Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-01-13

Sir Henry was alone with the superior of
the soldiers, and then the captive's fate
was known to him-that the next day he
must die
Scrutinizing eyes were bent on him.
but no emotion was visible. and. with a
moody silence. he was led to the provost
prison. However dormant his emotions
without, he was left alone, and surveyed
the strong and gloomy walls of his pris-
on. Yet he looked calmly on the near
approach of death, and though it was
hard to die-and he felt that it was hard
to leave his betrothed Alice without one
last adieu-stiIl he considered himself as
one Of the number who were to die for
American liberty. and he determined that
the sacrifice should be freely made
Night came on, and with ii came dark.
gloomy thoughts to the imprisoned sol
der. Alone, in that dreary cell, with but
a few hours between him and DEATH
Washington, unconscious of his fate, and
perhaps even then believing In his deser-
tion-wonder not that his thoughts were
sad Then the gibbet rose before him.
and he fancied he could see the multitude
eagerly waiting for his death, and hear
their Civilizations as they witnessed his
dying agonies He endeavored to shut
out this thought but a new vision rose be-
fore him Alice, hearing of his death,
and dying with broken heart, drew
tears from him that no torture could have
brought forth and thus passed the night
And now the first gray tints of morning
were visible through the grated window of
his prison
The door opened, and stern voice told
him that five minutes more of life was all
that was allotted to him and that mo-
ment the roll of the drum was heard, to
prepare for the execution He knelt
down and feryently poured fourth his soul
to the searcher of hearts, and asked His
help to support him in this hour of trial
Suddenly the quick, sharp crack of rifle
was heard, and then the hum of the i'm
patient crowd was suddenly hu8hed, as the
drum beat forth to arms, then came a
mighty rush, as the multitude swept over
the pavement, shouting, "They come they
come"
He looked out-the crowd seemed
borne on by one common impulse to the
north end of the city
He waited hours past on, and the roll
of the drum, and the frequent discharge
Of musketry at the other part of the city,
told that the excitement was in that quar-
ter. But he was left in suspense till near
night, when the same person that had told
HIM Of the near approach of his doom, In
the morning, came with the intelligence
that it was deferred till the following sun
rise. All the reasons that imagination
could conJure up, were Construed as the
right cause of this interruption. Night
came on again and he determined to use
some method to effect his escape.
He had observed, in the daytime, that
the removal of large stone might be eff
fected, and he set about the task by scrap
ing off the cement that held it in its po-
sition. Suddenly he paused it could not
be his own fancy surely there was some
one at work without, on the very same
stone, With increased yigor he resumed
his labor but being possessed of the ad-
vantage of tools his outside helper made
the most progress, and considering the
amount of labor to be accomplished it
was not long ere the stone was removed.
\ human form now appeared at the ap-
perture, and II low voice, said
Hist, Harland, hist On your life
make no noise Escape now to your
friends I"
With the utmost caution, and some diff
fculty, Hariand crawled through the ope-
ming. and the clock of St. Pauls was
sounding midnight as he was released
from the few remaining shackles that
were on him, and ready for fight. His
comrades, for there were three or four of
them, gave him sword and two pistols,
and silently they took their way to the
north wharf
They gained their boat without inter
ruption, but Harland could hardly believe
in the reality of his escape till they com
menced rowing up the Hudson.
Now tell me all, said he, after they
had proceeded a short distance and, at
ter a short pause, one of them began as
follows
We'll, then, Notwithstanding all the
confidence which Washington placed in
you, he was anxious, and that anxiety was
increased by the strange behaviour of the
pretended British deserter. Shortly af-
ter your departure he was twice caught
in attempting to escape, and this confirm
ed an opinion of the Generals that he
was not what he pretended to be. Order
ing a strict watch to be kept over him, be
was anxiously awaiting your return but
when morning dawned, and the day wore
on, without your appearance, he gave or
ders that the deserter should be shot, and
sent us to New York to aid you for
Washington rightly conjectured that your
capt0r would not take vengeance into his
own hands, when his superior was as near
as Sir Henry Clinton was
Accordingly, with a stratagem to gain
our entrance into the city, We departed.
When in sight of the city we quickened
our rowing, shouting out God save the
Kiug r' and ..the rebels, rebels u 1t soon
attracted attention to US, and, rowing we
landed with a terrible story of the defeat
and massacre Of the British by the rebels
how that we were all that escaped, and
how Washington would soon, and perhaps
already was on his march to the city
Our British dress, torn and bloody,
gave plausibility to our story, and the
lie mn slot IN tho