The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-01-07
OLD WARS RECALLED.
By Vermont Waterman of 1908 in Pos
session of John ]. Sowles,


An antique newspaper is the cherished
property of John j. Sowles Of Beckley
hill 1t was handed down to him from
his reat-grandfather, Asa Dodge, a one.
time resident of Beckley hill The paper
has been we'll preserved, every word be-
ing easily read.
The following heading and date APP
pear on it: THE Waterman, Montpelier,
Friday, November 4, 1905" Among its
contents is report of British naval
victory over the Russian fleet. 1t reads
as follows: Yesterday evening a mail
from Gottenburg arrived. 1t brings an
account of an action between Sir Samuel
Hood, and the Russian fleet in the Baltic
IL appears that Sir Samuel Hood had
with two sail Of the line, joined the
Swedish fleet, with which he sailed in
pursuit of the Russians. The Russian
admiral apprized Of their approach, quit
ted Henga roads On the 25th August, He
was, however, oYertaken by the com
bined squadron. The British ships, the
Centaur and the Implacable, being much
better sailers than the Swedes, succeeded
in bringing the rear of the Russian feet
to action, and one of their line of battle
ships struck her colours. The whole of
the Russian fleet then bore down to res
cue her, in which they succeeded; but
she was again attacked by the Centaur,
and carried by boarding she unfortu
nately, however, got around, and Sir
Samuel Hood was obliged to burn her.
The Swedish feet at that time coming
up the Russian admiral crowded all sail
and took refuge in port Baltic, where he
was blocked up, when the last accounts
came away, by the united British and
Swedish fleets The Russians immediate
ly upon entering port Baltic began TO
erect works for the protection of their
feet upon an island which commands the
entrance Of the harbour. When this in
telligence reached Sweden orders were
given for the embarkation of body OF
troops for the purpose of reducing the
island. Sir Samuel Hood with four sail
Of the line, Lieutenant Thompson, ar
rived at the admiralty yesterday with
above intelligence"
Another item describing the velocity
of the ships of those days and the con
ditions between France and the United
! States, reads thus: Yesterday arrived
at this port, the fast-sailing barque
Richard, Capt, Odiorne, in 30 days from
Liverpool, and % from land TO land
Capt. o. has favoured the editors of the
New York Gaz. with London papers to
/ the evening of the 18th ult. exclusive.
| From these papers the leading articles
are extracted. But the news
of the most Importance is the following,
over the signature of the captain himself.
".The above is correct statement.
"tSigned) John 0diorne.'
Capt, 0diorne reports and pledges
his veracity for the fact, that the En-
perour of France has declared War
against the United States.
Letters have also been received by
this vessel which state that all Ameri-
cans have been arrested in France
Capt 0diorne informs, that on the
/ 10th Sept, when bearing down channel,
Mr.. Maury, the American consul at Liv-
erpool, sent one Of his clerks on board
| the Richard. who verbally informed Capt.
Odiorne Of the arrival at Liverpool of an
express from London, advising of dec
laration of WAR by France against the
| United States of America-and advised
Capt, 0diorne to come TO an anchor and
ensure his vessel in consequence thereof
Capt Odiorne has dispatches for govern
ment, which were ordered to be sent off
to Washington Immediately on his ar
rival here--or to charter a pilot boat on
his arrival on the coast, and run her into
the Chesapeake with the dispatches.
Capt 0diorne also informs, that in
consequence Of the Importance Of the dis
patches, he beat out Of the channel with
a bead wind