Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-09-30
Gclrttc0 4flistrIlanp.
{ From the Boston Transcript, Aag. POI
THE HEROINE OF TAMPICo.
A Story for KnOw-nOthings.

Mrs. Ann Chase, the heroine of Tam
pico, who distinguished herself so much
in the late Mexican war, is in this city
upon short visit, and has lodgings at
the Sturtevant House, in East Boston
This, We believe, is the first visit of Mrs.
G. to New England. She appears to be
enjoying the most complete health, is
still the same active, energetic, and in
telligent woman, and capable of captur-
ing more Mexican cities, should there
come a like necessity. To give some idea
of the brilliant achieymcnt of this lady,
we take the liberty to publish the follow
ing extract from an address delivered
some years ago in New Hampshire, by
Colonel Isaac Q. Barnes Of this city:
/ cannot forego the pleasure of refer
ring to woman who has been connected
with events ola very recent date, and the
account of whose courage and intrepid
conduct | have very lately received from
her own lips, much more in detail than /
can now repeatit.
Franklin Chase, our consul NJ lamps
co, just after the battles on the Rio
Grande, received peremptory orders to
leave the town and Mexican territory in
six hours, and not to disobey upon the
peril of his life. The order was in direct
violation of the treaty between the two
countries yet, from the revengeful char
acter of the people, he knew it would be
executed to the letter He was largely
engaged in trade. All his property con
sisted of a house, and store filed with
valuable goods. He prepared, of course,
to leave all but his wife Gam Chase
refused to go with him. He ontreated
and commanded her, but to no purpose.
At length, tearing himself away, he
was enabled to reach the American
sloop-of-war lying in the ofing, just in
season to comply with the tyranical order
Of the Mexican general. Mrs Chase
was now left alone There was not an
American in the place. She was sur
rounded by excited and bitter enemies, a
defenceless woman. But she did not
falter nor finch, nor droop in despond-
ency. She was equal to the emergency.
She soon began to make preparations to
effect the surrender Of the town to the
naval forces of the United States, then
cruising in the Gulf of Mexico, She en-.
gagged certain Mexican pilots to give hei
the exact soundings over the bar at the
mouth Of the river on which the city
stands. With the aid of this informa,
ton and an old English chart she con.
structed plan ofTampicO andits neigh.
borhood.
She then contrived to open cores
pondence with the Commodore Of tho
American feet. She was carried her
selfin an open canoe, rowed by two Indians
twenty miles to sea, in the night, 10 The
Commodore's ship. She then furnished
him with the plan already prepared an(
made arrangements to raise signal il
the town, when the proper time should
arrive for a safe landing. She returned
unobseryed and unframed, and immedi
ately set to work TO redeem her pledgt
to the Commodore.
One bright summer morning, soon af
ter, to tho utter establishment and dis
may Of the Mexicans. she vas seen OF
the highest point Of the roof Of hei
dwelliug-house, her arm encirclng ant
sustaining flag staff, from which aoateC
in the breeze the American stars ant
stripes. In vain the people shouted t.
her, and threatened her with instan
death, if she persisted in maintaining
her position. She replied, in her nc
customod calm and collected manner:
You can do me but little harm yol
can only rob me Of few short years 0
life BY any death you can inaiet Ihay,
raised this flag Of my country over m,
house, and here Il shall remain. / hay,
taken my stand under its folds, and il
shall be my shroud if / perish on thii
roof"
And there she did remain until relieve
by detachment Of officers and men from
the American squadron, accompanied By
her husband. The result is well known
The Mexicans became alarmed, panic
stricken, and finally fed in all directions
The town wos completely deserted before
single boat had landed. Mrs. Chase
alone had put 10 rout the inhabitants