The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-09-11

of course not; and I tell you it is {
provision ship"
Il shouldn't wonder but that you ar.
right"
well, Gov. Clinton will have to wal
some time before he eats anything
from that ship! I'm going to give thi:
letter to the committee of safety"
That's right! We're not tories, tc
be doing anything to help Jul coun'
try's enemies!"
NO, indeed, we're mott"
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 your"
mo"
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 1 know Of
Right you are! Pull in that
mainsl-sheet; we a 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.
"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 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 I'M
derstand you when you talk at such a
pace. Did you say you had a letter
that is addressed to Gov. Clinton, of
New York;"
Yes. sir-here it isl"
"How did you come to get it?"
Frank and 1 took a 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"
Its not a wal ship, anyway"
Mr.. Trevers finally managed to get
the boys to give a lucid account of their
adventure, which they wound up with:
"-And then we came for home as fast
as the Seagull could co."
That's right, my boys. You are
bright lads, and have done just right.
This may be of Importance to us. Go
up to the hall and wait for me; 1 will
notify the rest of the committee. I want
them to hear your story"
Within the hour the committee of
had assembled. The boys re-
peated their story. and then the letter
had been given them by the
was read. 1t ran as follows:
ION Board of His Majesty's Transport
ship, the Deerhound.
Sandy Hook, July -, IT'S.
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 a cargo
Of provisions for the troops under your
command, and also some choice d~elicacies
and wine for your own table.
Il am at anchor near Sandy Hook, and
respectfully await your commands.
Il am, sir, most respectfully, your obedi-
ent and humble servant,
"GEOFFREY HENDERSON,
Commander of the D~eerhound."
The boys galnced proudly al each
other to see their suspicious verified.
Did she carry any ~cannon?"
Not that we could see"
Were there many men on board?"
1--WE only saw the sailors who were
the sails, and the man and the
officer VINO spoke to us. We think, sir,
f you will pardon Our boldness, that
'he could easily be captured"
THE boy is right"
eve will do it."
The boys were questioned closely
lpon all they had seen, and then the
held a long consultation as
o the plan to be pursued to capture the
thus adding to their own stores
md crippling the enemy.
The British had found it necessary to |
end provisions across the sea to their
in America, as, not only were
upplies scarce in the colonies, but the
destroyed whatever they could
lot use themselves that was likely TO
all into the enemy's hands. At this
food vas at a premium with both
he Americans and the British, and the
rovisions aboard the Deerhound would
as grateful an addition TO the pa
riots store, as it would be a severe loss
o the British. So these patriots of
,lizabethport were more than willing
+ take the risk in order to capture the
To fight, men must eat, and,
s they ate that they might fight, so
hey often fought that they might eat.
That afternoon four large boats put
ut from Elizabethport, each manned
y two rowers, who, apparently, were
shermen. But a search under the
atches would have shown each boat
, be loaded with men-patriots, who
ere all heavily armed with muskets,
words and pistols. Among them, in
ne leading boat, crouched Frank and