Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-09
WHEN THE THAMES WAS BLocKADED
It isaeasy to guess the condition of sffairsS sir15 Norwich during this excit-

ss
 It isaeasy to guess the condition of affairs ins Norwich during this excit-
 Miss =Caulkins writes her valuable History that, the conmerce Of the Thames ceased at once. Sails were taken down, hu11ss. packed together like hogs. keels left to decay
 The abloekade of the river eontinued about two years and was strictly en- depression and gloom. The huge force displayed by the enemy kept New London and other places on the Sound in cons tant apprehension of an. as- sauit. A British l seveHty-feur, with an accompaninent.o of frigates or s1oops of war and smaller craft, Ha1ntained a strict guard at the mouth of the river;s and there being no. creeks or side. channels by which an entrance could be effected. n4ewas not easy to elude their .vigilance. The blockade was adequate and enecrive. Many valuable prizes were taken by the enemy, and ,, in the course of few months the coast was swept clear Of all American craft.
 However, experiments vere ocea- sionaily made of running through the fleet with a fair wind, or of slipping sbyesirs the night adrenturoHs daring which was frequently successful. 2 During ISIS, the schooner O. HI. tSeffyxE zbf tons, DulII Dy SafnaeI otOTS, a famous ship builder of early Nor wichl and just completed when the news came of Perryss victory on Lake Eries dropped down to- New London, and, one night in November. slipping past the b1ockading sauadron, in nine hours reached New York in safety.
 Naturally there was great rejoicing at this daring feat of the Norwich- built craft. But unhappily. on her f1rst;svoyage to San Domingo the next Spring she was captured. by the fri gate Endynfon.
 Norwich men of these days, es- pecialfy her sailornen, were brave fellows, not content tos settle down without at least making a try for sue- schooner Marmion,s built by S. Clark, ran out in safety during March 1S14, and went to sea, under Captain Bfng- ley.
 Another privateer, launched from Edgerton's shipyard nearly at the same time, was equally fortunate in eluding the vigilance of the enemy.
 Escape and capture atternatede in this game of running the blockade
 Captain John Deane, ina fishing vessel called The Bee, and Captain Jonathan Lester inSthe sloop Richard, were captured during the winter of -1o1o-1t Il0 HlOOp IHE6o EtSEOEnGfS [ Erastus Dawson. in entering New London harbor Dec. 22nd, was fired at four. times by the enemy's ffisate Satira. but came safely up the river to Norwich Landing, with a full cargo.
 "The Fourth of July, 1874. brought with it little festiyity.". writes Miss Caulkins. A pleasant incident oc- cured. however, in Norwich. A house Rue ell ~ about a mile below the city was kept as public house and called The Thames Hotel. It was at that time rented by@lCapt. Christopher R Perry the father of Commodore Perry On the day of jubilee. a party of gentle at the hotel Just before they sal down to the table. the heroic Comrno- dore himself, unexpectedly arrived from the lakes on a visit to his father | Great was the cheering. and never were cheers bestowed more cor6ia llv The joyous aeclamations reached the dismantled squadron below. where the few officers in charge werA dining OF the deck Of the Macedonian. and the river was enIivened with a successicr, Of responsive cheers and salutes" The fine old mansion 10 which the historian refers as the originaa Thames Hotel, was built by Thona Bushnell, and after the war was the residence of Capt. Appleton Meacf. Ii IS now the residence of James R. AL lyn.s
 August 10th, 1914, tine enemy made bold but unsuccessful attack upon Stonington Had the forces succeed ed m gaining possession of this foot hold, there is little doubt that tbi. stroke would have been followed byAa sudden descent upon Norwich. There
 was no other place they could hone tc