West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-08-01
THE PATRIOT FUGITIVE.
A TALE OF the REVOLUTION.


Comely Mistress Sally Suydam sat on q
low bench beneath the apple-tree in her
back yard, shelling peas. Delicate petals
from the fragrant blossoms overhead
dropped upon her; the bluebird 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
carelessly the soft, brown curls on he,
temples. Before her, on an upturned
pail, rested gaunt old man, with white
hair, and long, bony fingers that were
interlocked over his knobby knee.
"Indeed, " spoke Mistress Suydam, con.
tinuing her conversation, ''it is hard that
Abner should be so long away from his
home and in peril of his life. but Inc
would be no true American did he lao NJ
his wife's apron string when his country
has need of him. And, of truth, in.
stead of repining should rejoice daily
that he is still alive and at liberty.
think l would rather hear that he had
fallen on the field than that he was q
prisoner in the cruel hands of the Brit.
ish--"
In that Jersey prison ship. Verify,
it is wondrous that men endure to live in
that hell upon earth If the half that is
told of it be true"
'"The half Of its horrors hath not been
toldP exclaimed suppressed but dis.
unct voice, from the clump of lilac bushe.
behind Mistress Suydam. The good dame
gave little jump and an exclamation OF
alarm, while the gaunt man sprang to hi.
feet. Peering in the direction of the
voice, they saw under the bushes. close
to the ground, the haggard, yellow face
of man with great wild eyes and tangled
hair and beard.
"Who are you, and what want YOU
herel" demanded Mistress Suydam.
stoutly.
Robert jameson; fugitive from the
jersey prison-shi am /, and sore in need
OF all that man may need to live"
"Come forth, man; come forth. Yor
shall need no longer here" responded
the old man earnestly, going toward
him.
''Back--backl Keep your distance,
mani There is death in my garments
the poison OF the prison-fever. Stand
aloof; but pray you lay some food where
may get it without coming anigh you. y
While he spoke Mistrcs Suydam re.
6ected, 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 El.
iis--a suit of her soldier husbands cloth.
ing, she instructed him to see that the
fugitive, after casting away his infected
garments, bathed in the creek at the foot
Of the garden, and then put on the clean
Taiment, by which time she would have q
good breakfast ready for him.
When Jameson's hunger had been an.
peased, he told his story:
81 was taken prisoner through the
running down Of the boat was in on the
Hudson, aud was put aboard the prison
ship three months ago. The night be.
fore last / sprang overheard, being will.
ing rather to die than live longer there
but coming ashore little below the tide.
mill, managed to make my way into the
country, and since then, hiding when
could, and running when I dared, I have
fled thus far, eating nothing until now.
How anxiously listened 70 your speech.
TO learn II ye were friends or foesi6
us life on the prison-ship indeed So
terrible rs men say3" asked Mistress Suy.
dam.
"Only the dead have learned al its
horrors, but the living there know
enough 70 madden them Twelve hun.
dred men arc crowded in n space that
would not suffice for the healthful keep.
ing Of one-fourth 70 many. They arc
scantily fed upon tainted meat and vcr-
min infested bread, 50 that violent and
fatal disorders are rife among them.
The dreaded fever hath broken out, and
50 rnges that at times as many az two
hundred die Of IL in a night. Through
sheer maiignity the British officers refuse
water even 70 those parchcd with tho
fever, and find sport In seeing their burn
ing thirst drive them mad. Often In the
inky darkness Of the lower gun-deck.
where they are confined at night, the
startling cry Is heard Look to your
selves One here hath gone mad and he
hath q knife And the mailman, know
ing not what he does, slashos right and
left with his weapon, until IN self-defense
they must kin him.-and Oh that 10 the