The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-04-28
Hours With Men and Women O.
The Revolution.
rliE LAsr pArrLE or rHE nEvoLuTIoN.

| the LAST BATTLE OF THE REVOLUTION.
copyrighted, 1888, by Funk g. WdgndlIs. !
DIR. Alexander Anderson, who died In
January, 1870, at the age of nearly ninety
five years, was the pioneer wood engraver
in America. He retained his mental fac
uldes almost .unii1paired until the end Of
his days on the earth. and his physical
yigor was quite as remarkable. have in
my possession the last block upon which
he exercised his artistic skill On il is a
pencil drawing by his own hand, about one
half engraved; the remainder Is covered
| with protecting tissue paper, from which
he had cut fragments as the work progress
ed. He left ii unfinished three months be-
fore his death.
! l knew DR.. Anderson intimately for
thirty years. and from the well OF his
experience with the bucket of most tena-
cous memory drew copious drafts of in
formation concerning long'past events IN
the eli y of New York. where he was born
and resided for ninety years.
/ .
and a printer. He was social and politi-
cal friend OF Isaac Sears king Sears" rs
he was called-one of the foremost leaders
Of the "Sons Of Liberty" in New York
when the War for Independence was a
kindling. They were neighbors, living
near Beekman's Slip. East River, and there
our artist was born, two days after the
6ght at Lexington, in the spring Of 1775.
His father published small Wing news
paper entitled The Constitutional Gazette
He had printed many Of the handbils call
ing meetings of the people ''at Liberty
Pole" or in ''The Fields" now the Ci \
Hall Park. He offended and annoyed tn.
roiies, who called him John Anderson
the Rebel" and long afterward one of them
also a Scotchman, said TO our artist, 81
knew your father weel. A line at the head
of his paper read. Printed by John Ander
son, Beekman slip; Price. Two Coppers,
and these we the only words Of truth in ii.
After the battle on Long Island, in Au
gust, 1776, and the British Army wer,
menacing he cit of New York with cap
ture, the Whig Journalist thought it pru
lent to fly from he doomed town with hi,
family, his household goods. his type AM
his press. He barely escaped capture b!
British pickets of the army which haC
crossed the East River far up the island
and he had reached Harlem Heights on hi
way 10 the mainland when his wagon
were seized for the use OF the patriot forces
their contents were thrown ont, and An
!. lerson's papers and books were used TO
making cartridges by the garrison at For
Washington. He escaped to Greenwich
in Connecticut, where his wife and two In
fant boys were cared for by friends, Will
the father engaged as a scout for the pa
the proclamation of peace he returned I
the city, hired house near the foot q
Murray street, not far from the Mort
River and resumed the business of print
ing, but not publishing.
Young Anderson displayed taste an
| geuius for art. particularly engraving, at
very early period of his life. He first use
copper and type.metal for the purpose
Engraving on wood was then unknown
America. Berwick, the great reformer {
the art in England, was then astonishin
the public by The beauty Of his woodcl
J, Illustrations, especially of natural histor,
Young Anderson saw some Of them
Dunell's bookstore, and then learned Il
the first time that they were done on bo,
wood, the best material still in use. +
was then making illustrations for an ed
tion of ''The Looking Glass for the Mind,
and had finished about one-half of them {
: type metal. He tried wool, succeeded, ~
- made the remainder on that material. III
writer possesses two Of these origin
blocks, which, with the unfinished engra
;, ing Of 1867, displays the pioneers wol
done at periods of seventy-fve years apal
Meanwhile young Anderson had studi
medince and graduated at the Medic
G. School Of Columbia College. His the,
on the occasion was "Chronic Mania" q
: doctrine Of which, then firSt promulgat
In due form, has ever since been accept
by the medical profession as correct.
preferred tho practice Of the graphic art
healing art, and pursued both simulantau
ously. Conscientious, and reVersnt Of 7
ternal wishes. he was assduous In his
tentions TO the sick At their homes and
the hospital during the prevalence Of :
yellow fever In New York in l79s. I'll
fearful scourge bereft him Of father, tnoth'
wife, infant son, brother, sister, mothers
lie law, slster-in-law and many dear frien
Is whom he attended in their illness. Ii
Joo. he was utterly desolated. vet, With
sublime faith and equanImity which nel
fOrsook him, he allowed no murmur 70
cape his lips.
. DR.. Anderson had q vivid recollection
''Ths Doctors Mob" the most exeiti
event in the history of the city since I
= evacuation by the British and Tories.
was then lad thirteen yearb cid. 7
mob was the creation Of rnmor. The e
Gems had been much excited BY the fact Il
graves In the Pottsl's Field tnow WsshiI
ton SQusrel, In the negro burying grou
~ between cham5ers and Rsads streets, e
er OF DIodwAy, and ln several churehynr
or had been robbed Of their recent occupan
NC Suspicion was directed toward the hospi
~ on BroAdwsy--ths only one In the citl
a. the recipient Of the Atolan bodies. Q
- day thoughtless student exhibited 70 90
" boys playing near limb from body
was engaged IN dIlssetlng. They told
story Rumors that the bodies from I