84 FISHERMEN OF THE UNITED STATES. 



As a matter of justice we print in a footnote what is doubtless a true review of the facts 

 of the ca.se; it appeared in the Marblehead Statesman.* 



* SKIPPER IRESON. 



Many a time when traveling away from his native heath the writer has met individuals whose only knowledge of 

 our good old town was that gained from reading the poem of Mr. Whittier which is the theme of this article. When 

 I he formula of introduction had proceeded far enough to announce that we were from Marblehead, the reply has too 

 often come, " Oh! yes, Morble'ead, where old Flud Oirson for his hord liort was tar'd and feathered and corrid in a 

 tort." So often has this been repeated that there grew within us a feeling of exasperation, and the very name of 

 Whittier had an unpleasant sound. This experience gave us the firm resolve that, if opportunity ever offered, we 

 would place upon record the protest of one Marhleheader against the libel upon his native town and the insult upon 

 t lie fair fame of her noble women. We have been forestalled in our original design by the publication of the true story 

 of Skipper Ireson's ride, by Mr. Samuel Eoads, jr., in his "History and Traditions of Marblehead." Immediately npou 

 the publication of the history by Mr. Roads, the poet sent him a letter, in which he gracefully acknowledges the truth 

 of the story as told by Mr. Roads, and bears testimony to the honorable record of old Marblehead. Mr. Roads's story 

 is as follows : 



•'On Sunday, October 30, 1808, the schooner Betty, commanded by Skipper Benjamin Ireson, arrived from the 

 Grand Banks. Shortly after their arrival the crew reported that at midnight on the previous Friday, when off Cape 

 Cod light-house, they passed the schooner Active, of Portland, which was in a sinking condition, and that the skipper 

 had refused to render any assistance, to the unfortunate men on board the wreck. The excitement and indignation 

 of the people upon the reception of this news can be better imagined than described. Two vessels, manned by willing 

 volunteers, were immediately dispatched to the scene of disaster, with the hope of their arrival in time to save the 

 shipwrecked sailors. But their mission was a failure, and they returned with no tidings of the wreck. The resent- 

 ment of the people was still further provoked when, on the following day, the sloop Swallow arrived, having on board 

 Captain Gibbons, the master of the ill fated schooner. He corroborated the story told by the crew of the Betty, and 

 stated that the Active sprung aleak at about 11 o'clock on Friday night. An hour later the Betty was spoken, 'but, 

 contrary to the principles of humanity,' she sailed away without giving any assistance. On Saturday, Captain 

 Gibbons and three of the passengers were taken off the wreck by Mr. Hardy, of Truro, in a whale-boat. Four other 

 persons were left on the wreck, but the storm increased so rapidly that it was found impossible to return to their 

 rescue. Captain Gibbons was placed on board the revenue cutter Good Intent, and afterwards went on board the 

 sloop Swallow, in which he came to Marblehead. 



"This statement, by one who had so narrowly escaped a watery grave, made a deep impression upon the fisher- 

 men, and they determined to demonstrate their disapproval of Skipper Ireson's conduct by a signal act of vengeance. 

 Accordingly, on a bright moonlight night, the unfortunate skipper was suddenly seized by several powerful men and 

 securely bound. He was then placed in a dory, and, besmeared from head to feet with tar and feathers, was dragged 

 through the town escorted by a multitude of men and boys. When opposite the locality now known as Work- 

 house Rocks the bottom of the dory came out, and the prisoner finished the remainder of his ride to Salem in a 

 cart. The authorities of that city forbade the entrance of the strange procession, and the crowd returned to Marble- 

 head. Throughout the entire proceeding Mr. Ireson maintained a dignified silence, and when, on arriving at his own 

 home, he was released from custody, his only remark was, • I thank you for my ride, gentlemen, but you will live to 

 regret it.' His words were prophetic. When too late to make reparation for the wrong they had committed, the 

 impulsive fishermen realized that they had perpetrated an act of the greatest injustice upon an innocent man. 



"At this late day, when for years his memory has been defamed throughout the land, and the fair name of the 

 women of Marblehead lias been sullied by the fictitious story of one of our best New England poets, it is but just that 

 the true story of the affair should be written. Skipper Ireson was not more to blame than his crew, and, it is believed, 

 not at all. When the wreck was spoken and the cry of distress was heard, a terrific gale was blowing. There was a 

 consult at inn mi board the Bettj as to the course to be pursued, ami the crew decided not to endanger their own lives 

 for the sake ill saving others. Finding that, they were resolute in their determination, Skipper Ireson proposed to lay 

 by the wreck all night or until the storm should abate, and then go to the rescue of tile unfortunate men. To this 

 tins also demurred, and insisted mi proceeding mi their homeward voyage without delay. On their arrival at Marble- 

 head, fearing the just indignation of the people, they laid the entire blame upon the skipper. This version of the 

 affair is generally accepted as true, and for the credit of the town, be it said, that it is one of the few incidents ill its 

 history that its citizens have any reason to regret." 



Mr. Whittier's letter is as follows : 



"Oak KNOLL, Danvers, Fifth-month, 18, 1880. 



■ y\\ Dear Friend: I heart il\ thank thee for a copy of thy ' History of MaTblehead.' I have read it with great 



interest and think good use has been made of the abundant material. No town in F.s^.-x County has a record more 



honorable than Marblehead; no one has done more to develop the industrial interest of our New England seaboard, 



and certainly none have given such evidence of self-sacrificing patriotism. I tun glad the story of it has been at last 



told, and told so well. I have now no doubt that thy versi f Skipper Ireson is a correct one. Mj yerse was solely 



fmi i nl id mi a fragment of rhyme which I heard from one of mj early school mates, a native of Marblehead. I supposed 



the story to which it referred ■ i century. I knew nothing of the particulars, and the narrative of 



th. ballad was pure fancy. I am glad lor the sake of truth and justice that the real facts an given in thy book. I 



certainly would not know high do injustice to any one, dead or living. 



"I am truly thy friend," "JOHN (J. WHITTIER." 



