Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1897-09-16

IL
This may be Of importance to us. Go
up to the hall and wait for me; I will
notify the rest of the committee. I want
them to hear your story" l.: :.
T. Within the hour the committee of
safety had assembled. The boys re-
peated their story, and then the letter
which had been given them No. by the
officer was read. It ran as follows:
ION Board Of His Majesty's Transport
'Ship. the Deernound. "a
Sandy Hook, July Its.
TO Gen: Sir Henry Clinton, Commander
of His 'Majesty's Troops in America. and
Governor of New York:
~ "Sir-I have the honor to inform you that
I have arrived in the harbor with cargo
Of provisions for the troops under your
command. and also some choice delicacies
and wine for your. ownttable.s 1 ] I II ~.
Il am at anchor near Sandy Hook. and
respectfully await your commands.
II am. sir. most respectfully. your obedi-
emit and humble servant.
-. r. ''GEOFFREY HENDERSON,
l. ~ Z "Commander of the Deerhound.''
The boys galnced proudly at each
other to see their suspicious verified.
ibid she carry any cannon ?" @-~.. ~
mot thatywe could see." ,
"Were there many men on board 2"
1--WE only saw the sailors who were
furling the sails, and the man and the
officer who spoke to us. We think, sir,
if you will pardon our boldness, that
she could easily be captured" ~
1.-THE boy is right" + - q, Z.
eve will do IT, $r@& ~aqs.a, Y y
The boys. were questioned closely
upon all they had seen, and then the
committee held a long consultation as
to the plan to be pursued to capture the
ship, thus adding to their own stores
and crippling the enemy.
The British had found it necessary to
send provisions across the sea to their
troops in America, as, not only were
supplies scarce in the colonies, but the
patriots destroyed whatever they could
not use themselves that was likely to
fall into the enemy's hands. At this
time food was at premium with both
the Americans and the British lana the
provisions aboard the Deerhoundwoud
be as 5grateful an addition. to the pa
triots' store, as it wouldsbe severe loss
to the British. So these patriots 81
Eliza bethport were more than willing
t., take the riskSin order to capture the
supplies. To fight, men must eat, and,
as they ate that they. might fight, So
they often fought that they mi ght eat.
That afternoon four large boats put
out from Eizabethport, each manned
by two rowers, who, apparently, were
fishermen. But search under the;
matches would have shown each boat
to, be load ed with smen-p triots, who
were@all heavily armed with muskets,
swords and pistols, Among them, in
the leading boat. crouched Frank and
Walter. They had been taken along
upon their earnest 9solicita ton, repre-
senting that they were needed to show
where the British ship lay. But they
determined earlier in the day to do
more than act as pilots.
#"I'm¬ going to be left out Of the
fighting if I can help it, are you?" said
Walter. .s=, y 80. -.& 80 ..
mot much; but I'm afraid they won't
let US have any arms"
We'll get some for ourselves, and not
let them know it until we get there"
"Where can we get any?"
II saw lot of them when we were at
the hall. They won't all be used. We
can get some without their seeing us, 1
think"
''Come on
The two boys were favored by chance,
as no one was at the hall when thew
reached there nearly everyone in the.
town being down at the beach wa tching
the preparations for. the, expedition.
They secured cutlass and pistol apiece,
with ammunition. Then came the
question how to conceal the weapons.
1t was easy enough with the pistols, but
with the swords it was a much more
difficult matter. Finally they con-:
cluded to put them inside their shirts
and down the legs Of their breaches.
This made walking. rather. awkward.
but the boys hoped to escape DETECTION,
and in the Excitement of the preparal
tons they did so. AS they lay in the
dark hatchway they fairly trembled'
with suppressed excitement, and, in
fact, the older members of the little
band were nnot too self-possessed: y
1t was nearly dusk when a'sai}or on
board the D 2 sang out: T., ..a..,
-Four boats On the sta board bow,
sir!" 81 @ss%~f %E@F- szS*E9f@ a.
':what AZ theyy?" :sr.y@ 5!j~ .@v@@5s
Look like fishing craft, sir!'' .sYjt.
'Many men?" ,yT21
1.-TWO in each boat, sir:''on1a esik1v
"How arethey headed r. gov ,zIiAA
"This way, sir" .vsss.sxE S,.I, a?qs
"Good! Hail them. when they: are
near enough, and tell them to come.
alnngside. I'D not mind a n ess of freesl