Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-02-03
Repolutionarp 1nfioeuts.
,lls For the Portage Seatinsi.
THE WOoDMAN'S PASS.
.nNIsIsc ENcEo ologescHoHAn,

,hHNINIscENcEyt o.FtscHoHARlgs :
THR setting sun was shedding its golden
lusiure over thefdeep forests Of the Flats,
which lie adjacent 70 the Schoharie river,
and over the. towering peaks that skirt the
river upon its western shore, when q woods
man, dressed in his hunting. shirt, with his
rife resting easily upon his hip, issued from
tho way Of tho Glove, dashing his hettlad
esurser along the beaten way. The low
nurmer Of fGilboa's Rapids camo floating
upon the sunset breeze as the waters rum
bled along the Veolnan Lands. A few
steps more, and the little burgh ofSchoharie
lay before the horseman with its humble
cottages, buried in, their silence, amongst
7, the hills Of the river und the woodlands Of
the plain. ssa,rsa, l9,.s?s. rs .
Long Injured to forest life, and we'll ia
miliarized with the dangers and privations
Of tho new country, in which he had spent
most Of his life, no sudden danger impelled
tho rider onward to the more settled por.
ton Of the district. A rumor had reached
his oars, at his forest home in the Glove,
thata party of Tories with the notorious
Mcdaniel at their head, had Just made their
appearance upon the shores ofthe Schoha-
rie, dealing death to the peaceful inhabi-
tants and destruction to their rustic homes.
Such interruptions had been frequent since
tho revolutionary war, and they were look.
y cd for by the friends Of liberty, as events,
tho consequences Of which, were tho price
! to be paid for their freedom. = h"S :
a.9 It,was u purely patriotic feeling which
4 prompted our hero to desert his fathers
i dwelling in the Glove and present himself
II ut the village. Two hours he had deliber.
'satedupon the u1isforiuneswhich Nigh tbefall
his parental roof, even during an absence
Ola few hours. The fiendish leader of
/ tho Tory gang might come down upon the
b defeneeless cabin intthe forest, and satiate
q ,his, thirst forrapine and plumber by meeting
death. .uponlth innocent heads, and destruc.
s.sien uponthe 'home;of his family. But the
: result would be nearly the same, whether
he went or staid. The marauders were a
. numerous patty, and more determined re-
assistaneea would hut iinstigates more inhuman
ssor,aelty. His presence elsewhere might be
the means of saving many, from the bar
u barouss handssof the assassins. rs Yet, the
u haFdyghcpestlnanss breast it would be u
sysolace " defend thoseshe owed his birth,
and die at their sides, while inflicting Just
3 songeance upon the Smhrderers head. Il
q. would have beenFbut al drop ata,tlissgreai
q ssaerifeinl altatlof Liberty, the spilling oI
one stout hearts bioodin this ysar of l777,
an era, 80 importantsin the tgreat struggle
TOR Independence by the American colonies,
~ M Mated, as John Harper was, for,ihis
bravery and intrepidity, his arrival nt the
'lifsls town, at this moment, was hailed with
= snthpsiqsn,.. Assone of the veterans, whe
= bad played his sundapnted courage, in
many rencontres with the savage foe,5 5who
,s from lime ID time, had nolested their quiet
! I pds. the stsid old farmers looked upon hin
\ with an ,sndearing confidence worthy o
i, tthen,, John was we'll proud ,of the nark
Of esteem, which sprang from The rbosom
a Of bis hardy comrades and neighbors. M
I spnnd ever carried Al more lively thrill
isLfopgh The breast of manly youth, thar
n Did mo hearty ohser .ps ho slipped light,