-Caveat Lector- an excerpt from: Lost Men of American History Stewart H. Holbrook(C)1946 The Macmillan Company New York, NY Now another incident occurred to rouse the sluggards. In spite of the general lightening of customs duties, smuggling was going on at a great rate. In June of 1772 the Crown's revenue cutter Gaspee stationed in Narragansett Bay, expressly to hamper Rhode Island's leading industry, fired on a packet which failed to stop, gave chase, and ran aground at Namquit, where a fast-ebbing, tide left her high, The packet continued on to Providence And brought news of the affair to "Mr. John Brown, a leading merchant of that place." John Brown was not only "a leading merchant" of Providence. Two years before he had laid with his own hand the cornerstone of Brown University's Hall; and he was ever a man of action. He, thought that the Gaspee's plight delivered into patriot hands a fine opportunity to put an end to that "vexatious ship"--which no doubt had caused trouble for some of Mr. Brown's own vessels. So, Brown sent Daniel Pearce along Providence's Main Street, beating the life out, of a drum, shouting the news, and inviting all stout-hearted', men to join in a voyage for Liberty. Meanwhile Brown prepared a fleet of longboats. That night sixty-four men setout. As they approached the beached Gaspee, her commander challenged, then fired a pistol. Thomas Bucklin, one of the patriots, or pirates, returned the, fire against orders and wounded the Gaspee's captain., The seagoing mob then boarded the revenue ship, took off her crew, and set her afire. She presently blew up and, sank. Her crew was set onshore and the wounded captain given medical attention. Large rewards were offered by the Crown for information, leading to arrest of the pirates. Brown was arrested, but no witnesses could be found. He was released. The inevitable broadsides appeared at once, placing further curses on the Crown and its revenue boats. And these new inflammations, had in no manner subsided when the Crown resolved to pay the salaries of Massachusetts judges, heretofore paid by the province. Samuel Adams, happy at this turn of events, now opened up with all of his horrors. "A bribe," he shouted from broadside and newspaper. He demonstrated, at least to his own satisfaction, that this "bribery" would make the American colonists "as complete slaves as the inhabitants of, Turkey or Japan." It was time, he went on with great choler, to "strike a home blow, or sit down under the Yoke of TYRANNY." He was very fond of capital letters. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
