Orangeburg news and times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877, 1876-07-29
Tie Father of His Coutry.

TIE ATrEMpr MADE TO CAPTURE
11Is PERsoN-IT rs VERY NEAR a
SUCCESS.
Tt was while at lis headquarters at
Ncwburgh, OIL the Hudson, that q
bold attempt was made to capture
Washington. Clinton was very
anxious TO get possession of his per-
son, and Washington received many
letters warning him Of his danger
But with I'll the plans that were laid, /,
none seemed to be SO easy Of cxccu-
ton as the one that was foilcd by the
patriotism of q young lady. At this
time there was no road along the
river to the south for some distance,
for right i'll front ofhcadquartcrs The
bank WAS Il hundred feet high, and
went sheer down to the water. This,
with little variation, continued for 4
mile, or almost down to Laiaycttc's S
headquarters half way down the
;lnaS.:au creek bursts from Il gorge
into Tic Hudson. This clasm ran
hack into the interior nearly 4 mile
before sunk away so that it could he
spanncd by q bridge. As it APP
preached the river the soutl, bank
swept off III Il side scmicirc!c but
again crowded against the creek, lust
before il plunged into The Hudson.
This scmicirclc incloscd Lcautiiul
little valley, known aitcrwar,l as the
"Nalc Of Avoca" In passing the
mouth Of The creek in q boat, the lofty
banks Of The cha>m, heavily wooded
presented gloomy pass, only wide
enough for Tic stream Df watcr. IN
this little secluded valley lived !, man
named l.,trick. Iii; house Iav almost
IN 4 *''night line south from Wash
ingtnn'. headquarters an,hwiihin eau
n"n rang. t'nuy'' The shot sent rom
'l'arc would ra-s Il hundred feet over
is top. Ills lay OH The opposite side
- 4.ccur.re, ,,na4ls.l.l4bc reach d
nnlv hv Il ,lrsour Of Se.l#;' ' fsaE t44se
Lack INFO He country. The lille sci
~ c'Sc 'ol!,c !wclIi.,@, and boa.
could ~ s,,,it from il on to the Had.
on III livr mir,:,cs, an, in IN hour
more be carried tn Ike Businesses Of
thc liigl'an~s Ills i'.t,ricl pro
;',s>e'! ;n be Il warm patriot, but lh so
w'n kncw him l'c.t Looked on linn
aill >n:pi,inn. This man aid this
.p"t were S,irc.cd to effect Washing-
TINS capture. The plan prnposcd
Was 20 hay; II boat ready, and IL party
Of Inllrs sccrrici in the wood near
hy when Washington should be in
vlrd 10 dinner. Iii, daughter over
heard Il conversation that exposed
this plot, and informed WaSl,in gtrn
Of her suspicious, and begged him no,
10 accept the invitation Of Ii II father tu
dinner. The dinner hour was to be
late, 80 il,at il would be dall; hcirrc
the meal was over. Then ihe seizure
WAS 10 lc effected, and he captive
l,ornc GIFT" The bosom Of Tie Hudson.
The boat, manned by strong rowcrS,
would easily have reached the Eng
li>l vcSsc's below West Point before
Washington would b: missed. lie
MAS accustomed, occasionally, Ia dine
with Green ana Knox, three Or four
miles further south, and not be back
ill midnight. On these occasions he
WIS usually accompanied only by his
colorcl servant.
Instead Of declining the invitation,
he accepted it, but in The meantime
ordered q detachment ofhis life guard
TO mach to the place Just at evening,
and present themselves 1T the door.
While Ettrick was engaged i'll convcr-
sation with his distinguished guest,
lie heard their lootstcpts and the low
command Of their leader, and sup.
posing them to bc ihc detachment Of
Tories, he rose, and laying lis hand
on Wa,nington's shoulder, said:
81 believe, general, you arc my
prisoner"