Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-12-17

British camp, for they vanly believed that
threats and promises would extort fon one
every movement Of Washington. With a
proud, bclI mien Huland confronted the
commanding officer but what was his sur
prise, when he was told that if he would
| betray the secrets of the American camp,
he was at liberty to pursue honor and glory
with the kings soldiers, or to return unmo-
Tested from whence he game; but, on the
contrary, if he refused, he should die the
death he deserved .
I" Ask me not" said he, while flush of
lnsulted pride lit up his foatures, ask me
not-lor an American soldier never fears
death, and life itself would be odious to me
after had played the part of a traitor!"
Surprise was the first feeling of the Brit
on but the next moment rage was the
predominant passion.
" And thou shalt del" said he "die as
a rebel dog should die. Ay!' he continued
when he saw that his words awoke no per-
ceptibe emotion in his listener" ay and
by my sword, You shall be hung amid the
gaze of Thousands and in your death throes
yo1 shlll be tainted asa feIon by those with
whom you and your comrades would vanly
endcayor to cope Ha ha u he said
when be saw that the spirit Of his captive
wrthed under his words, {" you will be rea-
dy, methinks, by to-morow's morn to com
mence your Journey to New York !" And
calling to his soldiers, he ordered him away:
bat threatened the lives of his guards if he
escaped.
Having heard his threat, Harland knew it
would be hopeless to attempt to escape
and he lay down strongly manaclcd, and en-
d9avored to gain some repose, although the
thoughts that now rushed through his mind
etectually forbade all thoughts of Sleep
Morning dawned, when he was led down TO
The river, and placed strongly roned, IN a
boat manned by SIX men, and sent down
towards New York. Far different is the
first view of the city from the noble Hud-
son now to what is was then, a few misora-
be fishcrmcn's hnts. Sir Henry Clnton's
qlarie:s were situated near the centre of the
city, and thither Iiarland was taken. Fif-
teen minutes Sir Henry was alone with The
superior OF the sold ors, and then the cap
tFc)s fate WAS known 10 h;m-hat the next
dry, al sum s., he must die
SciutlnlZng eyes Were bent on him. but
n emotion VS. @.pla: and. with moody
sj,cn2e ne Vas led 20 he Frovos Prison.
H#esr dorm u lis cmo=oas wthcu,
s3 eo ra hea 2 o. rs hosom when
.nac, ~. surveyed the strong
"a .ya "a.is f IS prison. Ye. he
a...' lazy upon he near eppsoach of
dc'", nj ho@Il il was hard to die
, Had iaave his aged parents ignorant Of
: d $ IA s--h''d, and he felt that it was hard
, t. leave his be'rotbci Alice without one
kiss-s.ji, he considered himself as one of
a number who were TO die for American lib
crty, and he determined that the sacrifice
should be willingly made.
Night drew on, ana with it came gloomy
thoughts TO the imprisoned solder. Alone,
in that drcary cell, with but a few hours
= between him aud a disgracefu death
, Washington unconscious of his fate, and
g perhaps even then believing in bis de5criion
b no wonder that his thoughts were gloomy
a and sad, Then the gbbet rose before him
, and he fincjcd TINT h. could sec the multi
tude eagerly wa,ling Tor his death, ana hear
their CXuItalon as they witnessed his diving
agonics He endcavcrcd TO shut out this
thought-but now vision rose before him
, Alice, hearing Of his death, and dying of a
l broken heart, wrung tcars from him which
; no torture could have brought forth. And
: thus passed the night any now the first gray
$ ,ints that hcralded the dawn Of that day
= were visible through the grated windows OF
C his cell. Although the night hid been one
. of anguish to him, still the dawn seemed
: fastened on before its time, and the east
tn hrt,, 81 - h.,
It ever done before.
J. The door opened, and stern voice told
5 him that FIVE minutes more of life were all
S that were allotted him-lnd at that moment
Il the roll of the drum was heard TO prepare
e for the execution. He knel down and fer
! vcatly poured forth his soul TO the Scarchei
0 of hearts, and asked for help TO support him
c in this his trial. Suddenly, a quick. sharr
II crack of a musket was heard, and then the
$ hum of the impatient crowd was suddenly
/ hushed as the drum beat forth to arms
then came a mighty rush, as the multitude
swept over the pavement, past the building,
shouting they come! they comcr' He
2 looked out--ihe crowd seemed borne by
;, one common impulse towards the Nor end
d of the city. He waited. Hours passed on
II and no one came 10 relieve his anxietv-
; The Stiffness of the streets around the pri-
! son, and the roll Of the drum, and the fre-
= quent discharge of muskctry at the other
part of the city, told that the excitement
: was in that quarter. Yet, still he was left
T in suspense until near night when the same
y one who had told him of the near approach
: of his doom in the morning, came with the
I intelligence that his execution was deferred
5 till the following sunrise. All the reasons
that imagination could conlure up, wer3
, construed as the right cause of the Interrupt
ton but were soon set aside as utterly flu
; tile. And now night had set in. and he
r determined to use some method TO effect
/ his escape He had observed in the day
! time that the removal of large stone might
be effected. and he set about the task by
scrapng off the cement which held il fast.
Suddenly, he paused-it could not be his
r own fancy-surely there was some one at
work without upon the same stone. With
increased vigor he resumed his labor; but.