The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-06-14


beauty OF its natural scenery.
There is a fort near the mouth OF
the river called Fort Hunnewell. Ii
is now a ruin, and is celebrated re-
sort of the people in summer. 1t was
erected during the war TO defend the
entrance 10 the river.
At the time of our story, which was
near the close of the Revolutionary
War, two British armed vessels had
been cruising off the mouth OF the
river some days, occasionally running
close In to the fort so as TO draw
their fire. They were efectualiy
blockadng the entrance to the river,
and for some time no vessel had gone
out or come in.
One morning In June, just as the sun
was rising from the sea, the English
cruisers were standing in toward the
mouth Of the riveg, under top-gallant
sails, with the wind free on the lar
board quarter. They were half mile
apart, their course coDvergiDg to
point This point was a sloop hug
ging the land, and endeavoring TO
make the entrance to the river.
She had been discovered by the
cruisers only few minutes before,
when they tackled together and
pressed after her TO intercept her.
making sail as they went Fifteen
minutes more OF the obscurity Of the
morning, and the adventurous sioop
would have got into the river ana un-
der the guns of the fort unseen, or
seen too late to be cut off.
1t was beautiful sight to behold
the three vessels In motion; one, small,
unarmed, with but three sails TO help
her along in her flight, bounding along
close under the shore; the others tall,
frowning with batteries and covered
with canvas from deck to truck. The
sloop was a mile In shore OF the cruis-
ers, and about three miles westward
from the mouth of the river, being,
when discovered, just stealing round
Cape Small Point
The cruisers stood on for about ten
minutes, when the corvette signaled
the brig which Immediately luffed and
bore up four points eastward, while
the former kept her first course. The
object had in view 10y this maneuver
of the brig. IL was plainly evident 10
the fishermen, who, from the rocks
upon which their huts were perched,
were watching with intense interest
the pursuing and pursued, was 10 in
tercept her, for they had quickly dis
covered that direct chase would be
useless as the sloop showed herself TO
be very fast sailor.
I'VE shall be TUX darned If we amt,
cap'n," coolly remarked a tall, ungain-
ly youth of eighteen, who, with IA dip
per fastened 10 n tenfoot handle, was
bailing up water from the sea and
throwing IL on the mainsail of the
sloop, TO swell the threads of the can.
vas and make IL better hold the wind.
mot SO long as two timbers of the
Sally hold together, 'Siah," responded
the captain, who grasped the helm,
and with one eye ahead and the 9th.
er watching the enemy, directed the
course of his little vessel toward the
shelter he sought IF we only had
another twenty minutes afore sun-up
we'd n got in. But the day amt agao-
a TO stop for any man, and | don't
expect il tn. All We must do is TO
keep the Sally out of the hands of the
Britishers, row they've got their eyes
on us. Wet the sails, 'Siah! keep wet
tin 'em."
II guess they kind o guess what
we've got on board, captain" said
'Siah, as he cast a shower of spray
over the mainsail "They seem to
take alfred trouble TO catch us. See
how the Sally jumps! The way she
tosses the water with her bows
own't have wet her jib-she does that
herselfw
IF we don't get into the river and
them chaps overhaul us, what is to be
done" asked Mr.. Bissell
1T won't do 10 let them capture
them six big guns, and two barrels Of
powder, and ten o shot. that we've
got for the fort, that's fact, 'Siah,"
said very decidedly Captain. or rather
Deacon, Samuel Buffers, who owned
or commanded the Sally, which had
been engaged, a few days before, by
the Government agent in Boston, To
convey ammunition to the fort. This
enterprise the deacon. for he was n
lawful deacon In his own town which
was forty miles up the river. had
cheerfully undertaken. assuring the
agent that he could get the Sally into
the river in spite OF the cruisers.
The cannon were battery thirty
two's, six in number, and were laid
athwart ship. side 10y side, upon deck.
The shot was piled forward, and in
the forecastle was stored the powder
In casks, and securely protected under
canvas; tarpaulins also covered the
guns.
IF We can only stand on ten min
utes more. 'Siah," said the deacon Ia
his mate, II don't fear them two cruis.
ers stick! One of them. you see. has
luffed to try and cut us OF. IL twant
for this plaguey heavy iron we've got
In her, I'd show the enemy how "a
make n keel cut blue water through
But we must get IL. Lot" he added
turning TO ragged old man who
looked like n weather.beaten fisher
man. who comprised all his crew. and
who was now engaged I'm tending TN,
mainsheet. the slack of which me held
In his iron fist.
Its get I'm safely. deacon" an.
swered Lot Bissell. gruffiy. "and get
three hundred dollars or sink tn,
sloop, and no insurance.
That's fact. Mr.. Bissell," respond