Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-09-05
THE FUGITIVE.
A Long Island Legend Of the
Revolution.

| on low bench beneath the apple-trce
in her back yard, Smelling peas. Deli
cate petals from the fragrant blossoms
overhead dropped upon her; the blue
bird perched upon the hollow stump
hard by sang to her song Of spring
and sunshine; the fresh morning
breeze, that made ripples all across
the golden surface OF Flushing Bay TO
mark its progress, came to lift caress-
ingly the soft, brown curls on her
temples. Before her. on an upturned
pail, rested gaunt old man. with
white hair, and long, bony fingers that
We're interlocked over his knobby
knee.
Indeed" spoke Mistress Suydam,
continuing her conversation, "it is
hard that Abner should be so long
away from his home and in peril OF
his life, but he would be no true
American did he lag at his wife's
apron-string when his country has
need of him. And. OF a truth. instead
Of repining | should rejoice daily that
he is still alive and at liberty. |
think | would rather hear that he had
fallen on the field than that he was a
prisoner in the cruel hands of the
! British"
''ln that Jersey prison-ship. Verify,
it is wondrous that men endure to
live in that hell upon earth ii the half
that is told OF it be true
"The half Of its horrors hath not
been toldr exclaimed a suppressed
| but distinct voice. from the clump Of
lilac-bushes behind Mistress Suydam,
The good dame gave a little jump
and an exclamation Of alarm, while
the gaunt man sprang to his feet.
| Peering in the direction Of the voice.
| they saw under the bushes, close to
the ground the haggard, yellow face
of a man with great, wild eyes and
tangled hair and beard.
WHO are you, and what want you
here?' demanded Mistress Suydam.
stoutly.
Robert jameson; fugitive from
the Jersey prison-ship am |. and sore
in need Of all that man may need to
live"
Come forth. maa, come forth. You
shall need no longer here" responded
the old man, earnestly. going toward
him.
Back back Keep your distance.
man! There is death in my garments
the poison Of the prison-iever. Stand
aloof; but ! pray you lay some food
where | can get it without coming
anigh you
While he spoke Mistress Suydam re-
lected, and when he had ceased.
quickly took the ordering of affairs in
her hands. Giving to the old man.
who was none other than the patriot.
parson Egbert Elisa suit of her
soldier-husband's clothing, she in
structed him ia see that the fugitive,
after casting away his infected gar
ments, bathed ia the creek at the foot
Of the garden, and then put on the
clean raiment by which time she
would have a good breakfast ready for
him-,and with the clothing she sent a
generous glass Of rum, to keep him
warm in his bath
When .Jameson's hunger had been
appeased. he told his story:
81 was taken prisoner through the
running down of the boat | was in ON
the Hudson, and was put aboard the
prisOn-ship three months ago. The
night before last | sprang overheard
being willing rather to die than live
longer there; but coming ashore lit
tie below the tide-mill, | managed TO
make my way into the country, and
since then, hiding when ! could. and
running when | dared, have fed thus
far, eating nothing until now. How
anxiously listened to your speech.
to learn if We were friends or foes!"
as life on the prison-ship indeed so
terrible as men say asked Mistress
Suydam.
Only the dead have learned all its
horrors. but the living there know
enough to madden them Twelve
hundred men are crowded in a space
that would not suffice for the health
full keeping OF one-fourth so many.
They are scantily fed upon tainted
meat and vermin-infested bread, SO
that violent and fatal disorders are
rife among them The dreaded fever
hath broken out. and SO RACES that az
times as many two hundred die OF it
in a night Through sheer malignity
the British officer refuse water even
to those parched with the fever, and
find sport in seeing their burning
thirst drive them mad Often in tho
inky darkness OF the lower gun-deck.
where they are confined at night. the
startling cry is heard. Look to your
selvesl One here hath gone mad and
he hath knife Ard tho mailman,
knowing not what he does. slashes
right and left with hi wcapoG until
in se'f-defcuso they must i,il. him
and all that In tic dark. Ana tnat
much amuses the British officers
lord, let death seize upon them,
and let them 20 down quick into he'll. "
CALCULATED the pastor, in fervent quo
tation of the Psalmist
"Amenm responded Jameson be-
tween his clinched teeth, continuing
his narrative. 1T is a common sport
with them TO cast apples among the
prisoners 30 set them fighting. Tho
wretched men. whose minds arc weak
ened by their sutferings. seem mad
dened at sight OF the tempting fruit,
and will beat aud tear each other, with
claws aud teeth, like starving. fayen-
GUS beasts. to get possession Of it,
whereat the British officers laugh
heartily and enjoy themselves might
ly."
Lord. let burning Goals fall upon
them; let them be cast into the fire,
into deep pits. that they rise not up
again, broke forth the parson.
''Men are shot down like dogs by
the sentries, who act under orders, ex-
cuse therefor being found in the slight
est breach Of discipline
"Woe unto the wicked! II shall be
I'll with him. for the reward Of his
hands shall be given him"
again and again a cartel hath come
for an exchange Of prisoners, and
those upon whom Deaths hand is al
ready laid have been sorted out to
send away, while those with more life
in them were nut back with the cruel