Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1881-08-04
Flora MacDonaId III North Carolina
BY BENSON j. TOSSING.

King of Great Britain, landed in
Scotland in 1745, and claimed his
right to the throne froin which his
tgrandf4ter had been driven, thou
sands of Scotchmen, regarding him
as their lawful sovereign, Joined
him in fighting for the British
crown. He fought, was defeated,
and became hiding fugitive on the
island Of Uist, one Of the Hebrides
off the west coast of Scotland, and
was assisted in making his escape to
France by Flora Macdonald, a
beautiful, patriosic, and romanic
Scotch girl, just from school in Ed
inburg, come to visit her klnedian;
Laird Macdonald, the chief OF Uist.
| Laird and Lady Macdonald were
friends of the Prince, and were try
ing to hide him from the searching
eyes of British soldiers, who swarm
ed on the island in quest Of him
much longer. Lady Macd onald
conceived a. plan for the Princes
escape, but found no man willing to
undertake the perilous enterprise.
Her young kinsworlan Flora spoke
scornfully of the tinidity that held
back her countrymen from such
patriotic and benevolent task.
will you undertake it, Flora2'
asked Lady Macdonald, perceiving
the 5onng girls zeal and patriot
ism.
sIndeed I WILL quickly respond
ed Flora.
Preparations were Immediately
made for the romantic enterprise.
Neil Macdonald, "a young kinsman
of Flora, volunteered to accompany
her. She obtained passport to
leave the island with Neil, and three
others as boats crew, and Bctsey
Burke, stout Irish woman whom
) Flora pretended she had engaged as
f a seamstress for her mother in the
: isle Of Skye.
j, Flora and her little party left
Uist on pleasant atterhoon. Bet
sey Burke was the Prince in dis
guise. That night they wrcathed
terrific storm, and reached Skye
: in safety in the morning. At the
intended landing-place they were
confronted by soldiers, when turn
ing quickly eastward, they escaped
a volley of bullets sent after them;
and landed near the honse of Sir
Alexander Macdonald. Leaving
, the Prince concealed among the
rock, Flora told her secret in the
willing cars of Lady Macdonald
who furnished an escort f:,r the
party, including stout Betsey
Burke, to the Laird of Kinkbure
(who was also Macdonald). Flora
had conducted the young Prime as
f an Irish seamstress through crowds
Of soldiers aud people who were
searching for him. Travellers tar
ried at the house of the Laird O.
Kingsburg that night, and the neg
morning Prince Charles Edward
r embarked for successful voyage t
France. AS he was about to leave
he kissed his fair deliverer, an,
said, tQentIe, faithful maiden l en-
tertain the hope that we shall We
meet in the royal palace
The Prince and Flora never say
each other again. Her yottng kins-
man, Neil Macdonald, accompanied
Charles Edward to France, marrie'
there, and his son, born four year
3 before Napoleon Bonaparte, becam
the great military leaders fsmou
Y. Marshal Macdonald, and Duke O
Tarehthm.
The part that Flora had taken i
the escape OF the Prince soon be
came known, and she, with III
Z Laird of Kingsbnrg and other kin
i. dred, was confined IN the Tower {
London as prisoner of state
charged With the criue of treason
Flora's romantic story, and her ex
treme youth and radiant beauty
created almost universal sympath
tor her among every class of til
= Eng gEsh people, > When George l
asked her; sternly, sHow could yo
dare to succor the enemy of III
II crown and kingdon?' She replied
with sweet simplicity. 1T was Il
Hiore than would have done ft
your Majesty bad you been in b
place. .se.f ~
1t was so evident that Flora ",
7Tfnot "a political partisan of Il
I'm I'm syoiidg Pretencer,' as he was Gale
ns (she was not of his religious faith
and that she had acted from IL
r, generous and benevolent irnpuls
z of "a wornan's heart, that she ar
her kindered were pardoned al
ess released.a While she remained
our ,ar London she attracted great after
ton. Crowds of the nobility al
one on gentry of both sexes visited her, al
BE bestowed jppon her costly present
use and the government sent her hor
81 in a handsome claise, accompani'