Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1879-02-12

: distant cannon was heard. Near
: err and nearer it came, then a shar
and quick volley Of musketry rat
o tled-another and another follow
Y ed, while wild shouts in German ant
Q English were mingled with the din
r and penetrated the prisoners cell.
In mute suspense he listened 4
the uproar without, and strained
) his acute ear to catch the faintes
sound. But gradually the tumul
ceased, and for moment all be-
came painfully still. Then sudden
ly the sound of approaching fee
was heard. They stopped at the
prison door, and cheer, wild and
, high, brust from a thousand threats
and echoed through Trenton and
far across the Delaware. Ere the
last echo had died away the prison
was burst open and Walter Tyrrell
was soon in the arms of his cousin
William and surrounded by the
soldiers of Washington.
"Thank God 4! you are safe and
well, Walter" exclaimed his cousin.
81 was afraid the Tories had MUIR
dered you."
"Oh, William, how can / thank
you'll" began Walter.
"But his cousin cut him short by
exclaiming:
Don't thank me. Thank Wash
ington and the brave fellows here
who crossed the frozen Delaware
and captured Trenton and ! 800 Of
the enemy. l conducted Gen.
Greene into the very heart of the
town before the Hessian picket
discovered our presence, for which
have received the thanks Of the
Commander-in- Chief. But come
with me and witness the fate Of the
traitor who betrayed YOU"
Taking him by the arm he led
him passed the soldiers until they
arrived at the end of the street,
where little cottage stood, sur
rounded by tall elns. Here q de-
tachment Of military was formed in
a hollow square, and in the center,
kneeling in the snow with his elbows
resting on a drum and his face
covered with his hands, was seen
the renegade and traitor, young
Dalzell.
"Time's up, youngster," said the
officer in command, looking at his
watch. "Do your duty, soldiers"
One of the men approached the
culprit, and pulling his hands from
his face ordered him to stand up.
Tremblingly he obeyed. His face
was ashly pale, and his eyes were
protruding in fear and terror. He
gazed around, but no look of SYM
patty could he discern in their
faces. His eyes at length rested
on Walter who stood between the
two soldiers, and for a moment their
gaze riveted on one another. At
this instant the halter was flung
around his neck, and a placard,
on which was written the single
word Traitor" was pinned to his
breast. A shrek burst from the
unfortunate wretch as he was drag
ged to the nearest tree. The rope
was thrown across a limb, and soon
the soul of the false friend and be-
trayer was in eternity. AS the
soldiers left the place of execution
q scream rose in the air, and look
ing behind they bebeld the mother
of the renegade sobbing over the
corpse.
Walter and William enlisted in
General Greene's brigade, served
under Washington until the sur
render of Yorktown, and both rose
to rank of Colonel. Col. Bradford
died one year after the battle of
Trenton, leaving his estate to his
only child, Marian. After indie
pendence was secured Walter was
rewarded with her hand, and both
lived to see a numerous progeny
around them. Some OF their de-
scendants still live in Pennsylvania.