The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-08
cELEBRArEp HIS CENTENARY.

CELEBRATED HIS CENTENARY.
A Man Whom Washington Patted on the
Head, and whose Sister Married John
Pauldins, One of the Captors of Andre.
New York Sun. Oct 81
Yesterday was the one hundredth ami
yersary of the birth OF Captain Isaac Den.ke,
OF Yonkers. In his pretty little house in
Wells avenue few friends assembled and
congratulated the veteran. They did not re-
main long, for the old soldier, in the past
few weeks, has shown signs OF failing health.
He says that in his youth he was remark
ably powerful man, and, though his form is
thin and bent now, the remains of ancient
vigor are perceptibie. His sight is especially
good, and he can read without glasses.
Captain Dsnike lived until he was six
years old on the borders of Dntchess county,
ago. In hischildhood he went with his family
into Westchester county, where, with the
exception of q few comparatively brief
periods of absence. be has lived since.
The captain, like most very old persons,
remembers the early occurrences of bis tong
| life much more distinctly.than those of ls,er
date. His father had been what was then
| called "walking guard of General Lafayette,
| and was acquainted with General Washing
| ton. When the present captain was but four
years old he vas taken by his parents TO New
York to see the general. and one of the ten
| derest recollections OF the old mans life was
| the affectionate way in which the father of
| his country placed his hand upon his little
| visitors head and smiled upon him. The
meeting, he says, was IN a tavern, where
many of the lights of the revolutionary war
used to assemble.
Captain Denike SCOTS at the tales of SER
| pents that are told to-day. He thinks the
| reptiles have lost their venom. and with it
the boldness that distinguished them in
former years.
why he says 96 years ago 1 remember
| we'll that and my TWO brothers, who are
both dead long ago, we're sitting on the floor
| of my fathers house eating oat meal aud
milk. A big rat'lesnake, tha. had crawled
| in at the door without being noticed by any
| of u.s. suddenly thrust his head into the
bowl and began es'Irg the oas meal quicker
than all of us tcRe.ptr could do. But we
| were not afraid al snakes in those days, and
| my oldest brother just drove the brute of
| with his spoon. and then we all jumped
| upon him until he wss des.f. Tbs''s the way
| we served venomous sorpenLs when WAS u
boy
Soon after that, and essi.y within his
| recollection. he says, his mother died. He
remembers being lifted lp to kiss ber for
the last time IS she lay on the bed. The
| solemnity OF the occasion made an indelible
impression upon him, and tha faint words
of advice that fell from her lips were not
forgotten.
Not long after his mothers death he was
employed by a Quaker named Quimby to
mind bis sheep. he remained IL years with
the old farmer. and his life was very
happy one, and filled with such simple,
homely adventures as occur in a shepherd's s
| experience.
When not attending to the sheep he went
to school, where he was an attentive and
progressive pupil, but too independent to
become much OF q favoIite with his teacher.
having thrashed one of his scboolmates, he
was threatened with corporeal punishment,
but he resisted to the extent of fingiDg an
inkstaDd at the teacher, who then appealed
| to Mr. Quimby. The old farmer took the
boys part, and, failing to conciliate the
teacher, removed his protege from the
| school.
For some years after he was IL young
Isaac worked as q carpenter. and at the
breaking out of the war of 1912 he enlisted
aud soon became quartermasters sergeant
He was then 80 years of age 1t was not in
| this war; however, that he earned the title
| of captain. After the conflict was over he
turnedlhis attention to nautical matters. anc
| for many years he ran q sIoop from Peekskil
to New York. Since that time he has beer
called captain.
Fer two years be was a deputy sheriff
and for nearly u years q constable of the
town of Cortlandt. HIS great strength anc
indomitable courage admirably fitted him
for the latter office, and he had many ant
thrilling adventures. Once he hat
, to arrest man named Abraham
: L
country side. He had fired at sewers
officers who had tried to capture him, and
Dsnike was the only man who would nov
! undertake the task. He found Wight
door locked, and his demand to be admitted
being refused he burst 1t in with an axe
, Wright was standing at the other side of tn
room with loaded gun in his hands, an,
Immediately upon the constable's entrsnc
| he fred. The charge shattered Denike's lef
arm. But despite his comparatively dis
abled condition he sprang upon Wright
oyerthrew and bound him, and lifting hin
| into his wagon took him to White Plains
years imprisonment The prisoner, how
| ever was liberated after nine months an
afterward became a warm friend of Captain
| Denike's.
3 Captain Denike relates somewhat curiou
story of the liberation of slaves in the Stat
, of New York after the emancipation procla
nation of 1920. He was at the house 9
Mr.. Solomon Hawse. of Peekskill, when th
latter told his slaves that they were FIRE
}. men. and gave each of them a parting gil
Q of SIS. One old woman begged TO be allowe
to remain with him, and being accorded th
Il desired permission. lived IN her old master
4 house until she was older than Captai
Is Denike is TO day.
q Captain Denike's sister married job
Il Paulding, one of the captors of Major Andr,
!. and until his memory began to fail, som
|. months ago, The veteran was never tired {
relating anecdotes that his brother in-la
had told him OF the death OF the brave br
unfortunate British spy.
CENTRAL NEW YORK POLITICS.
. Mr.. Kelly's Supporters Only the Men VIII