The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-08
AN oLD:rIME mEgoINE.
4 Romance of the Revolution Recalled by
the hiding of AN Old Portrait.

the hiding of AN Ola Portrait
Philadelphia Record
An Erie, Pa, dispatch to tine New York
Sunday World says: Miss Jennie Hazen, of
Angola township was passing Il secondhand
picture dealers store in Buffalo a few days
ago, when she noticed picture that was a
striking likeness of herself Looking at the
reflection OF herself in the window and then
upon the old painting the resemblance was
wonderful. The young lady on her return
home, told her friends that some one had
been painting her picture, with her form ar
rayed in the style of the last century, and
some OF the family went TO Buffalo, ard upon
seeing the picture were amazed. Their be-
wllderment was increased by deciphering
the name Jennie on the back of the painting,
and they purchased it and sent it to the
young iadv's grandmother in this city, Mrs.
DR.. NJ. J. Clark, who recognized it as the por-
trait of her grandmother Jennie Elizabeth
McMichael, an intrepid Philadelphia girl
whose adventures during the revolutionary
period were told at thousands OF firesdes by
the grandfathers and grandmotherS of the
present generation.
The original of the old picture was born in
Philadelphia, and was the daughter of DR..
McAllister, a surgeon in the continental
army When about seventeen years of age
she met Edward Mem chael, young British
officer of Scotch regiment, who had taken
shelter from q storm at the seminary where
she was being educated. 1t was a case of
love at first sight, and although her father
was an uncOmprOmising foe OF British rule
and British arms. she decided TO give up ali
and follow him. They eloped, were married
on the same nigh of their flight and when
her husbands regiment was sent to Canada
soon after she accompanied him.
During the war Captain McMichael under
took mission very similar to that OF Maj or
Andre and being captured he was sentenced
to death. shooting being permitted instead
OF hanging. He was treated with the great
est courtesy, and his wife was permitted to
visit him as often as she pleased. She re-
solved to effect his deliverance. and the day
before the execution was to take place she
concealed files about her person, and while
apparently hanging over the prisoners pros
trate form in great grief she was filing away
at the iron shackles that held his wrists and
ankles. Her piteous cries drowned the noise
of the files, and in a few hours she succeeded
in freeing him of his chains.
At midnight the provost marshal entered
and informed Captain McMichael that the
efforts made to save him had failed, and that
orders had been received to execute the SEN
teuce of death at daybreak The young wife's
shrieks deeply affected the official, and when
she asked him to leave her alone with her
husband for five minutes he withdrew. Re
turning in ten minutes he found the woman
convulSed with grief and poweriess to speak,
and he gently took her arm and escorted her
husbands Incarceration. Ten minutes later
a sentry came in and said that the woman
Just led from the building in an apparently
fanting condition had run away as soon as
the provost had left her. The provost,
alarmed, made visit to the prisoners room.
and was considerably relieved to find his
prisoner safe He was lying on the bed in
his uniform, the red sleeves of which could
be distinctly seen upon the arm thrown over
his head He had fallen into sleep-his
last sleep on EARTH they thought, and so did
not arouse him.
Just before daybrealI the clanking of arms
was heard outside and the prisoner was seen
to shiver as he lay. 1t was the firing party.
Captain McAfichael," said the provost
m arshal, Iii is time"
There was no answer.
Come, McMichael, meet this like brave
soldier"
Then the form arose, and to the astonish-
ment of the party they beheld Jennie Nc
Michael in her husbands uniform. she
had changed clothes with him and he had
escaped. hot pursuit was made but Nc
Michael was far away and was within the
British lines.
Mrs McMichael's father would not inter-
cede to save her from punishment, but he
consented to take and rear her infant son,
John, who grew up to be loyal American
and tine founder OF large family OF Nc
Michaels, which exists to-day in Philadelphia.
The authorities, however, decided TO release
Mrs. McMichael upon her promise to retire
from the continental lines and never re-
TURN.
Many other incidents in Mrs. McMichaels
life are related by her friends After the war
she lived at Buffalo with her husband, and
when he died she went to live near Hamil-
ton, Ont, and was presented with cousdera-
BILE land. She lived to a great age, and upon
tombstone in a little lot on the farm she
owned is the following inscriptions Sacred
TO the memory of Jennie E. McMchael,
daughter of Dr. McAllister of Philadelphia.
A noble girl, a brave wife and unhappy
mother"
Such is the story of the great-great-grand-
mother OF the girl who thought some modern
artist mad painted her picture.
WI, II. 90 Not R.la