of
attack, and u1der it's cover the little
column advanced in silence at the double
quick step.
They were enabled to approach very
near the battery, the guns of which
were elevated at an angle above their
heads to strike the parapets of the fort.
which suddenly ceased firing, and with
cheer the devoted band rushed upon
the foe, leaped a slight breastwork
which the confident Frenchmen scarce
" deemed necessary for defense, and
drove back or killed the gunners and
spiked the cannon.
The battery silenced, Lyman made a
dash at another in the rear and sue
seeded in disabling one gun, when the
enemy recovered from their surprise
and began to press him hard. A band
Of Hurons pressed in between him and
The Mohawls, and force OF regulars
threatened his left flank, while force
of Canadians and Indians threw them
selves between him and the path Of re-
treat. Nothing daunted, the brave
veteran formed his command in hollow
square, the New Englanders with their
bayonets on the outside, while the New
Workers., on the inner line, poured in
deadly fire. In this order they broke
through the Gordon Of foes, and slowly
retreated, aided by the fire from the fort,
which the watchful Mercer renewed as
soon as he perceived Che retrograde
movement. That little square was fast
diminishing under the incessant fire,
and still they struggled on, until, with
in rifle range of the fort, their as
sailants deemed it prudent to retire,
and the battered remnant crept within
the walls.
The Mohawks did not return. Sep
arated from their allies, they were capt
ured or had escaped in the labyrinths Of
the forest. The enenny's fire ceased at
shutdown. The feet had suffered
severely and retired out of range for re-
pairs, while Montcalm decided to wait
I'LL morning before making the final as
sau1t. Outside the fort the night was
dark and the rain was falling. Inside,
in. the room occupied by the wonaen and
children, Selwyn found Jabe with his
arm in splints and his spirits below
zero. ..-..
s'Not on my own account, Captain"
he said; ''Its the women and children
that I'm thinking about, and what will
become of them if the French and red
skins take the fort.''
ssThere is chance of escape for them,
Jabe, and I think could arrange it if
YOU don't think it too dangerous. The
gun-boats -" ...
zone would be enough" cried Jabe,
joyfully catching at the idea. est will
hold all the wounded that will bear
moving, and there's only three women
and two children
''The enemy's gunboats are in line
of battle,' replied Selwyn, tfbut the
nights dark and the breeze is off shore.
If you could slip through the feet, you
might escape; but who would work the
vessel?'
'sThere's a New England fisherman
with shot wound in his leg-he could
take charge Of the boat, and with a few
provisions and couple of guns, we
could make landing on some island
until another chance Offers" t
. After some further discussion, Selwyn
laid the matter before Mercer, who gave
his consent, and Renwick took charge
of the details.
At midnight one of the prizes dropped
down the river and received it's freight
the women and children and four of
the sick or wounded men, including
Jabe, with rifles and provisions
Renwick decided to steer them
through the feet and for this purpose
took canoe in tow to enable him to re-
turn. Knowing the position of the gun
boats, he steered for a point which he
believed offered free passage. The
darkness which aided the escape also
exposed them to the danger of collision
and he raised just sufficient sail to watt
the vessel through the perilous passage
and insure the slightest possible shock
in case she struck hostile bark. AS
he approached the line, he heard the
tramp of the sentinels; but not light
was to be seen. Then came slight
shock followed by scraping sound, as
the boat grazed the side Of an invisible
object.
stQui vivep shouted a sentinel. Lights
were coming up from the lower deck.
There was commotion and trampling
Of feet. But the fugitives held on their
way. Renwick listened for Indications
Of pursuit, but there were none. He
then gave the helm to the New England
fisherman, whispered word of farewell
to Jabe and lowered himself in the
canoe, which he cut loose, and turned
It's prov toward the fort.
Morning revealed the fact that the
beseigers were drawing nearer, and their
fire more destructive, while many of
the guns in the fort had become I'M
serviceable and the ammunition was
running low. Mercer, true to his de-
termination to defend the fort to the
last, was cheering his men in their hope
less efforts, when he was struck by a
shot from the feet and fell dead upon
the orumbhng battlements. Then
Colonel Lyman took the command and,
to save further waste Of life, ordered
the. firing to cease and hoisted the white
flag. And thus fell Oswego, the only
fortified position held by the English
on the great lakes. Bancroft, the hiss
{ torian, says that in order to appease the