The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1880-10-07
THE BRITISH SPY, ANDRE.
Description Of n Picture He Drew Of Him.
self Before a Locking Glass.

As the day is approaching (Sept. 2:al) for cele-
bratng the centennial of the capture of Adjutant-
General Andre, familiarity known rs Major Andre,
the British spy, at Tarrytown, by John Paulding,
David Williams and Isaac Van Vert. and of his
execution, October Ri, ID may not be an unin-
teresting fact that portrait of Andre painted
by HIMSELF by the aid of a looking-glass, during
his brief imprisonment prior to his execution is
to he found in Westminster County. One of our
reporters, having ascertained its whereabouts
yesterday visited the residence of Mr.. Clark Da-
Wis, a farmer and undertaken, at Upper Rochelle
for the purpose of inspecting the picture, and of
gathering such particulars concerning il as could
he obtained. As far back as can be traced Mt the
present time, it came into the possession of Mr.
Ball, then living at Bethany, New Haven County,
Conn, whose father if not the entire family,
were natives of England. Young Mr.. Ball is
said TO have obtained the picture in one of the
Southern States, and carried it to England, with
what object is not definitely known, but it is
supposed for the purpose of hunting up the rela-
tives of Andre, and presenting selling the pic
ture to them, should they desire to become the
possessors of it. How far he was successful in
the object of his mission To England, can only be
surInised by the fact that he brought the picture
back, and finally presented il TO his father at his
home in Bethany, and the latter priced it above
all other of his worldly possessions. Mr.. Ball,
Sr., appears to have been truly English in his
habits and feelings, in addition to the portrait
of Andre, his rooms are adorned by pictures of
Lord Nelson, the hero of Trafalgar, and other
ctleUrltes OF the Britlsn army AMI navy, painted
and burned on glass, the latter being fresh to-
day, perhaps, as on the day they were made.
Mr.. Ball, ST., shortly before his death, gave his
daughter, Statira, who became the wife of Mr.
Thurman Davis, of Naugatuck, Conn.,, the pic
lures referred Ia. Mr.. Davis, as a Welshman,
shared his wife's interest in the pictures, and
gave that Of Andre conspicuous place i'm one of
the rooms Of his dwelling Some time srbse-
quently, ON the death of Mrs. Davis, nee Miss
Ball, Mr.. Davis married n widow, Mrs. Sophia
Mallory, Who objected to the painting and had
it put away in the garnet. Mr.. Clark Davis on
visiting his father, on one occasion, missed the
pctare from the place where it had 50 long hung
inquired what had become of it, and on being in
formed that IL had been slowed away in the attic,
asked for il, and he was granted permission to
take il away, which he did, aud he has since
been its pOssessor.
In the picture, which is mounted in the origin
al frame, Major Andre is represented as attired
in the uniform of his rank, with a red coat with
light green facings, highly ornamented with
large gilt epauettes, buttons and embrOidery,
and cambria ruffies around the wrists His vest
and pantaloons are of white material, and his
shirt-front is ornamented with the old-fashoned
and projecting rffles. He sits in an easy chair,
with legs crossed, his left elbow resting the
back of the chair, and his right hand stretched
on the top of a round table by his side on which
rests an ink-stand with a pen in it. From the
window of his room, and in full view, may he
seen a number of tents, and large body of Ame-
rican troops, apparently being drilled by their
officers while the Stars and Stripes are seen float
ing in the breeze. Just beyond the encampment
of the American army flows the noble Hudson,
and the back ground of the picture consists of the
range of hills extending from the upper terminus
of the Palisades. Andre, according to the por-
trait, had very dark brown hair, with small
whiskers and fair complexion, devoid of beard
and moustache, and blue eyes.-Nee York San.