Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-07-30

waxen candle sent forth its feeble light over
rude map of New Jersey. When Fanny
and her companion entered, the General arose
and looked with an inquisitiye eye upon the
feminine creature before him. Fanny, dressed
in the plain attire of the sect of which she
was a strict and consistent member, quailed
not before the scrutinizing glance of one SO
far her superior. Washington was man
of easy manners and his conversation was al
ways sure to inspire confidence even in the
most humble. Fanny broke the silence:
"Friend, come to thee upon mission of
mercy. Thou hast a person in whom am
very nearly interested, in confinement; and
farther he is condemned for being spy, and
is to undergo the penalty Of the law for that
offence this morning. My mission to thee is
that thou shouldst pay that young man a
visit and see if thou thinkest he is aspy and
is guilty of the offence charged to him.
know full we'll that the circumstances are
against him and that in these troublous times
it is difficult to establish the truth in many
matters that interest the public mind. know
that many of our brethren have had their
sympathies enlisted upon the loyal side ofth
dispute that is now raging between Great
Britain and America. But, friend, that has
not been the case with Joshua Way. He is a
youth of probity and honor whatever he
tells thee thee may depend upon, for he is a
man of principle"
Washington looked upon Fanny with an
eye that could read the deepest recesses Of
her heart. He saw that honesty was depicted
in her countenance and that the childish sim
plicity Of the artless girl was not the cunning
of the desembler. But when he thought how
often the Americans had been deceived by spys
in the garb of the Quaker, his resolution, for
moment, wavered. Fanny, anxious to push
her suit, continued;
Friend Washington, if thou wilt merely
listen to this prisoner for few minutes
think thy opinion of his case will change
What would be thy thoughts, if thou art a
man of war, if by not seeing this helpless
prisoner he should be deprived of his life.-
An innocent man executed for want of an op-
portunity to establish his innocence would
be blight upon the American cause that nei-
ther time nor circumstances could ever wipe
from the American character. Friend Wash
ington, time presses, it is scarcely an hour
before the unhappy man will be launched into
eternity.n
At the thought of the near approach of the
hour of execution, the blood rushed to her
face a dizziness came over her bewildered
senses, and she would have fallen to the floor,
but for the Commander-in-C Chief, who caught
her i'll his arms and placed her in an arm
chair. SHE soon recovered sufficiently to adj
monish Washington that the time for the ex-
ecution of the spy was short and that if any
time was lost it would be too late to save the
life of Joshua. Hurriedly he took up pen
and wrote few lines OH piece of paper and
placed it in the hands of soldier he
said something in hurried manner and the
soldier hastened away on his mission
Washington returned to Eanny, who was
making preparations to hasten to Joshua.
Leaving Fanny to pursue her journey alone
let us turn to scene that is transpiring in
another quarter of the city.
On vacant lot, in the southern part of the
city, group of soldiers is assembled around
gallows. The soldiers are formed in hollow
square with bayonets fixed and presented
In few minutes more mufled drum and
music were heard in the distance. The mu-
sic approaches; a cart is approaching; in the
middle of the cart seated upon coffin, sat
the young Quaker with his hands bound be-
hind him. They approached the fatal gal
lows; the soldiers parted and the cart was
driven under the gallows. In revolutionary
times there was but little ceremony used in
executions. True to this spirit, the oficia-
ting soldiers busted themselves in making
the necessary arrangements to carry out the
decision OF the court. The rope was adjust
ed, and all stood ready anxious to see the ex-
ecution over. Joshua motioned the audience
to silence with his hand, and was about to
make an effort to assert his innocence when
soldier came running into the midst OF the
soldiers and then presented paper to the
captain. The soldier opened the missive and
read aloud:
PHILADELPHIA, December %, 1776.
CAPT. WAYNE Dear ISir:-It is my desire
that the young man calling himself Joshua
!. ~, 10 I've executed this morning.. be respited
tor the present, and brought Immediately be-
fore me. Respectfully,
GEORGE WASHINGTON,
Commander, &c.
A slight murmur was perceptible through
out the soldiery. A murmur of'dissatisfac-
tion at failure to execute what they believed
to be spy. Joshua was unbound and led
away. In u short time he was led into the
august presence of Washington where Fanny
had the interview but an hour before. The
general scanned the young Quaker from head
to foot. With a suspicion that always marks
the sagacious soldier, Washington interoga-
ted Joshua. He told him of the danger at
tending the precarious business of spy; Of
the terrible punishment for such offence, and
the narrow escape he had just had from the
gallows. Joshua replied:
Friend, if thou thinkest that would de-
semble or use any deception to deceive the
American army thou art mistaken. My bus