The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-05-05
Yankee Fishermen's Pluck.

Knowlton who died recently in that city,
aged 81 years. The death of Capt Knowl-
ton recalls deed Illustrative of Yankee
pluck and adventure in which Capt.
Knowlton played the principal part The
story is a most readable one, and is thus
/ told by the Advertiser:
The death of Capt. Harvey knowlton,
alluded to in another column. calls vivid
ly to mind the part he played in getting
! possession of his vessel which was cap
tured by the officers OF the Dominion gov
eminent for alleged violation of the old
imaginary three mile limit treaty.
The vessel was seized about the first of
Sept, 1871, and taken into Guysboro. n.
$, to await the decision of the court
Her owners, Messrs. Mckenzie, knowl
ton & Co., had been subjected to great
inconvenience and expense by unfriendly
Canadians who captured one of their yes
sells the year previous, and getting no re-
dress in the courts. they determined, if it
happened again. that they would depend
upon the mselVes to get possession of their
property.
To this end Capt. Knowlton left Glou-
cester, Sept. 20. 1871, and arrived at Man
chester. four miles below Guysboro. the
9th. In order to disarm suspicion and
give him an opportunity to fully develop
his plans he Went to mining and obtained
several specimens of gold quartz
after four days at this occupation he
took his specimens and went to Tanso.
where he secured the services OF six
American fishermen. viz. Daniel Rich
ards. John Penney. Charles Weber. d.
Isaac. Malcolm McCloud and Peter ellis.
who cheerfully volunteered in the enter
prise
oct Sd Capt. knowlton and his men
left Canso and travelled through the
woods distance of eighteen miles to
Guysboro'. This occupied the entire day,
as they We're often obliged to hide them
selves to escape observation.
| Arriving at Guysboro' after dark they
concealed themselves in a barn. having:
taken the precaution to lay in good
stock of provisions. Capt. knowlton
kept himself constantly disguised and EN-
ployed his time in accommodating around
the town, visiting the wharf where the
vessel was moored, sounding the channel.
and obtaining such other information as
he would require when the moment for
action arrived.
He found that the officials were 50 sure
OF thcir prey that they had no keepers on
board of the vessel; but she was stripped
of sails. rigging. etc. The captain made
good use of his eyes and ears during his
stay in town. and found where these APP
purtenances We're stored His men kept
very quiet in the barn and We're observed
/ by no one. They We're. however. as might
be expected, impatient for action.
| Sunday Oct. Sth. was the time set for
! the recapture of the vessel. At half-pa
/ nine D clock it was bright Starlight with a
favorable northwest breeze blowing
| Cant. knoNlton and his men left their
hiding place and boldly walked into Guys
boro Il distance of six miles. and We're
fortunate enough not to meet any person
ON their way
/ They arrived i'll the centre OF the town
/ just as the clock on the church steeple
pealed f, il the hour OF eleven. Observ-
| inc snmelight> Vet burning i'll the houses.
| they waited patiently until they Were ex-
tin4uished. and then proceeded to the
wharf.
They were not long in putting them
selves inside OF the building which con
tanned the Horton sails, rigging, etc
These they took charge of and soon had
| them on board the vessel. But. alas for
| human expectations. they had made IA
mistake and GOT the sails belonging to an
other vessel. and they We're obliged to re-
turn them. causing yeNatious delay.
But II could not he helped. The vessel
was aground. but the tide was coming in:
her sails and rigging were soon found
and quickly bent, and all was ready for
starting 1T one % clock. The suspense
WAS terrible. as the appearance of any
person on the wharf to raise an alarm
would defeat the entire plan.
Fortune favored the brave however,
and it would have been bic fight, if the
captain and his men had been opposed at
this point OF the proceedings. All was
ready. but 1t was found that the craft was
Yet aground. Time was precious now. \
/ warp was got out and the vessel was hove
aNtern. At hall past two the joyful fact
that She tioatett became apparent. All
was >tilI. Net word had been uttered.
nor an unnecessary sound made during all
these preparations,
! Sail was put Oh htl aud with Capt.
! knuWltpn at the helm the saucY little craft
/ filled away and showed "a pain OF clean
| heels, as She passed cut ot the halhor
at liberty, and lele;> I'd from the hands OF
a government which had made itself par
ticularly obnoXiouS to all civilized com
munitieS.
The surprise vi those having the Hor-
ton ia charge, us well as the good citizens
of GuNsboro' when they awobe on that