The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-10-04
Daring Capture of an English Armed Ship
and Two Conveys by Band
of Resolute Men.
This Affair is Called the Lexington of
the Seas by Distinguished
Naval Historian.

English officers We're at church it
was intended to take them prisoners.
The patriots had brought their guns
and secreted them outside the build
ing. John O'Brien says he had his
| gun under board, and took a seat
behind Capt. Moore, ready to seize
him at the first alarm. Unfortunately
for the success of the patriots, a negro
| got sight Of the armed men crossing
bridge and, giving an outcry, leaped
out of the window.
The English officers followed his ex-
ample, and by the time the patriots
had reached the church they had sue
ceeded in getting OH board their ves-
sci. They soon got her under way and
| dropped below the Narrcws, sending
word that if the people molested the
sloops they would return and burn
the town.
1t was then decided to take posses
sion of the sloops ut once, which was
done. 1t was then proposed that Jere-
| miah O'Brien should assume the COM
mand of one of them, and obtain a
crew of forty men. while Benjamin
Foster should proceed to the East viii
lage and get ready schooner, and,
with complement Of men meet
O'Brien in the sloop at the Rim the
next morning. and then pursue the
Margaretta.
The men We're soon Oh board, but
on an examination of the armament
it was found to be twenty muskets
| with few charges of powder, mostly
on board O'Brien's sloop, and on both
vessels thirteen pitchfcrEs and twelve
axes. The vessels were soon in pur-
suit; but, before reaching the Marga-
retta, Fosters vessel got aground; yet
O'Brien, nothing daunted. pushed on.
side and carry the British cutter by
boarding.
Forty undisciplined men are in chase
| of a vessel armed with sixteen swivels
and four-pounders, without any
thought Of the peril of their adven-
ture. The bravery at Lexington and
Concord, where several hundred mill
tiamen fired upon retreating regulars
from behind trees, fences and stone
walls, or of Bunker Hill, where, main
ly behind earth-works, sheltered from
shot, well-arned men resisted three
successive assaults of line of Dattle,
was certainly not greater than that.
There is no feat in history that for
daring and desperation can be COM
pared with it.
On approaching the British ship
Capt. Moore hailed O'Brien to know
their demands, adding that if they ap-
preached nearer he would fire. O'Brien
called on him to fire and demanded the
vessel, but Moore seemed desirous of
avoiding collision, and he crowded
all sail to get away. Standing out to
sea she endeavored to escape from the
sloop which was following her: but
the sloop proved the fastest sailer, and
as soon as she got within range Moore
opened fire on her, killing one of the
patriots.
O'Brien's men replied with their
muskets with good effect, and the YES
sells We're soon alongside John O'Brien
leaped on board the cutter, and then
the vessels swung apart, leaving
O'Brien alone on the quarterback of
the enemy. Seven muskets were fired
at him without effect, and when the
English marines charged upon him
with bayonets he jumped over the rail
and swan to the sloop. Capt. O'Brien
next ran the bowsprit of the sloop
| through the mainsail Of the cutter, and
| twenty of his men. armed with pitch
forks. rushed upon her deck.
OF the gallant band of patriots one
man was killed, one mortally and thre,
badly wounded. On beard the Marga-
retta four persons were killed, and
Capt Moore mortally wounded. He
received every attention, but died the
next day. The Margaretta was soon