The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-12
The Gaspee Anniversary
Passes UnnOtiCed.
Causes Which Led to DeStruc-
ton of the Vessel.
Whipple's Advice TO the Man Who
Threatened to Hang Him.

without observance OF any kind the
Gsspee anniversary has come and gone.
II would seem that the city flags might
have been run up in honor of the oc-
casion, but doubtless we OF the present
day are too busy aud too thoughtless OF
the brave deeds done century and
quarter ago TO spare time for their recog-
milton or contemplation. Nevertheless, 1t
was daring enterprise In which Abra-
ham wbippIe and his 63 companions en-
gagged and risked death at ropes end
on that now famous night OF June 10,
l772. Although Rhode Island was the last
OF the original states TO accept the con-
stitution she can always point with pride
TO the achievement of her patriotic sons
on this occasion. The Gaspee or rather
her commander, invited the destruction
which overlook her. The vessel was an
armed schooner and was patroling the
waters OF the Nsrragansett, making II
uncomforta ble for the people OF the
colony many of whom were engaged in
commerce..
The arrogant commander OF the British
boat had given orders that all vessels
should lower their colors when passing
the Gaspee so a mark of submission to
royalty on the other side OF the ocean.
Some of the Rhode Islanders were, from
force OF circumstances, compelled to
comply, others by keeping at safe dis
tance succeeded in avoiding compliance
with such an obnoxious order. A few
openly disobeyed and ii was stiff back
boned skipper of q Providence sloop that
precipi:ated the "Gaspee affair."" as the
writer's of history are wont ID term 1t.
He was plotting his vessel through the
ol.. rI s.r Ilax hnt. h<.
Gasree passed him. HIS colors were not
lowered. The angry commander OF the
Gaspee put about aud started in pursuit
for the purpose of Furnishing the skipper
TOR bis insoience. That was where he
made mistake.
The Providence sloop was commanded
by q man who knew every rock, spit and
shoal in the bay, and he purpoeely led the
Gaspee into dangerous position and
eventually she ran aground on the west
shore at the place ever since known as
Gaspee Point. She didn't go on gently,
but with force enough to drive her keel
deep into the yielding sand from whence
there was little prospect OF moving her
save Mt an unusually nigh tide. The
British commander fumed and the
Yankee skipper sailed gaiiy to Provi-
dence. IL didn't take him long to tell
ment of the hated Gaspee, and II didn't
take much longer for Whipple and his
friends to gather at the house at the
north corner OF Planet and South Main
streets and formulate their plans.
Those plans were no sooner made than
they were put into execution. The sixty
four good men and true were off In theis
boats for the stranded vessel. The row
was long one, but the exertion was
overbalanced by the enthusiasm Of the
rowers. The Gaspee was found just as
the Providence skipper had said she
wpul6 he. She was boarded, and before
the top-lofty British commander knew
what had happened he with his crew was
prisoner IN the hands of the men he
had previously been insulting by his arro-
gance. The prisoners were put ashore
and the torch applied. For hours after