Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-11-08
STORY OF OCEAN MARY. "
BABY MASCOT OF THE SEA WON THE
HEART OF A PIRATE.

Touch OF Nature That Saved a Ship and
Csew-Child Grew to Womanhood and
Her Wedding Gown Was Made From
the Pirates Silk Brocade.
In the village burying-ground at Hem
mixer, N. H., may be seen standing
among a dozen slabs OF like design d
small State stone, whose inscription,
in common with the others, in no
mahner suggests that the story OF the
one i'll whose memory it was set was
.::ffereut from the ordinary affairs OF
the | llside pioneer.
1t is the grave of Ocean Mary. 1t
was years and years ago that the
baby mascot of the sea won q pirates
heart.
Previous to 1720, the yenr in which
the principal events of this narrative
occurred, many families of Scotch
peasantry crossed the north channel
and found for a time homes in the
larger towns on or rear the coast of
Ireland, THUS Londonderry became
the residence of a large number of
Scotch yeomanry.
in those old times of slow ships and
many perils of the sea, it was a far
cry from Londonderry in Ireland to
Londonderry in the granite state;
still Scotland and the Emerald Isle
had already sent sturdy pioneers to
the new world on the Merrimac.
Tradition, often the truer part of
history, has failed to save from OBJ
livion the name OF the ship which
sailed from Londonderry for Boston
in July, 1920. but she is said to have
been in many respects vastly superior
to others of her C. ass in those times.
At any rate, long before she dropped
anchor off the picturesque coast, many
well-to,do families had prepared for
the long voyage. OF those who from
the deck of the departing ship
watched the green shores of Ireland
fade from view a large proportion
wore not only strong of limb, but
thrifty and provident.
Out through Loush Foyle, past In
nishowen head and far beyond Giants
Causeway, with favoring winds, sailed
the fated ship.
Among the passengers were james
Wilson and his young wife. A year
before Wilson married Elizabeth Full
ton. and they were now on their way
to Londonderry, N. H., where land
had been laid out to James Wilson as
one of the grantees of that town.
In the small valley settlement to
which Wilson and his wife were trav-
cling were friends under whose hands
prof able haryests were sure, and
generation was springing up whose
influence was to be felt long years
afte~.
Concerning the earlier part of the
voyage of the emigrant ship tradition
is nearly silent although certain frag-
mentary accounts hint Of n protracted
calm and following storm of such vio-
leNce that the vessel wa driven from
her course. However that may be,
it is reasonably certain that the pas
SAGE was about one.t third accomplished
when events transpired that made the
voyage memorable in the lives of all
on loard.
One sultry evening the lookout saw
on the horizon sail standing like
gray silhouette against the early-ris-
ing moon. All through the hot sum-
mer night the strange craft wore
nearer and nearer, and when morning
came her low hull could be seen like
black shadow under her full set of
canvas.
The pirate was within gnnshot of
the emigrant ship. To fight CT run
away was not to be thought Of. The
slow ship had not dozen muskets.
They simply waited. They had not
long 10 wait, for boats were soon
alongside, and swarming upon the
deck, the robbers fell to work rs men
who knew how to plumber and kill.
Grew. and passengers were bound and
some were left lying where they were
captured. and some rolled into cor
ners, just as suited momentary freak
of the invaders.
None were killed Yaluables we're
gathered into parcels convenient to
be transferred to the pirate ship. The
robber captain going below to search
the officers quarters, threw open
the after cabin door with rough
hand bat seeing q woman lying in
the berth, stopped.
"Why are you there?" demanded
the rutfiau.
"sSee." The terrified woman un-
covered baby's face.
"a girl"
"You hive named her..
"Nc."
The pirate went to the cabin door
and commanded that no man stir until
further orders. Then, returning, he
went close to the berth where the
woman lay, anil said gently, eff 1;
may name that baby, TINT little girl, !
will ltnbind your men and leave your
ship unharmed. May name the girl?"
Eyes"
Then the rough old robber came
nearer still and took up the tiny, un-
resisting hand of the baby. "Mary'
was the name the woman heard him
speak. There were other words, but
spoken so low she could not hear.
Only his Maker and his own heart
knew, but when the child drew its
hand away the mother saw tear on
the pink fingers.
There have been other knights than
Bayard. Here was one.
AS good as his word, the pirate
captain ordered all captives unbound
and goods and valnnbles restored to