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

'iNitiS oSiIVot itiCil Y .fdItN. / WCli TG-
member it was one Sabbath morning--as if
in contempt of Him whose house they were
desccratng-that they first commenced
their riding operations in said church. Ga
that same day vessel arrived fom England
laden with powder, ball, and other mum
tons of war. Sac dropped anchor in E ,st
river, opposite the foot of Maiden Lane.
The weather was warm, and thunder storm
came on ia the afternoon. The ship was
struck by thunder bolt from heaven
Not vestigs of the crew, stores or equip
ment was ever seen after that The good
wings and Americans all over the country.
said that the god of battles had pointed tina,
thunder-bolt.
ave were crowded to excess contnu.
| cd the old veteran ; our provisions bad,
scanty, and unwhoesome; and the fever IA.
ged Ike pesilence. For many weeks
the dead cart visited us every morning, iuto
which fo.n eight to twelve coTpses were
thrown, pied up like sticks of wood, with
the same clothes they had worn for months
and in which they had died, and often before
the body was cold Thus, every day ex.
Ipeciing death. | made up my mind TO cs
cape, or die in the attempt. The yard wa;
surrounded by close board fence nine fee
high. informed my friend here of my in
tention, and he readily agreed to follow my
plan. The day previous we placed an old
barrel, which stood i'll the yard against the
fence, as if by accident. Seeing the bar.
rel was not removed the next day, we resol
we'd to make an attempt that afternoon
The fence we intended to scale was Oil the
side of the yard nearest 10 the East river
and our intentions were, if we succeeded
in getting over, to make for the river, seize
the first boat we could, and push for Long
Island.
1.-Two sentries walked around the build
ing day and night, always meeting and pas.
sing each other at the ends of the prison.
They were only about one minute out o
sight, and during this minute we mounted
the barrel and cleared the fence. drop
ped upon stone and broke my leg, so tina
lay still at the bottom Of the fence out
sid. We were missed immed lately anc
PURSUED. They stopped nom mt to ex-
anime my leg, and this saved my friend
for by The time they reached the waters
edge, at the foot Of Maid.n Lane, he was
stepping on shore at Brooklyn, and thus
got clear. was carried to my old guar
ters, and rather thrown than laid upon the
/ floor, under a shower Of curses.
Twenty -four hours elapsed ere | srw
the doctor. My leg, by this time, had be-
come so much swollen that il could not be
SET Modification Immediately commenced
and amputation soon followed Thus, be-
! ing disabled from, sewing either friend OF
Toe, | was liberated through the influence
o. distant relative, a royalist. And now
live rs can, on my pension, and with
the help Of my friends"
In 1912, Judge Schuyler, OF Bellvllle
showed me musket ball, which then lay
im5edded in one Of his window shutters
which was lodged there on that fatal nigh
thrty-fve years previous.
Among the many who visited this prison
forty years ago. Lone day observed a tall
thin, but respectable looking gentleman, or
whose head was cooked hat--an article
no, entirely discarded in those days-ane
few dozen snowwhite hairs gathered be-
hind and tied with a black ribbon. On his
arm hung, not q badge, nor a cane. nor {
dagger, but handsome young lady, who
| learned from him, was his daughter
whom he had brought two hundred miles
10 view the place Of her fathers suherings
He walked erect, and had about him some
thing of a military air. Being strangers
| asked them in ; and before we parted
heard
THE HISTORY OF THE PRISONER.
"When the Americans" he began, +" ha'
possession of Fl. Washington, on the Nortl
river-it being the only post they held a
that time on York Island-I belonged I,
a company Of light infantry, stationed there
on duty. The American army having re
treated from New York, Sir William How
determined to reduce that garrison to III,
subsection Of the British if possible. Gu
detachment at that time was short Of pru
visions, and as General Washington was a
Fort Lea, it was difficult matter to suppl,
ourselves from the distance without the ha
card Of irtercep,ion from the enemy
There lived on the turnpike, within milk
of our post, Mr.. J. B. This man kept
store well suppl ed with provisions and gro
ceries, and contrived to keep himself neu
trail, selling TO both parties; but he wa
strongly suspected of faworing the British
by giving them Information, &c.
Some OF our officers resolved to satisf'
themselves; and if they found their suspi
cions just, they thought there would be NJ
harm in making a prize of his stores, espe
c'ally as the troops were much in need o
them. From prisoners, and clothes takel
from the slain, we had always a supply o
British uniforms for officers and privates
Accordingly, three OF our officers put OF
red coats, and walked to friend BIS, whcr,
they soon found that The color of their uni
forms was a passport TO his best wines
As the glass went round, his loyal idea:
began to shoot forth in loyal toasts ant
sentiments. Our officers being now sure
Of their man, was one of a party who
went with wagons. and every thing neces
sary 10 ease him of his stores.
Ion the following evening, that matters
might pass quietly, we put on the British
uniforms. Arriving at the house, we in
formed Mr.. B. that the army were in want