The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-10-30
BURNING OF THE willow 8
A Tale Of the Revolution
By II. A. BUcKINGHAM


AIale Of the saevointto,s..
By II. A. BUcKINaHAM
"This must be the house; the conjunction
Of the two roads and a break in front, tn
banks covered with willows This plac
meets the description exactly. Order tn
men to dis'nount, with the exception of
couple Of patrols on each road"
The speaker was dressed in the blue an,
scarlet uniform Of the British light horse
a corps that was formed after the landin.
Of the English troops in New Jersey, n
soon as the horses could be obtained t,
mount the men. lie was an officer of som,
rank, evidently, and his carriage and de
meanOr were both laughable and aristocrati,
in the highest degree. And why not? p
he was the eldest son Of a British Earl.
"The house appears to be deserted
Colonel Harcourt," said the junior officer
as he dis,DOunted from his horse.
I've will see. This way, half dozen o.
you,' he said to his men. Try. the door
yondcr. If it is fastened break II open, anu
report If any one is inside. If there should
be, and they attempt to escape, shoot them
down, but first give them warning to sur.
render"
The men advanced to the door, which
they found to he fastened, and after d,
manding admission, to which they received
no answer, they proceeded to break 1t open
which delayed them some time, for the
door was a strong oaken one. This done,
they entered.
DO you know the man by sight, Lieut.?''
asked Col. Harcourt, while the men were
busy ransacking the house.
"No, sir, but there is fellow picked
up on the road, now in the rear, that knows
him well. He does not appear to owe him
much favor
Order him to the front"
The countryman had not a very prepos-
scssing countenance. There was bold
| surlincss and cruel expression of features
| extremely displeasing about him.
What is your name: said Col. Har-
co lrt, in his quick military manner.
John Classen.
do you know Peter Van Dyke !"
VERY we'll"
SIS this his dwellug?"
"Yes-though since his mothers death
and his sisters getting married, it is hard
to say where he keeps himself"
Does he bear the name of being a great
rebel and a dangerous man to those who
favor the King in this neighborhood
''les, from the Passac to the Uackensac
and thirty miles around. If Id had nv
way he'd been hung long ago, and his
house burning over his head He is the
leader OF every rebel gang from the army,
and points out the honest farmers homes
who stand by their king, whose barns they
p!undcr, and carry away their grain and
cattle"
why, you tell bitter tale about him.
las he ever injured you?' 49,.
Injured me! lie and a parcel of rob.
ber> like himself, came one afternoon to
burn my house and hang me before nv
door, which they would have done but for
the arrival of a few friendly neighbors. well
armed, when they went off in double quick
time"
Does he not venture into New York
sometimes in disguisc?" inquired the
Colonel.
II have so heard it said. He has been
slippery from boy up, and can disguise
himself IN any way. He is precious
| scamp, and you will do favor to this part
OF Jersey If you hang him as soon as you
catch HIM"
| This conversation had been held near q
stone wall, on the Side Of which was an old
garden; but the troubles of the times had
left it uncultivated-the gooseberry and
| currant bushes had grcwn up rank and un
trimmed, while the briars stretched over
the walls, covering the ground from sight
| Under this cover, and within ten feet OF
the Colonel and C'assen, lay crouched the
very man Of which they were talking He
had barely time to escape from the house
and conceal himself on the approach of the
horseinan, whom he did not then expect to
be within ten miles of him.
Twice, on hearing the base lies of Classen,
he was on the point Of rising up and con.
fronting him; but a little reflection was left,
and he thought that was not the occasion
to place his life in jeopardy, which he GER
tanly would do, since the party of troops
nad come expressly to take him.
$40 you know with any certainty, Class
en-, how long since Peter Van Dyke was in
the neighborhood:'
II heard that he was seen last night two
miles from this, ina by path through the
woods, coming towards his house"
"Ihis is the informatin received, and |
am determined to capture him sooner or
later. II you can point out his where
abouts or arrest.him yourself, you shall
have a reward of fifty guineas'
ClaSSen was as avarciOus and fond Of
money as he was wicked. Fifty guincas
was large sum indeed when gold was
rarely seen.
I'm catch him, Colonel, before he is
three days older. l know one OF his
haunts"
why not lead us there, then?"
ut would be of no use this time Of day.
Besides, he may not be there for day or
two, and shall have to be cautious in
looking for hun"
well, secure him, and the fifty guineas
shall be yours"
Several of the soldiers now came from
the house, and stated that they had search
ed the house from top to bottom, bat could
find no one, although from appearance
some one had been there lately.
The Colonel, followed by Classcn, passed
on to the house, while the fugitive lay
quietly in his concealment.
1t was plain frame house of middlng
SIZE, built partly Of stone, in the old Dutch
style, and very comfortable within. There
was but very little furnture-a few chairs,
tables and cooking utensils. The better
part, Classen said, had been taken away on
the occasion Of Van Dykes sisters mar
,iagc, as her part. ......e ...-......
"llere is great coat, sir" said one of
the soldiers, ''that We found on the floor of
the kitchen, near the back door 1t must
have been dropped by some one in hur-
ry." ss
Feel il there are any papers in the
pockctS,' said Col Harcourt.
"YeS, sir, here is bundle of them"
The Colonel took the package, looked at
the S,lDcrscription broke the seal and 90