Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-12-10

lie got his revenge, however, for in three
days thereafter, our fortress was stormed
by Gen. knyphausen on the north, Gen.
Matthews and Lord CORVALLIS on the east,
and Lords Percy and Sterling on the south.
SO fierce and successful was the attack,
that twenty-seven hundred of US were taken
prisoners, and numbers Of them, with my
self, marched to New York, and lodged in
Crown street (now Liberty s,reet) sugar
house.
"it is impossible" he continued, "to
describe the horrors Of that prison. 1t was
like healthy man being tied 10 a putrid
carcass. mode several attempts to es-
cape, but always failed, and at last began
TO yield TO despair. caugh, the Jail fever.
and was n gh unto death. At this time
became acquainted with young man, one
of the prisoners, the wrelchedness of whose
lot tended, by comparison, to alleviate my
own. He was brave, intelligent. and kind
many long and weary night, he sat by
the side Cf my bed Of straw, consoling my
sorrows, and beguiling the dleary hours
with his interesting history. lie was the
only son Of his wealthy and doing parents,
and had received q liberal education but
despite their cries and tears, he ran to the
help of his country against the mighty
He had not heard from his parents since
the day he left their roof They lay near
his heart. but there was one whose image
was craven there as with the point of d.
almond. He, too, had the fever in his turn;
and then, as much as in me lay, paid
back to him my deb. Of gratitude. My
FRIEND he would say 10 me, { if you sur
vivc this deadly hole, promise me you will
go TO the town Of Il. Tell my parents
and Elsa 1 persisted here captive, breath
ing the most fervent prayers for their hap
piness.' tried TO cheer him b. hope, fee
BILE as it was. Tell me not,' he would
add, 'ef the hopes Of reunion; there is
only one world where the ties Of affection
will never break; and there, through the
merits OF Him who was taken from prison
into judgment, for our sins, | hope to meet,
them.'
The crisis over, he began TO revive,
and IN a few days was abe to walk, by
leaning on my arm. We were standing by
one of the narrow windows, inhaling the
fresh air, on certain day, whea VIC es2ied
young woman trying TO gain admttance
After pareying for some time, and placing
something in the hand of the sentinel, she
was permitted to enter this dreary abode.
She was like an angel among the dead -
After gazing eagerly around for a moment,
she few to the arms of her recognized To-
YER, pale and altered os he was. II was
Eliza. The scene was affecting in the ex-
treme. And while they wept. clasped in
eacig others arms, the prisoners within,
and even the iron-hearted Hessian at the
door, caught the infection. She told him
she received his Letter, and Informed his
parents Of its contents; bu! not knowing
how to return an answer with safety. she
had travelled through perifs by land and
water to see her Henry.
This same lIessian sentinel had serve d
US our ra,ions for months past, and from
long intimacy with the prisoners, was al
most considered friend. Eliza, who
made her home with relative in the city,
was daily admitted by the management of
tho kind hearted man and the small nour-
ishlng notions she brought in her pockets,
together with the light Of her countenance
which caused his to brighten whenever she
appeared, wrought cure as if by miracle.
II parents arrived, but were not admitted
insid,. In few days thereafter, howev-
er, by the help Of an ounce or two Of god
and the good feelings of our Hessianfrie nd,
a plan was concerted for meeting them.
His turn Of duty was from twelve until
two O'Clock that ght. The signal which
was TO lock and unlock certain door
twice, being given, Henry and myself slip
ped out and crept on cur hands and knees
along the back wall Of the Middle Dutch
Church, meeting the parents and Eliza by
the Scotch Church, in Cedar street. AS
quick rs thought, we were on board a
boat, with two men and four oars, on the
North river. Henry pulled for love, for
life. and the men for a purse SO that, in
thirty minutes after leaving the sugar-house
we stood on Jersey shore.
In less than a month, Eliza was re-
warded for all her trials with the heart and
hand Of Henry. They now live not far
from Elizabethtown, comfortable and hap
py, with flock Of olive plants around their
table. spent a day and night at their
house last week. recountiug our past sor-
rows and present joys"
Thus the old man cencluded; simplv ad.
ding that he himself now enjoyed a full
share of earthly blessings, with grateful
helrt to the Giver Of all good.
1t is well 10 snatch from oblivion a spo,
so interesting in revolutionary tradition as
was the sugar-heuse prison in Liberty
street. Within fifty feet to the eas,wa I'd
of the Middle Dutch church is the spot on
which stood the Bastile, into VIII CHI many
entered, bu, from whence few returned
The bell which now calls you 20 church is
the same by which those prisoners took
their note Of time. Many, very many,
counted twelve as they lay on their bed Of
straw. 1t was the knell of their departing
hour. Before the bell again ;olled for one
they had gone TO happier chimes.
Since writing the above, the religious
services in this church have come TO a f.
nal close. The workmen are now enga-
ged in fitting it up for post office. The
walls will probably not be altered and
from their thickness and the durable ma
49,. H. s,~oo 81 , LII,