Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1845-10-09
Intrepiiity of Col. John narper.

flats small distance above the bridge
which now crosses the stream. The
intention OF Mcdaniel was TO kill and
plumber, although his men were badly
armed; having but few guns, which,
however, were substituted with dirks,
knives, spears, and even sharpened sticks
or poles. and knowing The inhabitants
were without the means of defence, Gid
considerable damage before the marauders
could be decidedly dealt with.
AT this critical, juncture. when parents
nor children were safe in their beds
when The property of fields and barns
were exposed TO midnight fires-when
the unsuspeciing traveller was frequently
ponnced upon, as by wolf or panther,
robbed and murdered at such a lime as
this, II was necessary that aid from some
quarter should be procured, or the whole
| population Whereabouts must submit To the
insolence anu righteousness OF this agent
! of the British.
The only resort Of the inhabitants was.
as quickly as possible 10 flee to Albany
and Schenectady, 10 solicit The proper aid,
either to cut TO pieces, or dispense this
band Of fralracides.
This hazardous undertaking WAS exact
ly adapted to the daring spir. of John
Harper, which he promptly undertook
TO perform, although the tories were in
considerable strength on the road; espe-
/ cially at the forks where Vroman now
lives, at the north end of the Schoharie
flats, where the bridge crosses Foxen
Creek
secret journey through The woods no.
following any road, would doubtless have
been the mos, secure from an attack, bu,
such an expedlent the soul of Harper
would not stoop 10. He, therefore,
determined on more rapid, as well as
heroic method OF efecling his purpose.
The sun was retiring in glory beyond
the towering peaks that skirt Schoharie
river, on the western shore, from Gilbo.
as rapids. along the Tromun lands, to
where the falls near The Mohawk sends
up It's spray, when Harper, dressed in the
smooth brief habliments of a uReman,
came on beautiful courser. from the way
OF the Glove where he had been that day
TO see his family.
On leaping from the saddle, where he
had sat an hour or two, in patriotic
meditation, while softly winding his way
from his home, among the lime quarries,
and bushes that overhung the path, the
bnrghers of Schoharie gathered around
| him IN solemn though earnest gratula-
tons While each and all together as
earneat,y as if but one had been there,
cried. 20 Harper, the tory Mcdaniel
has come; there il the blaze of his fires
pointing to the curling smoke as ii ascend
ed IN white columns above the trees;
"Haser and Becker have already gone TO
Albany, where we hope they will arrive
IN safety tonight, when by tomorrow
evening we shall be enabled to cnench
those fires, and the lives of the scoundrels
who kindled them" To all this he
listened. while his eyes flashed the i'm.
preston their words had made on his
mind. when once for all he shouted, II
w'H go to- Schenectady," and vaulled in
to the saddle, from whence but few
minutes before he had lightly descended,
and was directly out of Sight
II was dark when he had rode as far as
an Inn, which stood near where the Stone
Church now stands, here he halted for the
night, desiring an upper room, with lock
and key. lights and refreshment to be
placed OH a table. All was complied
with. when he entered, locked the door,
lad his rifle, two pistols and a dirk near
his person, sat down to eat. This finish.
ed, he took seat beside the door, with
an ear at the key hole, where he passed
The dull hours IN intense thought. All
was silent ill the "noon of night"
clark. he involuntarily exclaimed in
whisper, fixing his ear still closer, not
even breathing when he heard the light
tread of feet on the lowermosl step of
the stairs which led to his room. Now
the fierce blood of his veins began its
careering. glance of his eye to the tools
OF death, when the low voice of some one
speaking struck his ear-it was that of
the landlord. "For heavens sake. gentle
men, deslst--you know he's soldier
| beg of you by all that is sacred, decline
the attempt. Several of your lives will
be lost as he is terribly armed; and why
@"o"'u 'i'eO VI touI UC Tie price OF OUl
one!' He heard no more; they were
party, doubtless, from the forks of the
road. At length the day broke; when he
descended the stairs, not however, without
the utmost caution. lest an ambush might
surprise him even in the house. The
horse was ready and away he flew, Just
as the light prisms of day began to streak
the east.
But now a more fearful Rubicon was to
be passcd-thls was the bridge over Fox
Ell Creek. the sentinel there. and the
house where the tories had possession.-
The slowly measured step Of The guard
was discovered by Harper at distance
through The grey mist of the morning, as
he swiftly neared him on a full and fear.
less trol. He had reached the northern
end of the bridge, when the sentinel, not
doubling but whoever he was on horse.
back. must he friend, or he would no, so
carelessly and rapidly approach tie very
climax OF danger, hailed him in the ac-
customed way. out Of mere form, more
Than for any apprehensons of the s,ran.
gers true character, and therefore did
not even present his piece. but continued