84 FISHEEMEN OP THE UNITED STATES. 



As a matter of justice -we print in a foot-note vhat is doubtless a true re-view of the facts 

 of the case J it appeared in the Marblehead Statesman.* 



* SKIPPER LRESON. 



Many a time when traveling av ay from his native heath the writer has met individnaU whose only knowledge of 

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

 the formula of introdnotion had proceeded far enongh to announce that we were from Marblehead, the reply haa too 

 often come, " Oh I yes, Morble'ead, where old Find Oirson for his herd hort was tai'd and feathered and corrid in a 

 cort." So often has this been repeated that there grew within ns 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 Marbleheader against the libel upon his native town and the insult upon 

 the 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 upon 

 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. Pour 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 Boiared by several powerfol men and 

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

 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 fiuished 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 hag 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 

 consultation on board the Betty as to the course to be pursued, and the crew decided not to endanger their own lives 

 for the sake of 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 the unfortunate "men. To this 

 they also demurred, and insisted on proceeding on 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 in its 

 entire history that its citizens have any reason to regret." 



Mr. Whittier's letter is as follows : 



"Oak Knoll, Danvbrs, Fifth-month, 18, 1880. 



"Mt Deak Friend : I heartily thank thee for a copy of thy ' History of Marblehead.' I have read it with great 

 interest and think good use has been made of the abundant material. No town in Essex 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 am glad the story of it has been at last 

 told, and told so well. I have now no doubt that thy version of Skipper Ireson is a correct one. My verse was solely 

 founded on a fragment of rhyme which I heard from one of my early schoolmates, a native of Marblehead. I supposed 

 the story to which it referred dated back at least a century. I knew nothing of the particulars, and the narrative of 

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

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



" I am truly thy friend, ' ' JOHN G. WHITTIER." 



