The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-12-27
Fey z1s ArAaasscv ZtayNiey. A REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENT,s
RY oEoRGR swARrwour.

NS[SnUy. W0HS VAAAuuR Wu 9kS0 anu wealshy lady residing in New York city. she related to me the following incident
 l do not recollect having ever seen it in print, and as she assured me that her father was an eyewitness of the affair, and had related it to her more than once, think can vouch for its truthfulness
 While Washington and his army were occupying New York city, he vas one day approached by wealthy old Quaker
 who owned a large estate where Harlem city now stands. He professed much friendship for the cause of the patriot army, and spent considerable time in dc
 nouncing the tyranny of King George
 and the unprincipled methods he pur
 sued in order to subdue the spirit of the colonists. Ere he departed he gave
 Washington pressing invitation te dine
 with him next day. Washington as-
 sured him that he would be unable to do
 so on the morrow, but that he would be
 happy to do so upon the first favorable
 occasion. Time sped on, and the old
 Quaker again appeared, renewed his pro-
 testations of friendship for the cause, and
 gave the great chief still another pressing
 invitation to dine with him, but Wash
 ington put him off with some excuse
 Finally when he had called about half a
 dozen times Washington decided ,o ac-
 oept his invitation, as the actions of the
 Quaker strongly aroused his suspicious
 that his seemingly earnest expressions of
 friendship were anything but sincere. So to settle the matter in his mind he told him that he would be at his house about 10 o'clock on the following forenoon, and would also dine with him two hours
 later.
 Next morning before daybreak Wash.
 ington was up, and gave orders that a file of soldiers should disguise themselves, in British uniform, and at once repair to the grounds of the Quaker, and conceal themselves in the dense underbrush across the road from the house and lawn. They did so without being detected, and awaited they knew not what.
 Promptly, at the hour appointed, Washington rode up to the mansion, un- attended. When he dismounted he was joy fully greeted by the Quaker who at once took him into the house, and in- troduced him to his wife and daughters. They chatted pleasantly awhile, until the host suggested that they walk out upon his beautiful grounds, while dinner was being prepared. To this Washington readily asseuted as by this time his sus- picioEs were fully aroused that all was not right, as he judged from the nervous, uneasy manner of his host, and he would prefer going outside as he could more easily escape from the trap that he was sure was set for him. The host called his attention to some choice flowers, and Washington stopped to pluck one. This was the signal for which the hidden soldiers had been waiting, and they at once sprang from their ambush and ad- vanced toward the house.
 This was the supreme moment for , which Washington mad been waiting, to see how his host would act in the pres ence of the supposed foe, and he watched him closely. The moment the Quaker saw the soldiers he shouted, at the same time pointing to Washington "Here
 he is, my men--the great Washington the arch traitor who is false to his king Seize him and let him s~ing from the bough of wonder oak, over which have already placed rope for him Up with him, my men! King George and the Lord be praised!" And the old man actually threw Up his la; and danced upon the green.
 Washington thought that he would carry the deception little further, so he
 made pretence of begging for mercy.
 But the Quaker was obdurate. Wash
 ington finally offered to give him ten
 thousand pounds if he would spare his life. " Ten thousand pounds is nothing
 to the gold and honors will receive
 from my kingW replied the Quaker.
 George, you must die. Up with him,
 my men! Why do you stand and gape T''
 Bot they made no move toward obeying
 him. At thls he became furious, and
 turned to clutch Washington, who looked
 calmly on. But the hand of the patrio,
 flew out like lightning and grasped his
 throat as Tn a wise of steel. In another
 moment he was hurled to the ground by
 the strong arm of the general, who
 shouted "On on, my men! The
 rope that was to encircle my throat, will
 at last choke the traitor, who during the
 moments of his short, but feeting