Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-09-09

"No; shouldn't think sou
"Of course not; and tell.you it is a
provision ship"
II shouldn't wonder but that you are
right"
well, Gov. Clinton will have to wait
some time before he eats anything
from that ship! I'm going to give this
letter to the committee of safety"
That's right! We're not tories, to
be doing anything to help our coun-
try's enemies!"
''No, indeed, we're not!"
maybe the committee will send
some men to capture the ship"
"My! but that would be great!
They could do it. / didn't see any can
non, did you?"
"No."
"We want to get back home just as
fast as we can and tell the committed"
"Well, the Seagull can get there
quicker than anything else know Of"
Fright you are! Pull in that
mains'Esheet; we can go several
points closer to the wind"
Frank did as directed, and the little
boat buried her scuppers in the water,
and fairly flew along.
The boys were almost too excited to
talk, and as soon as they dropped
anchor again at their mooring place,
they hurried ashore and started on a
run for the town to inform the commit
tee of safety of their discovery and the
letter.
Almost the first man they met was
Mr.. Trevers.
ooh, Mr.. Trevers! there's British
provision ship down at the Hook!"
whats that?"
ga British ship down by the Hook,
and we think she's loaded with pro-
visions for the British. The officer
gave us a letter for Gov. Clinton, and
asked us to take it to him. We took
it, and here it isl"
Slowly, slowly, boys. 1 can't un-
derstand you when you talk at such a
pace. Did you say you had letter
that is addressed to Gov. Clinton, of
New York;"
Eyes, sir-here it isl"
''How did you come to get it?"
Frank and took sail down the
Hook this morning, and saw the ship;
and the officer gave it to us-the letter,
l mean; and we think it's a provision
ship, because he said Gov. Clinton
would be glad to get it, as he liked a
good dinner"
"It's not war ship, anyway"
Mr.. Trevers finally managed to get
the boys to give lucid account of their
adventure, which they wound up with:
"And then we came for home as fast
as the Seagull could go!"
THAT'S right, my boys. You are
bright lads, and have done just right.
This may be of Importance to u.s. Go
up to the hall and wait for me; will
notify the rest of the committee. L want
them to hear your story"
Within the hour the committee of
safety had assembled. The boys re-
peated their story, and then the letter
which had been given them by the
officer was read. 1t ran as follows:
ION Board of His Majesty's Transport
"Ship, the Deerhound.
Sandy Hook, July -, ITS
ITO 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 own table.
II am at anchor near Sandy Hook, and
respectfully await your commands.
II am, sir, most respectfully, your obedi-
ent and humble servant,
"GEOFFREY HENDERSON,
Commander of the Deerhound."
The boys galnced proudly at each
other to see their suspicious verified.
did she carry any cannon
Not that we could see.'
'Were there many men on board?"
"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"
'"We will do it."
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 a premium with both
the Americans and the British, and the
provisions aboard the Deerhound would
be as grateful an addition to the pa
triots' store, as it would be a severe loss
to the British. So these patriots of
Elizabethport were more than willing
to- take the risk in order to capture the
supplies. To fight, men must eat, and,
as they ate that they might fight, SO
they often fought that they might eat.
That afternoon four large boats put
out from Elizabethport, each manned
by two rowers, who, apparently, were
fishermen. But a search under the
patches would have shown each boat