The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-09-10
DEFENDING THE HOMESTEAD;
An Incident Of the RevoIution.

An Incident Of the Revolution.
In the summer of 1859 during one of the
darkest periods of our Revolutionary strug-
giles, in the then small Village of s., in
PENNSYLVANIA, lived v, one of the firm
est and truest patriots then within the limits
of the 'oLD THIRTEEN" and deep in the con-
fdence of Washington. Like most men Of his
time and substance, he had furnished himself
arms and ammunition, sufficient to arm the
males of his household. These consisted of
himself three sons, and about twenty-five
negroes. The female part OF his house con-
sis,e1 of his wife, one daughter, Catha inc,
about eighteen years old, the heroine of our
tale, and several slaves. In the second story
of his dwelling house, was a small room i'm
mediately over the front door called the arm
Ory,' 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 much annoy
ed by the nocturnal prowling and depredations
of numerous Tories.
1t was on a calm, bright Sabbath afternoon
in the aforesaid summer, when Judge ". and
his family, with the exception of his daughter
Catharine, and an old indisposed female slave,
were attending service in the village church.
Not breath disturbed the serenity of the at
mosphere-not a sound profaned the sacred
stiffness of the day; the times were dangerous,
and Catherine herself and the old female slave
remained in the house until the return of the
family from church. A rap was heard at the
front door. Surely, said Catharine to the
slave, the family have not come home church
can't be dismissed The rap was repeated.
sI'll see who it is' said Catharine, as she ran
up stairs into the armory. On opening the
window 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 viii
lage. 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 a notorious character, and
the number and enormity of his crimes bad
rendered his name infamous in that vicinity.
Not murder or robbery was committed in
miles of - that he did not get the credit
of planning or executing. The character of
Finley and Sheldon were also deeply stained
with crime, but Van Zsnt was master spirit
in iniquity. The appearance of such charac-
ters under such circumstances, must have
been truly alarming to a young lady of Cath
arines age, if not to any lady young or Old
Bnt Catharine " possessed her fathers
spirit: ''the spirit of the times" Van Zant
was standing on the stoop, knocking at the
door while his companions were talking in a
whisper on the opposite side of the way
'Is Judge va homer" asked Van
Zant when he saw Cathafine at the window
above.
'He is not" said she.
"We have business ef pressing importance
with him, and if you will open the door," said
Van Zant, we will walk in till here turns"
NO., said Catharine, '.when he went to
church he left particular directions not to have
the door opened until he and his family re-
turned You had better call when church is
dismissed"
'tNo I'll not' returned he, "we will enter
now or never"
Impossible" cried she, ''you cannot enter
until he returns
"Open the door," cried he, Cor we will break
it down, and burn you and the house up to-
gether." So saying he threw himself with all
the force he possessed against the door, at the
same time calling upon his companions to as
sist him. The door however resisted their
efforts.
"Do not attempt that again." said Catharine,
''or you are dead man, at the same time
presenting heavy horsemans pistol ready
cooked.
At the sight Of this formidable weapon the
companions of Van Zant who had crossed the
street at his call, retreated.
"What" cried the leader, "you towards!
are you frightened at the threats Of girl!' and
again he threw himself violently against the
door. The weapon was Immediately discharg-
ed and Van Zant fell
The report was heard at the church, and
males and females at once rushed out to as
certain the cause.
On looking towards the residence Of Judge
", they perceived five men running at
full speed to whom the Judges negroes and
several others gave chase; and from an upper
window of his residence handkerchief was
waving as if beckoning for aid.
All rushed towards the place, and upon their
arrival, Van Zant was in the agonies of death.
He still retained strengthenough to acknowledge
that they had long contemplated robbing that
house. and had frequently been concealed IN
the neighborhood for that purpose, but no op- '