Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-09
ESCAPED.
A TALE OF THE REVOLUTION.

TALE OF THE REVOLUTION.
New Jersey, as well as New York, was
originally settled by colonists from Hol-
land, and although the English at one
time got possession of the territory, the
Dutch regained it and held it, under the
name of Achter Kos, until 1878
Among ths early emigrants from Hol-
land was family by the name of Koven
hoven, who took up lands in what is now
Monmouth county, near the present vii
lage Of Eatontown. Their descendants,
under the anglicized name of Conover,
live IN the same regions to this day.
In 17777S this family had farm On
the ocean shore, probably within the
present limits of Long Branch. At that
time the men folks were all away with
the Continental army, under Gen. Wash
ingt0n.
The family left at home consisted of
the mother, daughter of eighteen or
twenty years, son of sixteen years, and
another of ten. These contrived to sup
port themselves on the farm and also to
contribute literally 10 the Continental
ctuse.
5 Notwithstanding the defenceless con-
dition of the place, with the enemy in
possession OF the country, the Kovenhov-
en- homestead was an important post in
line Of secret communication kept up
between the parties Of New York and
the East, and their friends beyond the
Delaware.
The elder of the Kovenhoven bows,
though only a growing lad, was trusted
messenger in this ''gra pevinc' postal ser
vice, and by his skill and daring in work
ing through the British lines, had al
read y won the Dame Of Katie Kovenhov-
en-, or, as we would now say, Cool Como
yer.
Early in the simmer Of TITS, when
Gen. Clinton Was preparing TO abandon
the line of the Delaware and fail back on
the Hudson river, a body of Hessian
troops was sent through the JERSEYS to
open the way to Sandy HOOK, where the
army was to mbark for New York.
Tie Hessians har,ied the country to
some extent, to,asipg as they advanced,
and making special efolts to break up
The secret postal selvice known to be
maintained in spite OF their utmost vigi-
lance.
The line was kept running at that TIM,
as may readily he supposed, with re
doubled activity, and the messengers
spared neither risk nor hardship to get
their dispatches through.
The service was all the harder as the
activity of the enemy forced them to seek
round about ways, and travel long dis
tances. The route was turned down
through the pines, an unbroken wilder
ness, extending, at that time, nearly
across the South Jerseys
One night in June young Conover re-
turned home from a trip into the pines
weary and worn. He had ridden many
long mile through the soft sands of the
forest without daring to wait for rest or
refreshment.
Stopping at the bars and turning his
tired mare into the salt meadow, he
shouldered the saddle and carried it up
to the ban.
He had an important dispatch with
him. fastened under his arm in water
proef cover. Worn out with hard riding
from early III orning till after midnight,
and with tie Constant strain of anxious
watch;nlness, he felt relieved and thank
ful to get home in safety.
Sitting down On heap of straw, he
took Oft his heavy riding boots, ana un-
buttOned his shirt to remove the precious
package, and then in an instant, the
reaction from ovsr-exertion conquered
him, and he dropped into deep sleep.
He slept heavily until the first beams
OF daylight began to slime through the
cracks in the barn. Then he was sud
denly awakened by tremendous tAump-
ing close by him.
AS be sprang up the butt of a musket
broke through the door, and instinctively
the boy realized that for once he had
been caught mapping.
1t was his way to face danger when he
could not avoid it; so he sprang to the
door, feeling for his package and finding
1t safe under his arm at the same mo.
ment.
Six men stood outside, and in the dim
morning light he recognized them as a
detail from a detachment of Hessians
whom he had been lodging all the pre-
vious afternoon.
They addressed him roughly, and one
of them, in broken English, commanded
him to find forage for their horses. "Und.
yunker," he added, "1ouse der hause
and get right away breakfast"
The boy brought out hay and grain in
abundance for the horses, and then led
the way to the house. His sister Katie
was already astir, and Immediately COM
pretending the situation, she set about
preparing good breakfast, without any
fuss or hesit>hon.
The meal passed off quietly, the family
keeping in the background as much as
possible, and the troopers showing NO
disposition to make trouble.
The corporal in charge of the detail
after partaking most heartily of the good
things that filed the table, seemed in.
clined to be quite friendly.
''Und what yout name ist, mien kindt?'
he said to his hostess.
''Katie, sir, replied the girl.
"Ya, vol, Katrina. Du Dist liebe.
madchen-goot girl. Und der bruderg'
"My brother? His name is Ned
Edward, l mean"
so, Etouart, va! Und der fader, w
ist2"
At this moment "Etouart" came to tn,
door leading the corporal's horse. sI'vt
Watered him, he said, land rubbed hin
down as we'll as ] could in hurry"
IVA, woll, schooner kerl. Now we %
aheat mit;" and the dangerous questio,