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| 159 7 From Legacy to Legend clipping. paSted in Journal and With entry date of nov. 16th 1864 a poSSible relic of a ShipWreck boSton, nov 11, 1864 To the Editor of the Boston Journal I have just received from Mr. William Dolan of Hong Kong, a small Bible, bound in red velvet and gold, on the front leaf of which is the writing “Presented David Graves, by Mrs. Rebecca H. Burgess, Boston, Feb. 10, 1857.” The Bible was given to Capt. Saunders of the American schooner Salamander, at Zana Sui, in the island of Formosa, by a Mr. Denison of that place, and by Capt. Saunders to Mr. Dolan, and sent by Mr. Dolan to me, in the hope that it might throw light upon the fate of some American vessel lost on the coast of Formosa. As I have no clue to either of the persons whose names appear on the book, I must ask of you to do me the favor to publish this note, and of the editors of other papers to reprint it, for the benefit of all who may be interested in the subject. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, Richard H. Dana, Jr.1 rebecca had been telling her family and friends the story of William’s death for years, and had even begun to write her reminiscences for the wider public. But this remarkable event—the return of her Bible through the noted maritime author richard Henry Dana—may have made rebecca think that her story had potential to inspire a wide audience, even long after her own 160 | From Legacy to Legend demise. it is at this point in her life—particularly in the 1870s and beyond— that we have evidence that rebecca began shaping her own legend for the community. During this time rebecca added to her story significantly, in a way that made her appear even more the exciting, romantic heroine in her own maritime tale. By making a point to recount her version of her maritime experience to the wider community, rebecca ensured the perpetuation of her persona, not only as William’s loving wife but also as a woman who “saved” the Challenger’s ship and crew from “certain peril” as William lay dying. The Bible Returns in 1864 rebecca’s story went public to an audience beyond Cape Cod, when a Bible she gave the ship’s steward ended up returning to her. As rebecca narrated the story, “A little Bible gift to [William’s] attendant who accompanied me home by his request, has very singularly come back to me, as seen by the prints opposite, awakening a host of memories.”2 in November rebecca was sitting alone late in the evening, reading old newspapers, including the Boston Daily Journal. She wrote: “i had read the front page when running my eyes down the columns of the next, i saw my own name.” What she had seen was an article entitled “A Possible relic of Shipwreck” by the famed lawyer and author of Two Years Before the Mast, richard Henry Dana Jr. The Bible had come to him from Hong kong, after it had been transported by three different people. it was in a market in Taiwan, where it was for sale as scrap off a shipwreck. inscribed on the inside was “Presented David Graves by Mrs. rebecca H. Burgess, Boston, February 10, 1857.” Dana put the story in the paper in an attempt to ascertain the whereabouts or the fate of the owner. As rebecca read that newspaper alone in the parlor, she must have experienced great shock. Later she recalled her feelings: “i was almost petrified with astonishment, and my first impulse was to apprise my parents and brothers.” Although they did not awaken when she called for them, she could not sleep for the excitement.3 She noted in her journal that reading Dana’s article brought back memories of the day she and William purchased the Bible on Washington Street in Boston, how she reversed her name on the inscription, which was the only time in her memory she had done that, and how she had not heard from Graves since he left aboard the Ringleader in 1858. She had word that the Ringleader had wrecked, and that he was acting as a steward on land in Shanghai. She also noted the serendipity of the Bible’s return: “everything associated with my dear departed husband seems to be happily wafting thitherwards.”4 [3...

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