Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-08-06
4 MAINE HEROINE.
s,rragLE MONUMENT TO BE
ERECTED OVER HER GRAVE.
n,SSAu WESTON IN FIRST BATTLE
OF THE REVOLUTION INTER-
gsrlSa STORY RRTotD.

r..otrtisnsfs war Ia carrying from her
-. IN Janesb0ro, to Msehias, a dis
go og sixteen miles through wilder
-. ,afesi1d with hostile Indians, sup
!, Al ammunition 10 be used by the pa-
,,,o,. sndsr Capt. John o'firicn IN the
.f,.ek upon the British man-of.war
aMsrgarutta".
Tha ieht that resulted in the capture OF
~. .Afsrzarettan was tho FIRST naval con-
az, o, tho Revolution, aud IL recorded
ZINC proudcsi event in haineis history.
res date of It's occurrence, June IL, 1875, 10
,he people Of Maebiss, and all that
,.s,ou what April 10 is 20 Lexington and
rsneerd, and ~ IA due TO the efforts OF
Hannah Weston Chapter, Daughters OF
,hs American Revelation, that the noble
.s,vlee Of the Joae~boro heroine Ia to be
eommsmofsted.
when II wss found that the presence
asthe eastern coast OF the "Msrgsretta"
w.s 10 lead 10 open hossliities, messen-
-, was dispatched from Machiss through
rsiarrncss 10 Jonesboro and nesg hboring
.sttlsmeais TO inform the people, and to
,saucst sll men who were able and VIII.
tpr to bear arms TO hasten to Maehias to
.s,ss Ia the defence of the town and In
tAs capture of the hated war vessel.
PREPARING ron WAR.
The word spread rapidly through the
..,tlsmsnts, and the people made hasty
preparations 20 respond to the call Tor aid.
An gathered at the home OF Josiah and
Hannah Weston, from which place the
start vas to be made. Mrs. Weston took
great interest IN tins preparations, and
wben the start was made her husband
and two brothers were among tho volnn-
teers.
she had made careful inquiry OF each
p3sn a. TO the amount OF ammunition
that be carried, aud she felt confident
nat more would be needed ~ much fight
ing was done. After their departure she
called at each homo in the settlement and
gathered up what powder, lead, pewter
SPOONS, etc, had been left behind.
A collection Of about thirty or forty
pounds vas made. aud this WAS taken to
bet home. where IL was packed ready 10
be sent to Mschlas. But not a man able
TO make the journey was LETT In the set
Element, and on tho following morning,
accompanied by Rcbccca Weston, sis
ter Of her husband, she started TO make
the hazardous journey.
Mrs. Weston carried the ammunition,
while the younger woman carried
Ratchet and the two days supply of pro-
Visions W hitch They had taken along. The
distance to Maehias was sixteen miles,
through dense wilderness, with no guide
save the footprints made by the soldiers
who had gone ON before, and an occasional
blsxed tree.
For tho first five miles the two women
experienced no difficulty, except from
WEAKNESS of carrying so much weight
over such rugged path ba, before
reaching the river they missed their way,
and their efforts TO tiad the trail were
fraiiiess.
ALMOST EXHAUSTED.
Tbs younger woman being OF q com
para,ively weak constitution, became
nearly exhausted from their wsndcrings,
snd at last the slider suggested rsst and
reireshment. After resting for time
Mrs. Weston encouraged her companion
again 10 undertake the march. They had
Travelled for another hour through the
woods, whea they were oyefloyed to dad
themselves upon the bank OF the Ma
ehias river. II was thea about 2 O'Clock
In the afternoon.
Knowing that they were above the
Town, they decided that their only course
was 10 follow The river; but fearing thst
they might encounter hostile Indians II
they kept in sight OF the water, they fol-
lowed course parallel with the river,
bat some distance from the bank. They
found II very laborsous to proceed, owing
to the extensive swsrnps through which
they were Obliged TO pass. aud the brooks,
which frequently Obliged them TO make
long celeurs from their course to fnd
place where they mlght effect crossing.
Bat, feeling sure that they were following
TIE right course. they pushed ON With all
their strength, expecting at every turn
that they would be able 10 catch glimpse
Of the town.
As the strength OF Miss Weston WAS
last beeoming exhausted, Mrs. Weston
relieved her of her burden, aud herself
carried both ammunition aud the pro-
visions. When they had proceeded
short distance farther, however, the
strength OF Miss Weston gave out COM
pis'ely, and she dropped upon the ground.
Mrs. Weston was still resolute and hope
iul' and after brief pause started alone
Tor the top OF the hill which could be
plainly seen little way ahead.
A SETTLEMENT SIGHTED.
BY this time night was falling, and II
she failed to see the town from the top OF
the hill they would be obliged to spend
the night In the woods. Her highest
hopes were realized, however; when she
reached the summit OF the hill. she could
plainly see a house q short distance BE-
low. fastening back TO her companion,
she found her fast asleep. Quickly arous-
ing her, they lost no time in climbing the