Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-09-25
Capture Of Andre.

The celebration Thursday of the capture
Of Andre, calls up anew the history of that
affair In the New York Tribune we find the
following:
With Arnolds pass, in the name of John
Anderson, and with the papers describing the
troops at West Point hidden In his stocking
Andre started out with Smith about sunset.
Stopped by an American patriot. they spent
the night at Andreas Miller's cottage. The
next morning Smith left Andre near Pine
Bridge, assuring him that he safe from
scouting parties, but advising him to take the
White Plains road. Andre, however, had
been informed that there were British parti-
sans on the lower road, and he therefore went
by the old Sleepy Hollow church, across the
bridge and then up little hill to a small
brook that crossed the road. 1t was down
this stream that the three '.Skinners,"
Paulding. Van Wart and Williams, came on
the morning Of September p. 1850, leaving
their five companions on the top Of the hill
now called Mount Andre. Hiding in the
bushes in order to watch the r0ad-now
Broadway-for Cow boys" the three rustics
lounged comfortably. chatting in low tones
and playing cards, while " illiams leisurely
hung his stockings, wet with dew, upon a
bush to dry.
Suddenly the tramp of horse was heard,
and figure appeared at the turn Of the road.
''fInsh :" and everything was still as death
within the bushes, and the unconscious horse
man rode slowly down to the brook and
paused, where it widened into pool on cross
ing the road, to allow his horse to drink. But
the quiet of the scene was suddenly inter-
ruptcd. Padding sprang from the bushes
and seized the horse by the bride. Paulding,
lately imprisoned in British, jails ard robbed
of his clothing, had been given Hessian
yager's coat, and when Andres eyes fell up
on it he smiled.
"IIa, you belong to our party"
"What party is that?" was Paulding's ex-
camation.
The party below"
Yes
"Don't detain me, then; I'm on important
business" and the unfortunate young officer
betrayed himself so fatally that he was I'M
able to recover himself when Paulding an
nounced that he belonged to the Continentals
Then, after little parley, Andre was led
from the spot where the monument now
stands to large rock which occupied the
site of Mr.. Wheeler's house and the base of
which is now visible in the cellar. The search
that followed, the discovery of Arnold's trea-
sonabe correspondence in Andres boot, and
hHhIt luAHt atttlIpls DIlbeIN, arr All
familiar. He was met with Paulding's stern
answer: mo, by -. we won't let you go
if you offer us 10000 guineas." And the
handsome young officer. bitterly exclaimed {:
Il had better have blown out NV brains than
fallen into your hands" Refusing to mount
his horse. Andre was led through the bushes
to the summit of the hill. not far from the
spot where the pavilions now stand.
Mrs. See, an old woman living on the Bed
ford road. about two miles from the larry
town depot, tells picturesque tale of sue
ceeding events it was told her by the
participants. Mrs. See, Familiarity known as
AUNT Betsy" says that a party of 'Skin-
ners' with their prisoner went directly to
Mug Tavern" near White Plains-a hos
telry presided over by Aunt Polly Reed
Strange to say-considering her sex-Aunt
Polly was notorious for her curiosity and in
ability to keep secret While ham and eggs
were sizzling in the pan for the hungry
"Skinners," Aunt Polly was struggling to
ascertain the identity of the melancholy
young stranger, who was so handsomely
clothed in a blue overcoat scarlet-colored
coat and nankeen waistcoat and breeches
Finally Paulding seized her by the wrist and
drew her close to him.
Can you keep a secret?'
"Yes," stammered the old woman with
hardly suppressed eagerness.
''We've got British spy
In three minutes the old woman had in
trusted the household cares to her girl, saddled
her white horse, and was galloping off to the
next house. in place then called '.Twitch-
ings." But the fences and brush proved an
obstacle, and Aunt Polly was forced to make
long detour by the road. The "Skinners"
finished their meal and departed, making a
straight cut across the country toward
"Twitchlngs.' As they approached the
house they caught sight of Aunt Polly flying
up the road on her white horse, DAYLIGHT
showing between herself and the saddle at
every leap. Her hair streamed out behind.
In one hand she swung her huge poke bonnet
by the strings. while she shrieked in a shrili
quaverng voice, They've got the id spy I,
They've got the id spy.