Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-09-25
Alisrcllmleous.
Defending the Homestead, or the Judges Daugh-
fer

In the summer of l776 during one Of
the darkest periods of our Revolutionary
struggles, IN the small village of s..
In Pennsy ylvania lived V. one of he
flrmest and truest patriots within the linn
II OF the OLD THIRTEEN and deep in the
confidence of Washington Like most
men OF his time and substance he had
furnished himself with suffici mt arms aud
ammunition sufficient to arm th males of
his household, these consisted of himself.
three sons, aud about twenty five negroes.
The female part OF his household consist
ed of his wife, one daught
about eighteen years of age, and the be.
roine of our tale-and several slaves
In the second story of his dwelling house
immediately over the front door. was a
small room called the armory,' in which
the arms were deposited, and always kept
ready for immediate use About the
time at which our story begins, the neigh
borhood of our village was much annoyed
by the nocturnal and prowling depreda-
ton of numerous Tories.
1t was on calm bright Sabbath after
noon, In the aforesaid summer when V
and his family, with the exception of bis
daughter Catharine. and an old and indis-
posed female slave, were attending ser.
vice in the village church Not brea tn
disturbed the serenity of the atmosphere
not sound profaned the sacred still
ness of the day, the times were dangerous,
aud Catharine and the old female slave
renal ed in the house till the return of
the family from .urch A rap was heard
at the front door. Surely said Catha
rine to the slave, the family have not
come home, church can be dismissed. -
The rap was repeated : l will 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 stand
ing at the front door and on the opposite
side of the street. and three of whom she
knew were Tories, who formerly resided
in the said village Their names were
Van Zandt, Finley and Sheldon; the 9th
er three were strangers, but sh had rea-
son to believe them to be the same poiti-
cal stamp from the company in which she
found them
Van Zandt was notorious charac ter,
from the number and enornitv of his
crimes had rendered his name Infamous
in that vicinity Not a murder or rob
berry was committed within miles Of s.
that he did not get the credit of planning
and executing The characters of Finley
aud Sheldon was also deeply tanned with
crime, bu. Van Zandt was master spr-
it in iniquity. The appearance Of such
characters under such circumstances must
of Catharine's age, if not to any lady
young or old But Catharine Y possess
ed her fathers spirit: the spirit of the
times Van Zandt was standing at the
door. while his companions were talking
in whisper on the opposite side of the
way
Zandt, when he saw Catharine at the win
dow above
He is not said she.
I'VE have business of pressing impor-
tance with him. and if you will open the
door said Van Zandt, we will walk in
till he returns
No. said Catharine, when he went to
church he left particular directions not to
have tue door open until he and his fami
iy returned You had better call when
church is dismissed
No, I'll rot returned he, we will en-
ter now or never
Inpossible,' cried she, you cannot en-
ter until he returns
open the door, cried he. or we will
break it down, and burn you and the house
together SO saying he threw himself
with all the force he possessed against the
door. at the same time calling upon his
l.
ever, resisted their forts.
Do not attempt that again. said Cath
arine, or you are a dead man at the
same me presenting from thew .ndow
heavy horseman's pistol ready cooked.
At the sight of this formidable weap-
on, the companions of Van Zandt, who
had crossed the street at his call retreat
ed
What cried he, you towards are
you frightened at the threats of girl !
and again he threw himself violently a
gaiast the door The weapon was imme-
diate.y discharged, and Van Zandt fell.
The report was heard at the church.
ard males and females at lce rushed out
to ascertain the cause.
On looking tow rds the residence Of