Slowly and stealthily, oars silently dipped into the water quietly pushing their vessel toward its destination at the Old Harbor of Block island. Its nine inhabitants, shrouded in secrecy, dared not make any unnecessary noise that might signal their impending arrival to the island. They had set out in the dark of night in a light boat called a “shaving mill” to exact revenge upon those who were responsible for taking their land and possessions in the name of Liberty. It was the closing years of the American Revolution and anyone in the colonies who did not support the cause for liberty from England was considered a Tory, or sympathizer to the English throne. The small assemblage in the boat had been labeled Tories by their peers and for that, suffered the consequence of being traitors to the cause of freedom from the rule of England. Some reports say they were mere pirates using a small boat as cover, for they knew well of the islander’s famous signal fire that was often lit on Beacon Hill to warn of approaching vessels, especially during the times of the revolution and age of piracy.

The nine rogue’s mission was to wreak havoc on the islanders by raiding and pillaging what they could. While some Tories denounced the king and were sworn to loyalty to America, other fled the colonies in haste to Canada or the motherland in order to avoid severe punishment. They left everything behind to be ransacked and sold by the Sons of Liberty to help fund the war effort. Some hid, living in secrecy until the struggle ended and some, like the group in the shaving mill, decided to take a stand for themselves and their king. The Old Harbor was now in sight and the men aboard began to finalize their plan. But, alas, it was not to be. A sudden surging rogue wave crashed into the boat. 

At the same time, a signal flame was lit on Beacon Hill that gave the islanders who saw it ample warning of the impending intruders. Those who saw the signal convened along the shore to greet the intruders, but what they saw was not a boat docking. The islanders were witness to an event that would echo along Old Harbor for centuries to come. The nine men struggled in vain to land the boat at the harbor as the people looked on, but could offer no help due to the surging waves. Before the boat was upset, one loud voice could be heard over the crashing waves shouting, “Pull Boys! Pull For Your Lives!” The rough seas instantly capsized the vessel as it neared Old Harbor Point Landing, sending all its inhabitants into the ice cold unforgiving sea. The men tried desperately to right the boat or swim for shore, but their efforts were futile in the freezing surf. All that were aboard perished within minutes. Their cries to each other and for help from the people on shore went unaided in the pounding of the waves on the beach and docks.  

Folks living near the harbor soon heard the same cries night after night, even when there were no boats or boatmen in the area. The supernatural cries came about the same time the tragic event took place and to this day, are still heard. On chilly Autumn nights, when the surf runs high, pounding the docks and crashing on the beach, the sound of ethereal voices can still be heard off the shore of the neighborhood still known as Old Harbor. Ghostly voices screaming “Pull Boys! Pull For Your Lives!” permeate the night air and then are gone, fading into the night leaving only the sound of seagulls and the ebb and flow of the tide.