Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1911-12-12
The Destruction Of Portland, Me-,
In Colonial Days.
ACT OF AN ENGLISH OFFICER.
A RoyaIist Woman's Wilss Caused the
AnnihiIation Of the City and Saved
Portsmouth, N. H., For Which Port
lands Fate Had Been Planned.

Annihilation Of the City and Saved
Portsmouth, N. H., For Which Port
lands Fate Had Been Planned.
One Of the causes of the Revolution
airy war. and quite as important one
as the stamp act. was the wanton de-
struction of the city Of Portland. Me-,
then part of the town Of Falmouth.
1t was said that the patriots might
have forgiven Lexington and Concord,
but that the razing Of this town. which
had been peaceably inclined until then,
incensed the colonies beyond measure.
One prompt result was the immediate
formation Of Maine regiment which
was added to the meager forces of the
Continental army.
Not so generally known, however, Is
the tradition that 1t was due to the
fascinations Of a beautiful woman
that Portland was destroyed and an
other town preserved.
When the British commander, Cap
tain Mowatt. on board his flagship, the
Canceau, anchored with his feet In
Portland's inner harbor. he did not re-
veal to her citizens that the unscrupu-
lous little god of love had been bis
pilot. Instead. on a bright October
morning in 1775. he ran up the royal
ensign on his feet and at o'clock
began bombardment that lasted un-
interruptediy until 6 o'clock at night.
Portland was unprepared for such a
visitation. and there was no attempt
at defense, the inhabitants simply
swarming the streets with their OK
carts and horses and attempting to
seek safety by flight to the open coun-
try back from the water front
So close did the assailing vessels ap-
proach that under cover Of the bonn.
bardment they landed sailors who per
vaded the town, setting fire to such
buildings as had escaped damage from
hot stot and exploding bombs. Before
Captain Mowatt had completed the sac
rifice be desired to lay before loves
shrine three-quarters of the town wal
totally destroyed. including the mu
| nicipal buildings, churches, public II
brary, fire engine houses. warehouses
wharfs and shipping.
All that he left was handful Of thu
poorer novels. every residence Of Inn
portance being bombarded or set OF
FIRE and 5000 inhabitants left shell
terless at the approach Of winter
To make it practically certain that ait
could not come to the seaport by wa
ter he destroyed all but one wharf and
took with him on his departure all thu
vessels anchored In the harbor tina
| had been spared from the torch.
Truly he had glorious bonfire and
in explanation he exhibited instruc
lions which read: "Come opposite thu
town with all possible expedition, ant
there burn. sink and destroy" but thu
gossips of the time said that these or
ders originally related to Portsmouth
N. H., and that 1t was due to woman
that they were not carried out as writ
ten.
| Captain Mowatt and his feet ha,
anchored off Portsmouth harbor som
time previously to his assault upol
Portland. and while there he had gon
quietly on shore and secretly yisite'
the family of the royalist Tor Tory. a
the colonists called them. Nathanie
Sparhawk. Nathaniel had daughter
girl of eighteen. famed the countr
round for her beauty as her father wa
famed for his obnoxious loyalty t
King George. and when the sailor car
tain saw her he proved an easy cor
quest like most sailors where prett
women are concerned). and he foun
1t necessary to be rowed from his shi
many times in order to spend the ever
ings with attractive Mary Sparhawk.
Her wit. beauty and brilliancy 9
conversation fascinated him an
through her influence. 1t is said. th
intention Of bombarding Portsmout
was abandoned. and Portland suffere
in the stead of the town which bel
the charming little Ioyalist.
So what one historian termed
wanton. indefensible assault upon q
undefended and peaceful city" can
about through a w0man's smile, an
every volIey from the fifty guns I
Mowatt's feet doubtless carried b
thoughts back to the lass who had VIC
his heart. The smoldering wharfs ar
the flaming houses were his burnt o
fering to his ladyloye
The Sparhawk house. where the ca
tain lost his heart still stands: bu
] alas, the romance ended as SO mar
, romances do. for after the Revolutis
was over the fair and fascinating bel
married physician and patriot.
Detroit Free Press.