Barnstable County

News

1813 Data

The Centinel (Gettysburg , Pennsylvania) February 3, 1813

Unfortunate Occurrence

Boston, January 18.

The following letter was yesterday received by the Keeper of the Exchange Coffee-House Books, dated

"Provincetown , Jan. 16, 1813"

"This afternoon the privateer brig Anaconda, captain Shaler from New York was lying here for the purpose of shipping hands. About 3 o'clock, the U. States’ schooner Commodore Hull, lieut. Newcomb, commander, came into the harbor, passed under the stern of the brig, and anchored between the brig and the town. The Lieutenant of the brig (the captain being on shore) demanded of Lieut. Newcomb his papers, who refused, saying he was not obliged to show his commission to the commander of a privateer; but showed his colors, declared to the officer of the privateer who he was and sent his boat on board, when the commander of the privateer put the officer and boat's crew under arrest. The Commodore Hull, being so near the shore that she struck at low water, while her boat was on board the privateer, attempted to get underway to shift her birth and was immediately fired upon by the privateer with 3 guns (the rest of the broadside missing fire, the brig carrying 18 guns) loaded with round and grape shot. Lieutenant Newcomb was wounded in the face and two other men on board were wounded, all with grape shot. The balls passing over the schooner, went into the town; and one of them went into a store, passing about 3 feet over the heads of a number of men who stood in it - another ball went through the roof of another store, adjoining a dwelling house and the other through a boat on the shore, and afterwards through a store; the grape shot falling a little short of the town. The above account as to the circumstance on board, was given by Mr. Daggett, pilot of the schooner, who is unhurt. "The person, who brought the above letter, left Provincetown last Saturday evening, at which time Lieut. Newcomb was unable to speak, part of his jaw-bone having been shot off; but he would proceed in the schooner, Sunday following, notwithstanding.

[Contributed by Nancy Piper]

Fallmouth, Mass, April 13, 1888 - Disastrous fire started this noon in the vicinity of John Lambert's and burned very fast with a strong wind. The village of Teaticket is in great danger. [Submitted by Candi Horton]

THE BARK ALABAMA. The Boston papers of this morning, report the striking of the bark Alabama, of Boston, Commanded by Capt. Frederick G. Ward, of Salem, on Hawes's Shoal. We have received a letter from Capt. Ward, which gives the following more full particulars:

EDGARTOWN, (Martha's Vineyard,)
Friday morning, Oct 26, 1849

Early on Monday morning last, with thick rainy weather, and a fresh gale from S.W., we got into shoal water, and soon made breakers, and saw land under the lee. The gale increasing and blowing directly ashore, together with the uncertainty of my position, obliged me to anchor as the only alternative for safety. We lay from Monday noon until Wednesday morning off Smith's Point, near "Tuckernuck Island," and rode out the gale safely with both anchors, although it was a dangerous place, and the sea breaking tremendously. I then got underway, and took a Vineyar pilot, and in beating through "Muskeget channel," we ran ashore on "Hawes Shoal," near Cape Poge light house, about 6 o'clock Wednesday evening, the wind blowing a gale from N.W. We remained there upwards of half an hour, and thumped so hard that I certainly thought the bark would go to peices; but, miraculous to tell, the tide took her off into deep water, and she did not even leak, though evidently much injured. We came to anchor, and lay safely all night; yesterday afternoon we arrived at this place, and it is thought prudent, no only by myself but by the survey held for me, to proceed to Boston the first opportunity, which I shall do. Some sails were blown away.
[The Salem Gazette, Oct 27, 1849 p2]
(transcribed by Nancy Washell)

Abilene Weekly Reflector., September 06, 1888 -

Hyannis, Mass., Aug. 21 - A boating party consisting of George Barnard and his two .sons, Fred and George, Mrs. C. Smith and her two daughters, Bertie andEdna, Miss Jennie Noyer, Stella Hallett, Edward Cromell and Clifton Bradford, all excepting Mrs. and Miss Smith, of Hyannis, started out yesterday for a day's bail. When about three miles from the shore the boat was struck by a squall and capsized. The schooner "W. H. Lewis, of Chatham, was in the vicinity and sent boats to tho rescue. They succeeded in rescuing seven persons, all of whom were in an exhausted condition. But Bortio and Edna Smith and Fred Barnard were drowned. They were aged twelve year each.

(Submitted by T.E. a Friend of Free Genealogy)

Eddie Ray Snow was arraigned this morning in Barnstable , Mass. , charged with the murder of James Whittemore at Yarmouth September 15, 1899. He pleaded guilty and Judge Aiken sentenced him to be electrocuted in the week beginning March 13 next. This will be the first execution under the new State law which substitutes electrocution for hanging.

[Alexandria Gazette - VA, Jan 1, 1900] (Contributed by Nancy Hannah)

Barnstable County