Year: 1874

AT once there was the greatest excite
ment in the village. 1t was British
war ship. What would she do?
Would she tack about the bay to pick
up stray coasters as prizes, or would
she land soldiers to burn the town ? In
either event there would be trouble
enough.


Those were sad days, those old war
times in 1912. The sight of British
war ship in Boston Bay was not pleas
ant. We we're poor then, and had no
monitors to 60 out and sink the enemy
or drive him of. Our navy was small
and, though we afterward had the VIC
tory and sent the troublesome ships
away, never TO return, at that time
they often came near enough, and the
good people in the village of Scituate
Harbor were in great distress over the
strange ship that had appeared in the
mouth of the harbor.


1t was a fishing place in those days,
and the harbor was full of smacks and
boats Of all kinds. The soldiers could
easily enter the harbor and burn up
everything and no one could prevent
them. There were men enough to
make good fight, but they were poor
ly armed and had nothing but fowling-
pieces and shot-guns, while the soldiers
had muskets and cannon.


The tide was down during the morn
ing, so that there was no danger for a
few hours; and all the people went
out on the cliffs and beaches to watch
the ship and see what would happen
next.


On the end of low sandy spit that
makes one side of the harbor stood
the little, white tower known as Scit-
uate Light. In the house, behind the
light, lived the keepers family consist
ing of himself, wife and several boys
and girls. At the time the ship APP
peared the keeper was away, and there
was no. one at home, save Mrs. Bates,
the eldest daughter, Rebecca, about
fourteen years old, two of the little
boys, and a young girl named Sarah
Winsor, who was visiting Rebecca.


Rebecca had been the first to discov-
er the ship, while she was up in the
lighthouse tower polishing the refiec-
tor. She at once descended the steep
stairs and sent off the little boys
to the village to give the alarm.


For an hour or two the ship tackled
and stood off to sea, and then tackled
again and made for the shore. Men,
women and children watched her with
anxious interest. Then the tide turn
ed and began to flow into the harbor.
The boats, aground on the flats, float
ed, and those in deep water swung
around at their moorings. Now the
soldiers would probably land. If the
people meant to save anything it was
time to be stirring. Boats were hasti-
ly put out from the wharf, and such
clo:hing, nets and other valuables as
could be handled were brought ashore,
loaded into hay carts and carried
away.


1t was of no use to resist. The SOL
diers of course, were we'll armed, and
if the people made a stand among the
houses that would not prevent the en-
emy from destroying the shipping.


About two o'clock the tide reached
the high water mark, and, to the dis
may of the people, the ship let 60 her
anchor, swung her yards round, and
lay quiet about half mile from the
first cliff. They were going to land to
burn the town. With their glasses
the people could see the boats lowered
to take the soldiers ashore.


All! then there was confusion and
uproar, Every horse in the village was
put into some kind of team, and the
women and children hurried off to the
woods behind the town. The men
would stay and offer as brave a resist
ance as possible. Their guns were
light and poor, but they could use the
old fish houses as a fort, and perhaps
make a brave fight of it, If worse
came to worse, they could at least re-
treat and take to the shelter of the
woods.


1t was a splendid sight. Five large
boats, manned by sailors, and filled
with soldiers in gay red coats. How
their guns glittered in the sun The
oars all moved together in regular Or
der, and the officers in their fine uni
forms stood up to direct the expedi-
ton. 1t was courageous company
come with war ship aud cannon to
fight helpless fishermen.


So Rebecca Bates and Sarah Winsor
thought, as they sat up in the light
house tower looking down on the pro-
cession of boats as it went past the
point and entered the harbor,


"Oh! if / were only man !" cried
Rebecca.


"What would you do? See what
Lot of thann and look nt thnir crnns IU