The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-18

| jected 1t will be a valuable contribu-
 ton to Alabama history.
 Our members will deeply smypathize
 with the honored Regent of Martha
 wayles Jefferson Chapter. Mrs. J. l.. | Cowan. in the death of her husband, which occurred In Montgomery on the 4th. where he had recently one for | treatment. Mrs. Cowan has an added sorrow in the critical illness of her daughter, Mrs. Porter.
 State Dues.
 The time draws near for the chapters | to res lme their meetings, and we wish to remind the treasurers that the per capita dues should be sent the State Treasurer not later than the 18th or 2eth of October. in time for her to pre- pare her annual report. Take notice. too. that reports from chapter treasur- | CTS will soon be due the National Treasurer. Be prompti
 Queries.
 106-HOWELL. We commend to the attention of our readers the following interesting story and the queries at | tached. It shows the carelessness of our early Southern historians that hero could achieve such distinction in
 
 be left in such oblivion that now 1t seems impossible to obtain any facts. Who was Capt. John Howell of Revo- lutionary fame in Georgia? Give facts concerning his birth. marriage. family. place of residence and death.
 Capt. John Howell was a favorite hero of c. c. Jones. the Georgia his-
 {, rian. who described his exploits in his History of Georgia" and also in his I 70 In but tes evident that he knew nothing and
 could find no trace of his origin or sub- sequent fate or so careful a historian would have given the facts. Capt. | John Howell owned one of the small vessels which harassed the British fleet like hornets. stinging sharply and fre- quently. He armed, manned and equip ped his vssel and gallantly aided in de- | lending the coast of Georgia. Jones | says:
 These privateers made frequent voyages to the West In1ies. where they procured supplies of salt and warlike munitions and other articles necessary for the comfort and defense of be- | leaguered Georgia. Trivial as these af- fairs and others of like character doubt | less were. they will now be remembered as the best manifestations of activity on the sea which the patriots of Geor- gia in their impoverished and enfeeb- led condition. were capable of exhibit | ing"
 Lossings Field Book of the Revolu- tion. Vol. II, page 535, states that | during the spring of 17S1, Capt. How l ell. the Hyler of the Georgia inlets. captured several British vessels lying in the bays and the mouths of the rivers on the coast and finally com pelled all that escaped to take refuge in the Savannah"
 (The expression "Hyler' refers to Captain Adam Hyler of New Jersey whose privateer did such excellent and effectual work along the coasts of New Jersey keeping the Tories of that region in constant terror)
 History of Georgia. c. c. Jones. Vol | II, page 445. states that The royal
 commissioners of representation proving | quite energetic in reducing into pos
 session all property of the rebels, | counter effort was made by the re- | publicans for its recapture and removal | to places of security. In this attempt | violent collisions were not infrequent
 and many lives were lost. The private
 vessels of Commodore Oliver Bowen
 and of Captain John Howell. Spencer,
 William Maxwell, Job Pray, Hardy. John Lawson Joseph Stiles and of l
 covery of such property, but also in attacking parties of the enemy engaged
 along the coast in collecting forage and
 provisions for the British troops in | Savannah.
 The crews of vessels thus captured
 and the English guards taken on board
 were usually paroled as prisoners of
 war. Sometimes such as had been guilty of murder, arson and robbery
 were executed for their crimes. It was a harsh method. Retribution was swift and the lex talionis in general ragged"
 Page 499. Learning that the Eng fish ship Britannia lay at anchor in the mouth of Great Ogeechee River. Captain John Howell and John McCleur on the night of the 14th of April. 17S1,
 with muffled oars lowed their prjva- teers alongside and grappled with her. Springing on deck they demanded and received quick surrender. Captain Wade and a boats crew had gone ashore to spend the night and thus | escaped capture The Britannia had
 a cargo of rice on board and was | bound for the West Indies and was
 waiting for a fair wind to put out to
 sea. On the 24th while on Dobov Sound with this prize, the ship Cor morant. Captain McEvory hove in sight and gave chase. Finding that she could not escape the Britannia
 struck her colors and came to anchor
 While the boats from the Cormorant
 were in the act of taking possession of l her. Captain Howell ran down, fired
 upon and compelled them to retire. | Then slipping the cable of the Brittan- mia he ran that vessel ashore until he
 reached the south end of Black Beard
 Island where he defended her until the
 afternoon. Fearing attack during the night by a superior force, he abandon
 ed and burnt the ship. paroling his prisoners and landing them on the ! island.