Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-02-15
Gales zrlo Skftrhes.


A few dsys ago Miss Jennie Haven OF
Angola township. says an Erie pa des-
natch. was passing . secondhand picture
dealers store In Buffalo. when she noticed
among some old paintings . picture that
Vas ! striking likeness of herself. Look
inc At the reflection of herself in the win
dow and then upon the old painting, the
resemblance was wonderful. The young
Iadv who is only Is years old. returned
home to Angels full Of her discovery. insist
ing that some one bad been painting her
picture and arrayipg her as fright (the
GIRL of the painting was dressed in the
style of the last century,. Incited BY Gu
riosity. some Of the family went to bunaio,
and upon seeing the picture were as
amazed a. Miss Jennie. Their bewilder-
ment was increased by decIpheriDg The
name OF Jennie upon the back OF the paint
ing. II also bore the name OF the artist,
Richardson, Philadelphia." The paint
ing was purchased for $3.50. and sent
to the young lady's grandmother in this
city, Mrs. DR.. NJ J. Clark. who recog-
nized it as the portrait of her grandmoth-
er, Jennie Elizabeth McMichael. an intre-
pid Philadelphia girl. whose adventures
during the revolutionary period were told
at thousands of firesides by the grandfath-
ers and grandmoihers of the present gen.
erations.
Jennie Elizabeth McMichael was born
in Philadelphia. and was the daughter of
DR.. McAllister, surgeon in the Continental
army. When about IL years OF age she
met Edward McMichael. young British
officer of Scotch regiment. who had taken
refuge from storm at the seminary where
she was being educated. 1t was case of
love al first sight, and although her father
was an unrelenting foe of British rule and
British arms, she decided to give up all
and follow him. They eloped and were
married on the same night of their fight.
Her husbands regiment was sent to
Canada, and thither she went. During
the war Capt. McMichael undertook a
mission very similar to that of Major
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.th original
of the picture, was permitted to visit him
as often as she pleased. She resolved to
effect his deliverance. The day before his
execution was to take place she concealed
files about her person and while apparent
ly hanging over the prisoners PROSTATE
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 file, and in a few hours
she succeeded in freeing him of his chains.
At midnight the provost marshal entered
and informed Capt. M:Michael that the
efforts made to save him had failed, and
that the orders had been received to ex-
ecute the sentence of death at daybreak.
The young wife't shrieks deeply affected
the official. and he suggested an early
farewell of the prisoner. Capt. McMichael
nodded approvingly to his executioner.
and advised his wife to bid him good
bye then and there. and leave the prison
under provost's escort. She finally con-
sented. and requested the officer to call
for her in five minutes, the last five that
she was to spend alone with her
young husband. The provost withdrew
and in ten minutes he returned. He found
a woman convulsed with grief. powerless
to speak. With the tenderness of a hu-
name man, he gently took her arm and
led her weeping from the room. He es-
corted her to the dwelling she had occu-
pied during her husbands incarceration.
and returned to mis- quarters to prepare for
the work of death. Ten minutes later a
sentry came in and said the woman Just
led from the building in an apparently
fainting condition had taken to her heels
rs fast as she could after the provost left
her. In haste visit to the prisoner s
room was made, and the officer was con-
siderably relieved to find his prisoner all
safe. He was lying on the bed in his uni
form. the red sleeves of which could be
distinctly seen upon the arms thrown over
his head. He had fallen into a dose, the
last sleep on earth. they thought, and SO
would not arouse him, but they kept a
sharp eye on him just before daybreak
the clanking of arms was heard outside,
and the prisoner was seen to SILVER as he
lay. 1t was the firing party. Captain
McMichael," said the provost marshal. .'it
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 in that ten
minutes. and he had escaped. A hot pur-
suit was made. but McAiichael was far
away, and within the British lines. Her
father would not intercede to save her
iipih PahiShiOuts put touScuttu " tdhc
and rear her infant son, John. who grew
up to be loyal American. land the founder
of a large and esteemed family of Nc
Michaels. which exist to-day in Philadel-
phia.
The authorities decided to release Mrs.
McMichael upon her promise to retire
from the continental lines and never re-
turn. A second time her husband was
captured. but his identity was skillfully
concealed by her. thus preventing the GER
tain death that awaited him in Philadel-
phia, where he would have been immedi-
ately recognized. By clever man9vre
she got him exchanged for four private
soldiers captured by the British. After
the war they lived at Buffalo. where
McMichael died. The widow went to live
near Hamilton. Ont. and was presented
with considerable land. Later a miserly
Canadian sought to wrest it from her. and
set out for Toronto to obtain a deed from
Governor Simcoe. Hearing of this. the
brave woman mounted her swiftest horse,
and overtaking the plotter. made him dis
mount and give up his horse. She then
sped on before him; fording and swim
ming rivers in the dead of night, and not
drawing rein until she reached the Gov
ernor's house. All water soaked and
frozen rs she was she presented herself