Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-10-19
BATTLE or NoRwooD,s COVE.

BATTLE OF NORwOODss COVE.
Skirmish In which Britishers Were
Repulsed By lnhabitants.
OF the Thousands who visit Southwest
Harbor annually for the relief from heat
and the opprcssion Of urban life in sum-
mcr, afforded nowhere in such generous
bounty - on the Maine coast, few know
that ON August Q, 1914, one Of the battles
Of the War OF 1872 took placs within .
short distance Of this picturesque little
village. The chief sectors In the defence Of
the property Of Cspt. Benjamin Squirting
were the sturdy farmers and fishermen OF
the Island Of Mt. Desert.
1t was the summer Of the pear 1914 that
the English, intent ON gripping the
newly born republic BY all means within
her power, sent small warships and priva-
teers to harrass the coast Of the Atlantic
seaboard. Along the coast OF Maine there
were several such, and the sea -faring pa
triots Of Mt. Desert wexe ready to . man
to stand unitedly against amy attempt at .
AAA0AM8 on4 t0C UcAx QxG Vi t06lE RkVkpcktys
although history does not indicate that in
all cases the Americana were - successful
in defending their rights - they were in
the skirmish OF Noswood's cove.
While locally IL 10 referred to ~ battle,
IL could hardly be 80 termed. since 1t wss
between men in boats ON the one hand
AID keen-eyed, sharpshooting landsmen
on the other-men who had made the
bringing down OF swiit-fighted SEQ fowl
on the wing . sport Of both profit and
pastime.
Early in August, the fsArsome stories OF
oppression and Ill treatment brought to
the Maine coast BY those who had sur
vived and escaped from the clutches Of the
invaders seemed likely to Be realized by
the dwellsrs on MI. Desert. The Engiish
sloop Of war Tenedos sailed in the eastern
way and dropped anchor in the deep water
between Bear and Sutton ialands.
The principal man and probably the
earliest permanent settler on Great Cram
berry island was Capt. Benjamin Squirting.
He had two vessels hauled mp for repairs
in Norwood's cove, which 10 An inlet Of
the bay near Somes' sound and within the
limits OF the town Of Southwest Harbor.
Into this Little cove flowed Harmon,s
brooks small creek that was well nlled
ct flood tide.
Knowing the constant danger Of the ar
rival OF British privateers, the topmasts Of
these vessels had been displaced by tree
tops, 20 that from outside the cove they
would not Be 20 noticeable. Then the
vessels bad been drawn - TAR into the
brook - high water permitted.
When Capt. Ben looked from Great
Cranberry and saw the topmasts Of the
Tenedos towering above the trees OF the
neighborinG island Of Sutton's, he real
lied that his secret was discovered and
took prompt measures to zee II the de-
struction OF his two vessels could be |
avoided. Knowing that fresh beef must
Be something OF . rarity to the sailors,
Obliged - they we're to bring their sup
plies with them In great measure and un-
able to levy to any extent on the land
resources, Capt. Squirting put OF in boat
to the war vessel and offered the captain Q
yoke Of dressed oxen II they would leave
his property alone. Not only did they re-
fuse, but they held him prisoner to act ~
pilot to the shore, believing that there
would Be little firing on the landing party
II it were known that Capt. Squirting were
on board the boat. His man was permitted
TO return to the shore and the alarm
spread with great rapjdity.
During the night two young men rowed
scross from Great Cranbsrry 70 carry the
news, and all night long messengers
travelled over the hills, ali the able bodied
men Of the region answering the call. Al
they were widely scattered there could
not have been over seventy, according to
Street, in his account Of the event in his
history Of NJ. Desert. By daylight they
had assembled in ambush at the mouth OF
the cove, ready to meet the two approach
carried . swivel gun and had Capt. Spuri-
ing - . protection. The latter tried to
dissuade the oficer in charge from the
attack, assuring him that be bad three
sons ON shore who could shoot duck on
the wing.
The boats approached % near that the
two hides could talk back and forth, and
the men on shore hesitated to Ore, fearing
TO wound their friends The British
sailors threw CAPT. Squirting into the bot
tom OF their boat, tramplsd on and abused
him shamefully, 30 that st last be shoutsd
to his son and peighbors assembled be-
hind the trees of Clark's point, "Never
mind me, Rob, ! am IN old man; but
give Il to these - Bxitishers - hard ~
you cam
Even before the boats from the Tencdos
could enter the cove, the duck shooting
islanders Of tbs Maine coast had picked
their men and fred with telling effect,
while the muskst volleyssof the attacking
party, intended to bo hsiped by the
swivel's heavier discharges, all went wild,
most Of the bullets landing in the trees
above the heads OF the defenders ON the
point. The visitors were soon compelled,