The Irish standard., 1892-03-26
FACTS OF HISTORY
Machias, Me-, the Scene Of the First
Naval Engagement of the
Revolution.
GALLANT O'BRIEN AND CREW,

Victory for the American Seamer
After a Short but Decisive
! Struggle.
In naming the new vessels of the navy
the law prescribos that those of the first
class and battle ships shall be called
after states OF the Union, second rates
after large cities, gun boats and vessels
of the fourth class after some historic
event connected with the revolutionary
war.
! When the most recent addition to our
navy, gun boat No S. was launched from
the shipyard at Bath, Me, many won
dered who Secretary Tracy should have
chosen the name Machias, which to most
people was not only strange, but great
many had never heard of the little sea-
port.
/! TO the close reader Of naval history,
ficance. as Machias bay was the scene Of
| the first naval engagement of the revolu-
tion, which, happy to say, was triumph
| for the Americans. Fenimore Cooper
called it the "Lexington Of the sea. !"
Although the couhict was the spontane-
! GUS outburst Of some decided patriots, it
conclusively proved that American pluck
was as efficient on the sea as on the land.
The news Of the victory Of the Ameri-
cans at Lexington on the famous April
10, 1775, reached Machias twenty days
later, May 9, proceeds the San Francisco
Chronicle. At that time an armed
schooner, the Margaretta, Captain
Moore, in the service of the King, was in
Machias acting as convey to two sloops
which we're. loading lumber. Scme of
the citizens Immediately on the receipt
of the good news FROM Lexington deter
mined to capture the armed schooner.
The plan was to first make the captain
prisoner while at church the following
day Sunday, as it was expected that he
and his officers would attend divine SER
vice in the little meeting house at Machi
as. John O'Brlen, vino was present ut
the meeting when the plot was made,
volunteered to seize the captain, very
daring peice OF work in those days. AS
was expected, Captain Moore attended
church on Sunday, out, during the ser
mon he suspected something wrong. and
before the men could execute their plan,
be escaped through window and fled to
the beach, where his boat Immediately
took him to his vessels, from which he
opened fire upon the town. The people
returned the fire with what weapons they
had, but neither side did any damage.
That afternoon the Margaretta weighed
anchor, and dropped down below the
town.
The following day, Monday, May H.
l775, sixty men, among whom were six
O'Brien brothers, captured one OF the
two sloops left by the Margaretta. She
was brought alongside wharf, flag
raised, three cheers given and the volun-
teers called for to man her, it being ex-
planned that an attempt would be made
to capture the schooner. Thirty-fye
sturdy down-East watermen responded
to the call. Securing such firearms as
could be obtained, together with axes,
pitchforke, which we're to be used as
boarding pixies, carpenters cleavers, ETC.,
this force of men embarked, imbued with
the spirit of determined men anxious to
strike blow for liberty. Sail was soon
made, and, as the sloop passed down the
harbor, the crew made what preparations
they could think of for the coming con-
test. The Margaretta was still at anchor
below the town.
Captain Moore, on observing the sloop
bearing down on him, made sail as soon
as possible, got up anchor and started
out, in order to avoid a conflict. Soon
after getting his vessel under way the
main boom was carried away in jibing.
The Margaretta was then headed for
Holmes Bay to repair the injury. There
another spar was secured, and, while it
was being fitted, the sloop was seen COM
ing in. Captain Moore made sail with
out delay and again headed his vessel
out into the open water. He was so anx
ious to get away that, the wind being
light, he cut away two of his boats IN
order to increase the speed Of his vessel.
The Americans used sweeps and sent
boats ahead to tow. Slowly they were
gaining on the Margaretta, but the wind
soon relieved them of their work. As it
came out On the quarter aud freshened
the sloop proved the better sailer and
soon oyerhauled the Margaretta. Up to.
this time no one had acted as captain Of
the sloop This important matter waa