, 1876-03-11
Centennial Articles.


(trom the Dally bee.)
We have doubtless often wondered at III,
attention Joshua che lsraelite and his men
showed to the woman R.hab, who In hid
den the spies tina, he had sent to examine
and report concerning Jericho; but his sue
cess against the enemy hinged upon her dir
erection. Agin, it is har,, indeed 10 realiz,
the fact of honor being conferred upon Jarl. !
the wife Of Heber the Kenite, for her ac, il
taking the life OF 'he great Captain Sise
by driving spike through his temple, when
she was declared blessed above women.
But it comes home to US when we considrrl
that one deed nf Lydia Drrach, who doubt
less saved the army o General Washington
from surprise and probably from an over
whelmng defeat. 1t was during the winter
Of l777-s, after his repulse by the British
under Sir william Howe at Germantown
that hr encamped his little army at IL plac,
called White Marsh not tar from the CIT
of Philadelphia, separatedhy VIII is know
rs Chcstnu, Hill. The b itsh not only oc-|
cuPied Germantown. hut Philadelphia alsn.
ilowe's Adjutant General took up his quar-.
tiers for the time at th,' "Toxley House
It was situated on Second street the mum
hercd streets run nearly parallel with thu
Delaware river and begin to number from it,
Our Quaker woman, Lydia Darrach witt.
her children, occupied this house and kept
in order the rooms for this officer and such
NJ visited him. One night, in the month oil
December, the Adjutant General made unu.
sual preparations. Another room was at hi,
request SIT in order by Lydia, for there were|
several i officers coming. It is wonderful
how sure man 10 to give to the quick eyr|
kor ear Of Q woman some Indication of any
thing nf Importance that he would fan con
ceal. This Generals charge to her, "B !
sure. Lydia, your family arc all in bed at an'
early hour" WIS the very worst thing H.
could have said. Of course she oneyed
The children are put carefully away to sleep;
and-Lytlia lies down, but with her clothes
on. She hrars the gentlemen come in andE
pass into the ronm prepared for their recep
tion. She cannot help il. The unusual
preparation, the 'lem charge of her tenant !
and the carefnlness and quietude of the'
strangers coming, all made her feel thai
some plan WAS on E'ot to the injury of herS
country. She is a non.combatant, Qua
keress, to he sure, but there ia no harm in1
seeing If she could not do something for her
people. She rises, and without shoes,
creeps sof ly 10 the door of the council
chamber. General Howe gives in clear tones
the details Of his plan OF surprise and at
tack of the forces of General Wa ,hington at
White Marsh Plain, to he set on foot thr1
next day at evening. Lydia has now an op-8
portunity to prevent the effusion of blood.'
She is said to have sought protection andl
blessing from God, got in readiness a bag Of;
grain and set out with it for Frankfor,l MILL
She left her grain at the mill and hastenedI
on toward the American camp. As she was.
making her way with difficulty throu h the
snow she met an American officer To him,
she quickly confdtd the evenings plan of
surprise and attack, She then returned toI
the mill, took up her aour and sped home
ward. She succeeded in getting to her
Loxley house without exciting special
notice.
That night, when all was in readiness, the
British troops left Philadelphia full oT hope
BIT iew doys after the same troops rc-
turned sndly crestfmllrn. Everything inI
White Marsh was in readiness to give them
II warm reception, and their effort was Al
failure.
Now comes the trial for poor Lydia. ThrI
| Adiniant General calls her TO a hearing.
Lydia. were any of your hmilyNlp the
night previous TO the day on which the!
troops lett the cityl She answrrs No !
they all retired Mt 8 O'Clock" "ItNis vcryI
strange" he replies You. know. Lydia.
were asleep, for | kno ked at your door
three times before yon hear me. vet it isl
certain We were betrayed. On arriving, WEI
found Washington SO prepared Ut every: