Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-02
STORY OF "OCEAN MARY
Baby Mascot That Captured the Heart of a
Pirate.
The Touch of Nature That Saved q
Ship and Crew From
Brfgandage.



mixer, N. H.. may be seen standing among
a dozen slabs CT like design small slate
stone, whose inscription, in common with
the others, in no manner suggests that the
story of the one in whose memory 1t was
set was different from the ORD nary affairs
of the hillside pioneer.
1t is the grave of Ocean Mary. 1t was
years and years ago that the baby mascot
of the won a pirates heart.
Previous to 1870, the year in which the
principal events of this narrative occur
red, many families of Scotch peasantry
crossed the North Channel and found for
time homes in the larger towns on or near
the coast of Ireland. Thus Londonderry
became the residence of large number of
Scotch yeomanry
In those old times of slow ships and
many perils of the sea it was far cry
from Londonderry in ireland to London
derry In the granite state; sun. scotiand
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 oblivion 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 SUI
perior to others of her class in those times;
At any rate, long before she dropped
archor 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 were not only strong OF llmD,
but thrifty and Drovident.
Out through Tough Foye, past lniShoWen
Head and far beyond Giants Causeway'
with favorng winds, sailed the fated snip.
Among the passengers were James VIII
son and his young wife. A year before
Wilson married Elizabeth Fulton, 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 travelling were
friends under whose hands profitable har-
vests were sure, and generation was
springing up whose influence was 10 pe lei.
long years after.
Concerning the earlier part OF the voyage
of the emigrant ship tradition Is nearly
silent although certain fragmentary ac-
counts hint of a protracted calm and FOL
lowing storm of sach violence that the YES
sci was driven from her course. however
that may be, it is reasonably certain that
the passage was about one-thlrd accom-
plished when events transpired that made
the voyage memorable IN the hVes VI aii
on beard.
One sultry evening the lookout saw on
the horizon sail standing like a gray Sill
houette against the early rising moon. All
through the hot summer night the strange
craft wore nearer and nearer. ana Wnen
morning came her low hull could be seen
like a black shadow under her full set OF
canvas.
The pirate was within gunshot of the emil
grant ship.
To fight or run away was not to be
thought of. The slow ship had not dozen
muskets They simply waited. They had
not long to wait for boats were soon along
side, and swarming upon the deck. the rob
bers fell to work as men who knew how
to plumber and Kill. Crew and passengers
Were bound. ard some were left lying where
tEey reg injured and rolled into
corners, just suited momentary freak
of the invaders.
None were killed. Valuables were gath
cred into parcels convenient to be trans
ferred to the pirate ship. The robber cap
tain going below to search the officers
quarters, threw open the after cabin door
with rough hand but seeing woman
lying in the berth, stopped.
WHY are you there?' demanded the ruff
fan.
See" The terrified woman uncovered a
babys face.
Then the pirate drew near. "Is 1t boy
or girl?"
"A girl
Have you named herr"
No"
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. and said
gently, IF l may name that baby. that
little girl, l will unbind your men and leave
Your ship unframed; may l name the girl?''
Yes"
Then the rough old robbcr came nearer
still and took up the tiny. unresisting hand
of the baby. Mary was the name the
woman heard him speak. There We're 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 the pink
fingers.
There have been other knights than Bay
ard. Here was one
AS good his word, the pirate captain
ordered all caDtives unbound, and goods
and Valuables restored to the places from
which they had been taken. Then with his
crew he left the ship and pulled to his own
vessel But the emigrant ship had scarcely
got under way when new alarm came to
them. The pirate was returning.
If they We're dismayed at his reappear-
ance they were surprised to see him come
on board alone and go directly below to the
cabin. There he took from "a parcel a
piece of brocaded silk of marvellous tineness
of texture and beauty of design. Seen at a
little distance the effect of the uattern is
as of plaid combining in wonderfully har-
moniZed tones nameless hues Of red and
green. softened with lines of what evident
ly WAS once white.
Time has, perhaps. somewhat mellowed
its color tone, but the richness of its quail
fty is as the richness of pearls.
Let Mary wear this on her wedding
day. the pirate said as he lay TIE silk
the berth.
ne pirate lelt the snip ana was seen no
more. In the fullness of time the emigrant
ship reached Boston without further Incl
dent. There James Wilson died soon after
landing. Elizabeth Wilson, with Mary
soon after went to live in Londonderry
where friends We're waiting for them Here
the widow married James Clark great
great-grandparent of Horace Greeley.
For years the people of the little hamlet
religiously kept July % in thanksgiving for
the deliverance Of their friends from the
hands of pirates.
Some time early in the year 1872 Thomas
Wallace emigrated to America and settled
in Londonderry, where. December 10 of
the same year he was married to Ocean
Mary by the Rev. Mr.. Davidson of that
town. Her wedding gown was the pirates
silk.
granddaughter and a great-grand-
daughter have also worn the same dress on
like occasions.
Four sons were born to Mary Wallace,
three of whom removed to Henniker
There, on a slightly hill, Robert built the
house which in his day was far and away
the grandest mansion in all the country
around. He was a man of large hospital
ity and intelligent strength of character
Here Ocean Mary lived many years, and
died in 1914 at the age of ninety-four. Her
grave is in the Center burying ground,
about half way down the middle walk,
bowshot distant from the railroad station.
The curious visitor may If he choose read
the iuScrfnfiOD on the slate.