Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-10-21
MAJOR JOHN ANDRE.
a New Story OF His Cspture--six Men
said to Have Been Engaged I'm IT,

1
the Tarrytown monument as the cap.
tors of Major Andre, but il is claimed
that three others assisted, whose de-
scendants thus tell the story:
The smallest schoolboy knows that
Benedict Arnold had made terms with
Andre to surrender West Point to the
British, and had prepared dispatches for
the British commander in New York,
giving detailed information of the condi-
tion of affairs in the department that the
traitor commanded. 1t was while re-
turning to New York as private citizen
on horseback that Andre was captured
and the dispatches found. The spy was
eventually executed. The men whose
names are mentioned in the foregoing in
scription are the historical captors, and
were so recognized by act of Con-
gress. A reporter of the Herald having
made inquiries among the old residents
of the county, has cleaned some infor-
nation of an interesting character which
has been handed down from their ances-
tors. From Caleb Van Tassel, of Kings
Bridge, Henry Romer, of PleasanLville,
and Alexander Van Wart, of Tarry-
town, the following history of the cap
ture was obtained: On the eventful day,
Paulding, Williams, Van Wart, James
Romer, John Yerks and Stephen Van
Iassel were sent to guard the roads
against cattle thieves. Paulding had
been prisoner for several months in
the British camp and had escaped four
days previously, and was attired princi-
pally in British uniform, the rest being
dressed in ordinary rural style. Pauld-
ing and his two companions stationed
themselves on the Albany road aud the
other three took charge of tn White
Plains road, which branched off the
Albany road half n mile northward and
led eastward, each party being stationed
about half a mile from the forks Of the
two roads, and being in straight line
over a half n mile apart. About ten
o'clock in the morning, while Paulding
and his companions were sitting on a
rock, playing n game Of cards known as
"seven-up," they saw Major Andre
coming down the road. He stopped at
the brook to water his horse, and Pauld-
ing's party approached him. Paulding.
who was the spokesman, said: Good
morning, stranger. Which way are
you goingP"
He thought he had found a cattle
thief, but when the man spoke like a
gentleman and said he was going TO
White Plains ION important business
for General Arnold" Paulting's opinion
was changed, and no quickly replied
that he guessed he had missed the road.
The man seemed 20 be little confused,
and Paulding said: Which party do
on belong TOP"
"To your party" said the man.
How do you know which party /
belong TOP" said Paulding.
" l can tell by your DRESS" said tie
nan.
II suppose, then, you belong to tn
'ower party?" said Paulding.
YES" said the man.
"Then we must detain you," replied
Paulding.
II cannot be detained" was tie an
swer. My business is urgent"
What business have you with the
lower partyP"
"Oh, belong to the ether party"
the man said, and exhibited n pass
signed "B. Arnold" requesting the safe
passage of John Anderson on import
ant business"
Paulding and his party held a brief
consultation on the propriety Of detain-
ing him and were in doubt. Andre,
seeing this, started his horse forward
and had gone about three rods when
Paulding commanded him to halt. The
man stopped and begged to be allowed
to proceed. but Paulding said that as he
was going toward the lines OF the lower
party, he should take him into custody.
The man then offered Paulding's party
his gold watch, which was n curiosity
to the ruralists, to let him go. They
refused the bribe. Then he offered to
secure for them any amount of money
they might name ii they would con cea
him and communicate with such parties
as he directed, and then liberate him
upon the receipt of the ransom. This they
declined and ordered him to dismount
Upon searching him they found nothing,
and were somewhat in doubt about
their right to interfere, when Paulding
commanded him TO take off his boots.
The man then turned pale. In his
stockings were found the dispatches
from Arnold. my God" said Pauld-
ing, che is a spv" On making this
discovery they started for North Castle.
near White Plains. They went to the
forks of the road. and turning into the
White Plains road with their prisoner
they met the Romer party, 10 whom
they impaired the information already
given. 1t was agreed between the six
men that Andre should be deliverd to
Colonal Jameson Mt North Caatla Tt