The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-02

American army of patriots, and the
war Of the revolution was in full prog
ress throughout the colonies
From the information furnished me,
il does not appear what mir. inis and
Rose We're doing on the marsh, but they
had 2 sailboat anchored IL q creek, and
for some reason Mr.. IniS took the boat
and returned in it to Savannah, leaving
his son alone on the island until he
should come back.
Il seems that Rose had some provi-
sions and a gun, wherefore 1 infer it
was wild-foWl shooting that had
tempted The twain down the river. At
ali events, Rose was left alone, and his
father had been gone scarcely an hour
when a large English vessel, tail
masted and heavily armed, appeared in
a broad bayou or creek mile from the
island. II was one of strong fleet
come to attack Savannah.
Rose knew, as soon as he saw the
ship, just what it meant, and his pre-
dicament seemed quite hopeless, so far
as escaping capture was concerned, es-
pecially when. little later, there came
q small Sloop-rigged open boat, con-
tanning q British officer and five men,
which anchored almost where his own
boat had lain when his father took 1t.
At this time Rose was on bit Of
hummock land, where line of stray
Cling trees and bushes grew near mar
row tide channel in the marsh. He
quickly hid himself and watched while
the officer and crew came ashore, and
it soon appeared that they were par
ty sent from the fleet, probably to look
for an eligible place upon which TO
establish a camp.
Doubtless Rose, being but a boy, eX-
aggerated his danger and became I'M
duly excited, wrought upon by recol-
of CTR he hl 4 ag-d Of gfsir
ish cruelty to prisoners. Still his feel
ings were like prophecy OF what was
to happen, for when Savannah was
taken unarmed citizens were bay
oneted in the streets by the brutal sol
diers OF invasion.
Rose was no coward, however On
the contrary, he came of a stock whose
chief characteristic was the fighting
spirit. and he was a patriot from heel
to crown. He looked to the priming of
his gun, examined the edge of the flint
to be sure that it was duly sharp. for
he did not mean to be taken without a
fight, and he even preferred death to
capture.
Meantime the British party had made
a swift survey of the little beach near
the boat. Apparently the officer was
not quite satisfied. He had, perhaps,
seen the tracks made by Mr.. Inis and
Rose, and was taking precautions by
carefully accommodating Rose quickly
foresaw that he would soon be tracked
up and found. AS his danger grew,
however, his spirit and wit increased
apace. He held his gun ready, while
he lay in a tuft of scrub palmettos,
and he thought with lightning swift
ness Of what he should do when the
last emergency came.
The party of British separated into
two squads. one passing east of Rose,
the othet to the west of him. Evidently
the intention was to beat the marsh
in a systematic way. 1t would not be
long before one or the other SQUAD
would come upon the flank of his bit
of hummock land, cross his trail and
so discover him. The time for action
OF some sort could not be greatly de-
layed. Rose reVolVed the situation in
his mind, never once losing sight of the
deliberately advancing soldiers
The point where he lay concealed was
perhaps the highest part Of the little
island, and it gave him a wide view of
marsh lands and breeze-tossed waters
and wooded isles and distant bluffs of
mainland. Three war vessels were now
in sight over toward Tybee, some miles
away. What was to be done must be
done. 1t was one lone boy against the
whole feet of Commodore Parker