The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-09-17

that. would her
NO; I shouldn't think go"
"Of course not; and l 'ell you it is a
provision ship"
Il 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 10 help our coun-
try's enemiesl"
.No, indeed, were 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.'
1--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
Right you are. Pull in that
mainsl-sheet; 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, ard as 500 as they dropped
anchor again at their mooring place
they hurried ashore and started on q
run for the town TO inform the commit
tee of safety of their discovery and the
letter.
Almost the frst man they met was
Mr.. Trevers.
"Oh, Mr.. Trevers. there's a British
provision ship down at the Hook"
whats that?"
"A British ship down by the Hook
and we think she's loaded with pro
visions for the British. The Office
gave us a letter for Gov. Clinton. ant
asked us to take it to him. We tool
il. and here il isl"
SLOWLY, slowly. boys. I ant un
derstand you when you talk at such
pace. Did you say you had a lette
that is addressed TO Gov. Clinton. o
New York;"
"Yes. sir-here it Isl"
T HOW ola you COME W bct IL
Frank and I took a sail down III
e Hook this morning. and saw the ship
and the officer gave il to us-the lettei
| mean; and we think it's a provisio
ship. because he said Gov. Clinic
would be glad TO get it, as he liked
& good dinner"
Its not a war ship, anyway"
- - ALL wo,-aI e. ~
d the boys TO give a lucid accoun of the
adventure. which they wound up with
( "And then we came for home as fa'
as the Seagull could go."
It That's right. my boys. You al
e bright lads, and rave done just RICH
This may be of Importance TO us. {
/, up to the hall and wait for me; / W
l. notify the rest Of the committee. 7 wal
< them TO hear your story"
2 Within the hour the committee
safety had assembled. The boys T
d peated their story. and then the lett
which had been given them by q
= officer was read. II ran as follows:
"On Board OF His Majesty's TranspC
.ship. the Deerhound.
Sandy Hook. July :, 1T5
ITO Gen. Sir Henry Clinton. Command
OF His MajeSty's Troops in America. n
Governor Of New York:
DIX .sir-I have the honor to inform you u
I have arrived In the harhor with a car
OF provisions for the troops under 80
command. and also some choice delicac
and wine for your own table
90 II am at anchor near Sandy Hook, /.
respectfully await your commands
Il am. sir. most respectfully your ooe
ent and humble servant
of .GEOFFREY HENDERSON,
Commander Of the Deerhound.
% The boys g~alnced proudly at ca
o. other to see their suspicious verified
az did she carry any cannon"
Not that we could see"
Were there many men on board?'
I'VE only saw the sailors who W.
i, furling the sails. and the man and
- officer who spoke TO NJ. We think.
if you will pardon our boldness, Il
she could easily be captured"
The boy is right"
al "We will do it,"
The boys were questioned clos
-, upon all they had seen. and then
committee held a long consultation
49, to the plan to be pursued to capture
ship. thus adding to their own sto
and Gripping the enemy.
= The British had found it necessar,
send provisions across the sea 10 II
troops in America. as, not only W
supplies scarce in the colonies. but
patriots destroyed whatever they CO
not use themselves that was likely
fall into the enemy's hands. At
time food was at a premium with b
the Americans and the British. and
provisions aboard the D~eerhound VIC
be as grateful an addition to the
triots' store. as IL would he a severe
70 the British. SO these patriots
Elizabethport were more than vii
tc take the risk in order TO capture
up supplies. To fight. men must eat, Z
ing as they ate that they might fight
eu' they often fought that they might
That afternoon four large boats
out from Elizabethport. each man
I, by two rowers who. apparently, '
fishermen. But a search under
iet batches would nave shown each
tc he loaded with men-patriots.