The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-02-24
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY "a, 1876,

bic simplicity marked his gait--he ap-
preached the guard with seeming fearful
ness and begged him in suppllcant
voice TO give the poor woman her flour.
"Fool! idlotr' exclaimed the guard, "who
are you! you see yonder guard house
if YOU interfere here you shall be lis in
mate, "May be so sir; but won't you
give the poor woman the means of sup
porting her little family one week longer!
Recollect the distance she has walked the
weight of the bag, and recollect.'-
"Death and fury, sirrah! Why bid
recollect! You plead in vain-begone,
or I'll seize you as spy.
''You wont give the poor woman her
four!"
"No."
"Then by me country's faith and hopes
of freedom, YOU shall!' and with pow
erful arm, he seized the guard by the
throat and hurled him to the ground,
..Run, madam, run see the guard house
is alive-seize your flour, pass Vine
street and yon are safe" Twas done.
The guard made an attempt to rise and
when the stranger drew pistol, shot
him dead. The unfortunate man gazed
around him with a fearless intrepidity.-
There was but one way of escape, and that
through the woods. Selling the dead
mans musket he started like deer pur
sued by the hounds. "Shoot him down!
down with him!' was echoed from one
to another. The soldier was lost in the
wood. and general search commenced;
the object of their search flew like light
ming; the main guard was left behind, but
the piqued would soon be alarmed-one
conrse alone presented itself, and that
was TO mount his horse, which was con-
cealed among the bushes, and gallop down
to the Delaware: a boat was ready there
for him. Fhe thought was no sooner
suggested than il was put in execution
He mounted his horse. and eluding the
alarmed guards, had nearly reached the
Delaware.
Here he found himself headed and
hemmed in by at least fifty exasperated
soldiers. One sprang from behind tree
and demanded immediate surrender
"Tis useless to prevaricate; you are
now our prisoner, and your boat is in our
possession ''Son Of slave to king!
how dare you address freeman! Sur
render yourself Doale never ,'surren-
dered himself to any man. far blinded pol
troon-away or die and he attempted to
pass. The guard levelled his gun; but
himself was leyelled to the dust; the ball
of Doale's pistol had been swifter than
MS own, His case was now truly des-
perate; behind him was the whole line of
guards-on the north Of him the Frank
ford piquets, and on the left Of him the
city of Philadelphia. filled with British
troops.
One way, and one only, presented it
self, and that was to cross the river. lie
knew MS horse; he plunged ina shout
succeeded; and ere he reached half the
distance, twenty armed boats were in
swift pursuit. His noble horse dashed
through the Delaware; his master spurred
him on with doubled interest, while the
balls whistled around him. The tide was
running down, and when he reached the
Jersey shore, he found himself immedi-
ately opposite the old slip at Market
street. On reaching the shore he turned
round took out pistol, and with a steady
aim, fired at the first boat. A man fell
! over the side and sunk to rise, no more.
He then disappeared in the wood. The
angry, harrassed, and disappointed pursu-
ers gave one look, one curse. and returned
to the Pennsylvania shore. fully believing
that if he was not the devil, he was one
of his principal agents.