Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-09-21
AN Eut,rsstins Storp.
AN INCIDENT OF THE REvOLU.
TI0N.

liONs
In the summer Of 1876. during one
Of the darkest periods Of our Revolu-
lionary struggles, in the then small
Village Of S., in Pennsylvania.
lived V, one OF the hrmest and
.ruest patriots then within the limits
Of the "0ld Thirteen" and who was
deep in the confidence OF Washington.
Like most men of his tine and sub
stance, he had furnished himself with
arms and ammunition. sufficient toarm
the males OF his household. These
consisted OF himself three sons, and
about twenty-five negroes. The fe-
male part Of his house consisted Of his
wife. one daughter. Catherine about
10 years old, the heroine Of our tale,
and several slaves. In the second sto-
ry of his dwelling house, was a small
room Immediately over the front door
called the "armory," in which the
arms were deposited, and always kept
ready for immediate use. About the
time at which we introduce our story
the neighborhood of our village was
mach annoyed by the nocturnal Prov
ling and depredations Of numerous
Tories.
II was on calm, bright Sabbath
afternoon in the aforesaid summer.
when Judge W, aud his family.
with the exception Of his daughter
Catherine. and an old indisposed ie-
male slave, were attending service in
the village church. Not breath dis
turbed the serenity Of the a,mos-
phere-nota a sound profaned the sa-
cred stilues of the day; the times were
dangerous, and Catherine herself and
the old female slave remained in the
house until the family returned from
church. A rap was heard at the
front door. Surely said Catherine
to the slave, the family have not come
home. church can't be dismissed.'-
The rap was repeated. IN see who it is
said Catherine, as she ran up stairs in
to the armory. On opening the win
dow and looking down, she saw six
men standing at the front door, and on
the opposite side of the street. three
of whom, she knew to be Tories, who
formerly resided in the village. Their
names were Van Zant, Finley, and
Sheldon: the other three were strangers
but she had reason to believe them to
be Of the same political stamp from
the company in which she found
them.
Van Zant was q notorious character
and the number and enormity of hi,
crimes had rendered him notorious il
that vicinity. Not murder or rob
berry was committed in miles Of -
that he did not get the credit ofplan
ming or executing. The character o
Finley and Sheldon were also deepl,
stained with crime. but Van zsnt wa'
a master spirit in iniquity. The ap
pearan,e Of such characters, unde
such circumstances, must have beer
truly alarming to young lady o
GATHERINGS age, If Dot 10 any lad,
young or old. But Catharine V
possessed her fathers spirit; 9Th,
spirit Of the times" Van Zant wa
standing on the stoop. knocking at tn
door. while his companions were talk
ing in whisper on the opposite sid
Of the way.
| is Judge v at home?' aske,
| Van Emit when he saw Catherine a
the window above.
He is not. said she.
We have business Of pressing i'm
portance with him. and il you ope
The door, we will walk in till he re
turns
No. said Catherine when he wen
to church he left particular direction
not to have the door opened until h
and his family returned. You ha
better call when church is dismissed
No Ill not. returned he, well en-
ter now or never
Impossible cried she. you came
enter until he returns
open the door, cried he. 'or W
;, will break il down. and burn you an
The house up together So "a, ing. b
threw himself with all the force /
possessed against the door. at the SAN
time calling upon his companions
assist him. The door however resis
ed their efforts.
DO not attempt that again. sal
Catherine, COR you are dead man
at the same time presenting heay
horseman's pistol ready cooked.
At the sight Of this formidable wei
pen. the companions ofVan Zant, We
had crossed the street Mt his call r,
treated.
what cried the leader. you ccy
ardsl are you frightened at the thres
st Of girl' and again he threw himse
against the door. The weapon w
Immediately discharged and Va
Zant fell.
The report was heard at the chur,
and males and females at once rush,
out to ascertain the cause.
On looking towards the residence
Judge v. they perceived five m'
running at full speed. to whom d
Judges negroes and several othe
gave chase; and from an upper wi
dow Of his residence handkerchl
was waving as if beckoEing for aid
All rushed towards the spot. ri
upon their arrival Van Zant was in 4
agonies Of death. He still restrain
strength enough to acknowledge tn
they had long contemplated upon ro
bing the house, and had frequent
been concealed in the neighborho
for that purpoee, but no opportuni
was offered until that day, when lyi
concealed in the woods they 81
the Judge and his family going
re church
The body Of the dead Tory was tax
and buried by the sexton of the chur
as he had no relations in that yicini
After an absence Of two hours
theresbout, the negroes return.
having succeeded in capturing Fin
and one stranger, who were that nii
lcon6ned, and the next morning at