The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-09-02
Governor UTTER
AT PAWTUxET
Spoke, With Edward Field, on
Old Home Day.
TABLET MARKS OLD FORT NOW
PaWtuIet Association Elects Officers for The
year-IllumInaton and Auto Parade
Last Night.
TABLET MARKS OLD FORT NOW

The unveiling OF a tablet marking the
site OF the historic fort occupied by the
Pawtuxet rangers in l775. and later by the
pawtuxet artillery. with speeches by
Gov George H Utter and Edward Field
Esq, clerk OF the municipal court Provi-
dence. were features OF old home day
at Pawtuxet yesterday, the tablet being
placed on the estate OF william spicer on
Long Neck and the exercises taking place
on the spicer and Chambers estates
At 2 O'Clock. despite the showers, Fifer
Bert C. Barstow and Drummer virginius
Arnold played some old airs and Miss
Mildred Chambers drew aside the flags
disclosing this inscription on the tablet:
Fort Hill-Long Neck This tablet
marks the location OF the fort erected
here in l775 to protect the surrounding
country from the enemy. Here served
the Pawtuxet Rangers
Then cannon doomed and. headed by
the musicians, the governor, accompanied
by Coils Bliss and Manning, went 10 the
brow OF the hill and were seated In n
summer house while Mr.. Spicer made an
Introductory address and delivered an
original patriotic sentiment in verse.
Fred 3 Johnson in the uniform OF the
Pawtuxet artillery OF ls40 worn by Lieut..
Col. Butler in former times. attracted
much attention as he stood beside the
aides de camp.
Gov. Utter spoke In his straightforward
characteristic manner for a half-hour on
the desirabiity OF doing everything 10
elevate the "old home" and said that
there were more heroes VINO stayeo at
home and labored than there were among
those who wandered far aneld. Some OF
the noblest characters were the men who
labored increasingly as honest, upright.
simple citizens. he said. and he pointed
20 BENJAMIN Harrison and grover Cleve-
land as examples of good -citizens.-X who.
after their elevation. took up the quiet
life and performed their duties well.
He pictured the place which we all look
forward 10 beyond this life as home. a
heavenly home and his earnest remarks
struck a responsive chord in nearly every
breast.
AN ORIGINAL POEM.
Miss Huldah sheldon read an original
poem, written for the occasion by Mrs
John Foster. a ID. A. r. and summer
resident OF Pawtuxet Neck, and then Ed
ward Field delivered the historical ad-
tuxet forts and fighters that will be the
talk OF the village for many years. In
part he said:
"One hundred and thirty years ago this
peaceful spot was the scene OF extraordi-
nary action and thrilling events The
deeds which made the place famous are
recorded In history.
NEARLY two years before the open re-
volt OF the colonists. the men In the
neighborhood OF Pawtuxet began to asso-
cfate themselves into military companies
FOR home defence. Al the session OF the
reneral assembly. held In Providence In
october OF that year. five independent
companies were granted charters-the
Newport llieht infantry, the Providence
Grenadiers company. the Kentish Guards.
the Gloucester Light infantry and the
Pawtuxet Rangers.
PAwTUxET RANGERS.
.'The Pawtuxet Rangers was made up OF
men living In both Warwick and Gran
ston and upon Its organization Samuel
Aborn was elected captain. Benjamin Ar
mold first lieutenant. Rhodes Arnold sec
ond lieutenant and Stephen Greene en-
sign. II is with this organization that we
are the most interested. from the fact
that we are standing today on the very
epot where most OF It's services were per-
formed No active operations except
training were undertaken until after the
battle OF Bunker Hill The news OF this
engagement produced the greatest un-
easness and alarm
''It was soon after this that the fort AT
Pawtuxet was erected This work was
built by the voluntary labor OF the men
IN the towns OF warwick and Cranston
and their neighbors In the surrounding
territory In selecting the site for the To-
cation OF this earthwork a part OF the
farm then owned by Capt Remington was
taken. watch house ~ feet long and
eight feet wide for the accommodation of
q guard and such munitions OF war as
were necessary 20 he stored therein, was
erected near the fort, and a battery NJ
two p-pound guns was placed within the
fort. Col. Samuel Aborn OF the Pawtuxet
Rangers was placed in comand OF this
fort.
SAW ACTIVE SERVICE.
mo general encounter took place be-
tween the patriot forces and the enemy
until August. 1T7s. when occurred that en-
gagement known as the Battle OF Rhode
Island. In this the Rangers saw active
service In the field. on that 18th day OF
August. l77S standing at an upper win
dow In the old Rhodes house AZ the War
wick side OF the bridge Polly Rhodes
eagerly watched through n spyglass for
any evidence that would give her tho I'D
lngs or. the batue mat was then taking
place on the island
Those were anxious hours. for. amid
that mixed volume OF smoke and fame
was her husband. Maj Sylvester Rhodes
and her friends and neighbors OF the Paw
tuxet Rangers
Upon the organization of the Ranger,
half OF the membership consisted of mer
bearing the names OF Aborn. Arnold
Rhodes and Smith. names which are "a
milisr In Pawtuxet and descendants o.
some OF them are your friends and neigh
bors today
"Tt was at this time that the life of tn
Pswtuxet Rangers came 90 an end. anS
the organization. which from the perio,
OF the Revolution had been an importan
part OF the military system ~ the state
abandoned its formation. dissolved and The
organization became the Pawtuxet lnde
pendent Artillery CORPS
The records OF THIS ancient company
yet preserved. state that on the 18th Ol
April. 1914. n met AZ the house Of Mai AZ
thur Greene. and there unanimously elect
Cd az its cornmandant. Col william
Rhodes. a. being the bes, fitted 90 com.
mand the company at this critical juno
ture.' This organization was a part OF the