Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-08-28
COOPER'S SPY.
His Name was Undoubtedly
EnOch Crosby.
HIS TOMBSTONE In EAST NEW YORK
He Was Born at Harwich, Massachusetts
But His People Moved to the
Empire State.

Birch" the hero of Cooper's famous
novel. was born at Harwich. Mass,
January 4, 1850. About the middle
of the last century a very extensive
migration took place from Barnstable
county, Mass, to the tract known as
the "Oblong," in the eastern part of
New York. and among the new settlers
was Thomas Crosby, the father of the
"Spy."
When the Revolution was fairly be.
gun the colony of New York organized
a Provincial Congress, which was
the recognized government. A Com
mittee of Safety was appointed. consist
ing of John Jay. Zethaniah Platt. Will
liam Duer and John Saokett, whose
duty it was to counterfeit the plans and
intrigues of the tories, who abounded
and embraced many men of high stand
ing and influence. Resolving to enter
the service of his country, Crosby
shouldered his knapsack and took his
way to the headquarters of the Ameri-
can army.
While on his lonely walk through
Westchester county he fell in with
tory, who supposed Crosby to be one
also, on his way to join the British,
and the stranger cautioned him as to
the danger of the way, ''as the rebels
were on the alert. Crosby, with
affected concern, inquired what course
would be the best to pursue and was
advised to go with him to his home
and go down to the British with
company then forming. Seeing in this
a very favorable opportunity to strike
a blow for his country, he accepted the
invitation and was soon introduced to
a number of men who were bitterly
hostile to the friends of liberty. In
three days, he had made himself
master of all the information they
could communicate. and pretending
to be impatient to join the enemy and
despite many warnings, he took his
leave and was soon out of sight on the
road to New York. fastening as
quickly as possible to the house of a
Mr.. Young, well-known patriot, they
went together to White Plains, where
the Committee of Safety was then
sitting, and were soon in the presence
of Judge John Jay and his associates.
Crosby was instructed to go as guide
to company of rangers, and the re-
suit was that the whole Of the tory
gang were arrested.
Judge Jay, seeing his peculiar abil-
ity, urged him to serve his country as
secret agent, and to this he agreed,
only STIMULATING that in case of his
death they should do justice to his
memory. He received pass, which
he was instructed never to show except
in case of dire necessity. In any
battle or skirnlish he was to run the
risk of being killed or wounded, but it
was expressly understood that if he
was taken prisoner the committee
would furnish means for his escape.
His real adventures would make
volume far larger than the famous
novel that purports to relate them.
Equipped with peddler's pack con-
tanning a complete set of shoemaker's
tools, he sailed out on his dangerous
mission, and soon found company of
tories about to join the British, and re-
solved to be one of them. Gaining
the confidence of the leader, he was
conducted to the hiding-place of the
company, which was in the interior
of an immense haystack. While the
rest were asleep Crosby fastened to
White Plains, and, informing the
committee, returned Immediately be-
fore his comrades had learned of his
absence. The result was the capture
of the entire company, Crosby among
the rest. After examination the
prisoners were returned 20 the Church
in Fishkill, which was their temporary
prison, but Crosby was secretly in
formed that certain window was left
unfastened. AS soon as darkness
came he availed himself of his infor-
nation, leaped from the window, and.
though fred upon by the sentinels.
he was again at large in region where
he new the roads perfectly.
Captain Townsend, who commanded
the company that captured him, was
much chagrined at his escape. as he
was considered by all except the COM
mittee very dangerous tory. His
next exploit was the discovery of an
other company which was recruited by
a British officer and had their rendez-
vous in the Highlands, ON the west of
the Hudson river. He soon found
means to send word to the committee,
who quickly dispatched Captain Town
send with his company of rangers. In
the skirmish that ensued the whole
band was captured. and Captain
Townsend was overjoyed to find among
them the prisoner who had escaped
him at Fishkill.
Crosby and all the rest were taken
to Fishkill, but while the others were
confined in the church, Crosby was
taken to house where Captain
Townsend had his quarters. and who
was fully determined that he should
not escape again, and. to make sure,
had him confined in room strongly
with n puard at ths door