Year: 1875

III Was dDuub Hlh6 y CIoCh Ill the lloIu
ing when the ship appeared. At one,
there was the greatest excitement in the
village. 1t was a British war-ship What


would she do? Would she tack around


in the bay and pick up stray coasters a:


prizes, or would she land soldiers and


burn the town? In either case she


would be trouble enough.


Those were sad days, those old war
times in 1872 The sight of British


war-ship in Boston Bay was not pleasant


We were poor then and had no monitors
to go out and sink the enemy or drive
them off, Our navy was small, and
though we afterwards had the victory
and sent the troublesome ships away
never to return, at that time they often
came near enough, and the good people
in the little village of Scituate Harbor


we're in great distress over the strange
ship that had appeared at the mouth Of
the harbor


1t was fishing place in those days,
and the harbor was full of boats and
smacks 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 poorly
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 the low, sand spit that
makes one side of the harbor, stood the
little white tower known as Scituate
Light In the house behind the light
lived the keepers family, consisting of
himself, wife and several boys and girls.
At the time theship appeared, the keep
er was away, and there was no one at
home save Mrs Bates, and the eldest
daughter, Rebecca, about fourteen years
old, two of the little boys and little
girl named Sarah Windsor, who was
visiting Rebecca,





Rebecca had been the first to discover
the ship, while she was in the lighthouse
tower polishing the reflector. She at
once descended the steep stairs and sent
off the boys to the village to give the
alarm.


For an hour or two the ship tackled
and stood off at sea, then tackled again
and made for shore. Men, women and
children watched her with anxious inter-
est. Then the tide turned, and began to
flow into the harbor. The boats aground
on the flats fioated, and those in deep
water swung around at their moorings.
Now the soldiers would probably land.
Ii the people ment to save anything it
was time to be stirring Boats we're
hastily put out from the wharf, and such
clothing, nets and other valuables as
could be handled were brought ashore,
loaded into haycarts, and carried away.


1t was Of no use to resist. The sol
diers, of course, were well armed. and if
the people made stand among the houses
that would not prevent the enemy from
the shipping.


As the tide spread out over the sandy
flats it filled the harbor so that, instead
of small channel, it became a wide
and beautiful bay. The day was fine
and there was gentle breeze ripping
the water and making it sparkle in the
sun What splendid day for fishing
or sailing. Not much use to think of
either while that war-ship crossed and
recrossed before the harbor mouth.


A bout 2 o'clock the tide reached the
highwater mark, and, to the dismay of
the people, the ship let go her anchor,
swung her yards around and lay about
half mile from the first cliff. They
were going to land to burn the town.
With their spy 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 were hurried off
TO the woods behind the town. The men
would stay and offer as brave resist
ance as possible. The guns were light
md poor, but they could use the fish
house as a fort, and, perhaps, make
brave fight of it. If worse came to worse,
hey could at last retreat and take to
he shelter of the woods.


1t was splendid sight. Five large
'oats manned by sailors, and filled by
oldiers in gray and red coats. The oars
ii moved in regular order, and the off
ers, in their fine uniform, stood up to
lirect the expedition. 1t was a coura-
,eous company come with a war-ship
md cannon to fight helpless fishermen.


So Rebecca Bates and Sarah Windsor