File:A book of New England legends and folk lore in prose and poetry. Illustrated by F. T. Merrill (1884) (14579219780).jpg

Identifier: bookofnewengland00drakrich (find matches)
Title: A book of New England legends and folk lore in prose and poetry. Illustrated by F. T. Merrill
Year: 1884 (1880s)
Authors: Drake, Samuel Adams, 1833-1905
Subjects: Legends -- New England
Publisher: Boston, Roberts Brothers
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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vessels returned from a fruit-less search, only to increase the resentment already felt againstSkipper Ireson, upon whom his crew had thrown all the blameof their own dastardly conduct. Usually dead men tell no tales;but it so fell out that in this instance a more damning evidenceto Iresons inhumanity appeared, as it were, from the graveitself to confront him. It happened that on the morning nextfollowing the night of the Betsys desertion of them, thecaptain and three others were rescued from the sinking vessel.They soon made public the story of the cruel conduct of the Betsys people ; and as ill news travels fast, it was not longbefore it reached Marblehead, throwing that excitable town into aliubbub over the aspersions thus cast upon its good name. Itwas soon determined to take exemplary vengeance upon theoffender. One bright moonlight night Skipper Ireson heard aknock at his door. Upon oi)ening it he found himself in thenervous grasp of a band of resolute men, who silently hurried
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230 NEW-ENGLAND LEGENDS. hiin off into a deserted place, — with what object, his fears alonecould divine. They tirst securely pinioned and then besmearedhim from head to foot with a coat of tar and feathers. In themorning the whole population of the town turned out to wit-ness or assist in this ignominious punishment, which had beenplanned by some of the bolder spirits, and silently approved bythe more timid ones. Ireson in his filthy disguise was seated inthe bottom of a dory, — instead of a cart, — and, surroundedby a hooting rabble, the unfortunate skipper was then draggedthrough the streets of the town as far as the Salem boundary-line, where the crowd was met and stopped by the selectmen ofthat town, who forbid their proceeding farther, — thus frustratingthe original purpose to drag Ireson through the streets of Salemand of Beverly, as weU as those of Marblehead. During Iresonsrough ride, the bottom of the dory had fallen out. The mobthen procured a cart, and Hfting the b

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