The Coolidge examiner., 1933-05-26


AS he thought of the meeting, he
wondered why his mind would give
him no rest in the matter. What
he had missed was thing not TO
be seen or heard. 1t was the spir-
itCal aura that surrounded the re-
markable woman known as Mother
Enslow. He had begun to tell Of
his suspicion, and a man hearing
of it had told of meeting the apple
woman and of taking her To the
Shipman house and of having a like
misgiving. So it came about that
Mrs. Shipman and hers home were
thereafter closely watched. The
consequences might have been seri-
Gus a month earlier.
One day soon after, while visit
ing the British hospital, Pat came
upon Mother EnslOw, who was
nursing the sick. They had talk
together. The former apple woman
won the affection of the fashionable
young lady. Within week the old
mother of the armies. shorn,
trimmed and neatly dressed. had
become a chambermaid in the
Fayerweather mansion. Since the
war began, wealthy loyalists had
lost many servants and their do
mestic affairs were sorely deranged.
Thus IL was that Pat. feeling the
need of wise counsel and friendly
consolation in her own home, found
it in the company of Mother Ems
low.
Soon the peaceful folk of the
town were in a panic. A man who
lived on the Neck looking through
Spy-glass from the top of his
house, had discovered signs of great
activity on Dorchester heights. The
heights had been taken by the Yam
kees without loss in curious and
ingenious manner. Their column
had advanced behind wheelbarrows
loaded high with bound hay TO
screen them. Then barrels of sand
were hauled to the top Of the slopes
to be rolled down upon the charg
ing British regiments. II was a
formidable plan of defense.
Rumors of a bombardment were
flying through the city. The Brit
ish army officers gave them no cred
IT. The roar of Washlngton's can
non had the effect of a merry jest
in Howe's army.
The Fayerweathers were aboard
the flagship of the fleet in the har-
Dor on n visit to Admiral Shuldam
when the guns of Ticonderoga and
others from Dorchester heights to
East Cambridge opened a wither-
ing fire on the defenses in front OF
them. II was the clever girl Pat
who was responsible for this flag.
ship party She had had hint
from Revere. Pats maid had de-
serted her in the panic and so
Enslow, as she was then called,
went with them TO serve in that
capacity.
That night OF March 4, 1776, from
dark TO daylight. the guns from
Ticonderoga beloved and sheets of
fame were leaping upward along
the seven-mile line of Washington.
II was a night of terror. Cannon
balls splashed into the harbor. One
of them tore through the rigging Of
ship and splintered a mast. An
order was given TO weigh anchor
and hoist sails and move out OF
range. This was done After day
light, when the firing had ceased,
Admiral Shuldam returned for OBJ
servation. At a prudent distance
! from the town an officer climbed TO
the masthead and with his glass
noted the extent of the disaster. A
big redoubt. built in the night. now
crowned the heights of Dorchester
Many Of the British works were
destroyed. The city itself had suf-
fered little damage. But the town
and the harbor were nj Washing.
tons mercy. His artillery had be
come a menace instead of a joke.
The admiral Informed General
Howe that unless the enemy was
dislodged he could not occupy the
harbor. That afternoon Howe took
three thousand men to Castle IS
land for an attack but it was held
in check by a great storm. Before
an advance was possible. Washing
ton had so strengthened and eX-
tended his works that Howe aban-
doned his plan. The latter offered
to embark his army and leave the
city uninjured If permitted to do So
without molestation. The proposal
was not signed. but the commander
OF the patriots had no doubt of its
sincerity. So. his supply of pow
der having been shortened by the
cannonade and. desiring to save
the city, he let the British go in
peace.
The bombardment had continued
three nights. No one on the flag
ship had been allowed to go ashore
The important loyalists in town
came aboard with their luggage.
and, as soon as the storm abated.
the admiral found an anchorage far
out of range and lay to while the