The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-13
IphiladelnhIa Timcs.l

y
but history only gives the Commonwealth
credit for harboring one handsome, ro-
mantle, hard-riding, stand-and-deliyer sort
Of a fellow, and even he was ANONYMOUSLY
choked to death by bungling Chester
county hangman more than a hundred
wears ago. TO this day, however, village
historians in Chester and Delaware coun-
ties tell countless strange stories about
Captain James Fitzpatrick, and although
y century has passed since he made
his unhappy Wing enemies shiyer in
their buckled shoes and Continental knee
breeches hundreds OF credulous country
folk believe that the Captains spirit still.
paws midnight visits to Allap0cas creek, on
the suburbs Of Wilmington, where the
turnpike freebooter is said TO have buried
n fabulous amount Of treasure. Fitz-
patrick was born i'm Chester county, and
when sixteen years OF age was indent,lred
70 John Passmore, a blacksmith, whose
forge stood for many years at the forks OF
Doe Run. He became an expert smith,
and during the five or six years he worked
for Mr.. Passmore gained great reputation
for his strength, agility, and physical cor-
rage. He was tall, straight, and graceful,
with clear-cut, handsome features, a fair
complexion, and blue eyes. His hair was
sandy, bordering on red, and he wore il
long and loose.
GOING INTO THE ARMY.
When the Revolutionary war began FitZ-
patrick enlisted i'm the Continental army
and went TO New York, where for some in
fraction OF military discipline he was Sc
verely logged. That night he broke from
the gllard-house and deserted. swimming
The Hudson river and tramping barefoot
across the State OF New Jersey to rhiladel-
phia. While nursing his wrath and wait
ing for the cato -nine-tail cuts on his back
to heal he was recognized as dcserter,
arrested. and lodged in old Walnut
Street prison. On promising to return
to military duty he was pardoncd
and released, but the fiogging still
ranked III his mind. ard few weeks
later he deserted again and found work
for several months on Chester-county
farms. In the summer of 1777 two CONT
mental soldiers from Wilmington arrested
him while at work on the farm of John
Passmcre, i'm West Marlborough township.
He asked leave to bid his mother goodbye,
and the soldiers, not approaching the reso-
lutte character OF their prisoner, granted the
request, and waited at the door Of Mrs.
Fitzpatrick's house for James to come out.
A moment later he appeared in the door
way armed with life. He coolly ordered
the soldiers to leave, and they did. Fitz-
patrick then resumed his work as though
nothing had happened. The thrashing he
received in New York changed him from
one of the stOutest friends OF the Wings to
one of their most bitter and untiring enc
mics.
RAlDING CHESTER AND DELAWARE.
In August, III, Fitzpatrick and boon |
companion named Mordecai Dougherty |
Joined the British army under General |
Howe, and from time to time guided bands |
OF troopers through Chester and Delaware |
counties TO prey upon the money and grain |
and flocks of well-to-do Wings. The !
restless spirits Of "Captain" Fitzpat-
rick and "Lieutenant" Dougherty, |
as they were then dubbed, soon
began to fret under the rcstric-
lions Of routine military duties, and when
the British troops retired from Philadcl-
pha those worthless deserted and began to
make war ON their own hook. Hands
Pass, near the present town of Coatesville,
was at that time surrounded by dense
woods, and there the Captain and Lieuten-
ant made their headquarters, living in a
large, natural cave, at the mouth Of which !
they built rough stable for the protection |
of the five fine thoroughbred horses they |
confiscated before leaving the English |
camp.
Having made their quarters as comiorta- |
Die as possible, the Captain and Lieutenant |
began a series Of highway robberies and |
Outrages that struck terror to the hearts OF |
the Wings, who were III almost every III
stance the sufferers. At midday on the |
public road coach would be suddenly |
confronted by the handsome and dandily-
dressed highwaymen, and after stripping
the travellers OF all their valuables the
daring freebOeters would ride laugh
ingly away and before nightfa.l
would be engaged in pillaging some
Wing mansion twenty or thirty miles dis
tant. The clothes and linen Of the high
waymen were of the finest material, the
Captain having a weakness for gorgeOusly-
colored velvet coats and handsome gold
embroidered .waistcoats. The speed and
power of their imported horses was ia
,nous. On one occasion the Captain coolly
stalked into the Goodwin tavern when
dozen men were reading a handful in
which the authorities offered $1,000 for
him, dead or alive. No one offered to
modest him, and he picked the hand
bill up on the point Of his sword
and tossed it out OF the window,
laughingly saying: 81 had no idea l
was SO valuable" After swallowing gill
of brandy and standing the drinks all
round he left the house, and was about to
mount his horse when rife ball, fired
from window OF the tavern, passed
through his hat. Fearing that other shots
would follow he clapped spurs to his horse,
galloped across the stable-yard, jumped Il
tve-barred gate and disappeared in cloud
OF dust on the road. Six hours later he
and his horse were resting in the old Wild
Rose tavern, forty miles distant.
GETTING EVEN WITH THE SHOOTER.
Gabriel Long, tax-collector. fired the
shot at the highwayman. Ten days later
Long was surprised by Fitzpatrick and
Dougherty on the highway in Newln town.
ship and robbed OF 5000. He was then tied
70 his horse and taken to a cave frequented
by the marauders. where he was kept two
weeks on bread and water. Each morning
the Captain gave the unfortunate prisoner
twenty lashes rs as appetizer. Al the end
oil TWO weeks Long wac allowed TO return
home. Fitzpatrick's hatred OF revenue
collectors and officers OF the American
Government was so intense that he ray,aIy
allowed them TO escape from him withol1 a
thrashipg.
lnnuperable stories are told about Piz-
patrick's boldness ia suddenly appearing
before people who had viewed to capture
hlin. a Captain MCGOWAN, who often
publicly expressed a desire 10 see and CAP
ture the daispg highwayuiar, met fellow
traveller on the road to Chester. As thew
1oiiiGeyed the conversation turned on tile |
exploits OF the notorious bighwsyman, and |
after MeGowan had boosted some time. |
Fitzpatrick suddenly poked the muzzle of |
horse-pist0l in the face OF the asionshed |
officer and ordered him IN dismounf Tho