The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-12-12
Two Faces Exactly Alike, But .
Hundred Years Apart.


some old paintings picture that was
striking likeness Of herself. Looking q
the reflection Of herself in the window
ana then upon the old paintings, th'
resemblance was wonderful. The young
lady, who is only sixteen years old, re
turned home to Angola full Of her DIS
coYery, insisting that some one had beeI
painting her picture and arraying her a
. fright (the girl of the painting va!
dressed in the style Of the last century
Incited by curiosity, some OF the fami
" went to Buffalo, and upon seeing the
picture were as amazed a. Miss Jennle
Their bewilderment was increased o!H
deciphering the name Jennie on the bacl
of the painting. 1t also bore the name
Of the artist, Richardson, Philadel
phIa." The painting was purchased fol
Sc. so, and was sent to the young lady
grandmother, in this city, Mrs. DR.. NJ
J. CLARK. who recognized it as the por'
trait of her grandmother, Jennie
Elizabeth McMichasl, an intrepid Phil
adelphia girl whose adventures during
the revolutionary period were told at
thousands of fresides by the grand.
fathers and grandmothers of the present
generation. Your correspondent called
1pon Mrs. Clark aud obtained from her
the following interesting history OF the
beautiful original of the painting
Jennie Elizabeth McMichael was born
in Philadelphia, and was the daughter
of DIR. Ne Allister, surgeon in the Con-
tinental army. When about seventeen
wears of age she met Edward McMichael,
4 Young British officer of Scotch regi-
ment who had taken shelter from
storm at the seminary where she was
being educated. 1t was q 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 aid follow him. They eloped and
were married on the same night OF their
flight. Her husbands regiment was
sent to Canada, and thither she went.
During the war Capt. McMichael un'
dertook a mission very similar to that
of Mai. Andre, and being captured he
was sentenced to death, shooting being
permitted instead of hanging. He was
treated with the greatest courtesy, and
his wife. the original of the picture, was
permitted to visit him as often as she
pleased. She resolved to effect his de-
liyerance. The day before the execu'
ton was to take place she concealed hies
about her person, and while apparently
hanging over the prisoners PROSTATE
form in great relief. she was filing away
the iron shackles that held his wrists
and ankles. Her piteous cries drowned
the noise of the file, and in few hours
she succeeded in freeing him OF his
chains
At midnight the provost marshal en-
tered and Informed Capt, MeMichae
that the efforts made to save him had
failed, and that orders had beer
received to execute the sentence o.
death at davbreak. The young wife:
shrieks deeply affected the official, and h'
suggested an early farewell of the prison
er' Capt. McMichael nodded approving
" to his last executioner, and advised
his wife to to bid him good-by then ant
there, and leave the prison under thu
ployost's escort. She finally consented
and requested the officer to call for he
in five minutes, the last FIVE that sh
was to spend alone with her young hos
band. The provost withdrew, and Il
ten minutes he returned. He found
woman convtrlsed with grief, powerles
to speak: With the tenderness of
humane man he gently took her arr
and led her weeping from the room
| He escorted her to the dwelling she ha
occupied during her husbands incarc'
ration, and returned to his quarters {
prepare for the work of death
I
| Ten minutes later a sentry came /
and said that the woman just led froi
the building in an apparently faintin
condition had taken to her heels as fas
as she could after the provost had lei
her. In haste a visit to the prisoner
4 room was made, and the officer Wa
considerably relieved to find his prisol
or all safe. He was lying on the bed
his uniform, the red sleeves of whic
could be distinctly seen upon the arm
| thrown over his head. He had faile
into a doze, the last sleep on earth, the
thought, and so would not arouse LIN
4 but they kept sharp eye on him. Ju
i before daybreak the clanking of arm
4 WAS heard outside, and tie prisoner ";
seen to shiver as he lay. 1t was the II
ing party: -, ,uo
marshal, sit is time.a There was I
answer, "Cofne, McMichael,' meet th
, like a brave soldier Then the for
/ arose, and to the astonisment OF Il
} party they beheld Jennie McMieha
, In her husbands uniform. She h'
} changed clothes with him in that t
r MINUTES and be had escaped. A h
j nursuit was made, but McMichael W
: Tar aSay ard was within the Brltl
! lines. Her father would not interce
to save her punishment, but consent
: "a take rear her infant son John, vi
e grew up to be loyal American and !
e founder of a large and esteemed faml
Q of McMichaels which exist to-day
: Philadelphia.
The authorities decided to relef
Mrs. McMichael upon her promise
: retire from the Continental lines a
never return. A second time her b
band was skillfully concealed by q
7 thus preventing the certain des
that awaited him in Philadelphia, Wit
he would have been recognized lmI
!. dia.ely. By clever maneuver sne
him exchanged for four private soldi
captured by the British. After
war they lived at Buffalo, where !
Michael died. The widow went to
near Hamilton, Ont. and was presen
le with considerable land. Later
81 erly Canadian sought to wrest It ir
ID her. and set out from Toronto to obt
le : deed from Gov. Simcoe. Hearing
ID this the brave woman mounted
n sviftest horse and overtaking the p
he ter made him dismount and give up
Of horse. She then sped on before \
r. fording and swimming rivers IN the q
Of night, and not drawing rein until
3 reached the Governors house.
to water-soaked and frozen as she was,
be presented herself before the Cover
- and told her story. When the COW
or nf her possessions arrived he found
no had been frustrated and that Mrs.
N Michael's deeds had been confirmed.
y The man became magistrate a
ga ward and reyenged himself by drafi
a.- an her sons for the war OF 1872.
|. took them one BY one, as they
~ 81 slain in battle. She lived 70 e
sla. AGE, and upon tambstone IN ilttl'
'us on the farm she owned is the folio'
~ ,ua inscription:
on t.Sacred to the memory OF Jennil
=, NcAIiehasl, daughter Of DIR. McAlli
g, of PhiladeIphia, 3 noble girl, ,
= wife and unhappy mother.
Cd Such wss the original Of the old
ell tuYe az an old-time belle OF Philadell
% and the pssat-g great- grandmother OF
T0g.. voung rirl who thought some mo
p srfist had been painting her pietnrs
18th 1l1sAs = : - 9. !. 8 -
ell, -
and WAIFs or WIT.
yOu
Aer Tall aboat yonr fsh stories. the
I'D gest q fish stories = not eqzsl I.