The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-10-15
ANDRE, THE MAHryR-srY.
"A TouchiSg Romance of tho Ameri
can Revolution.

New York Mail and Express.
IL was u tragedy, but IA tragedy sane
tilted and gloritied by an aura of pit,
and pathos, of, poetry anu romance
which was enacted at Taphan on the
Hudson, 115 years ago to-asn,~-Sie
story of Major John Andre is one of the
most touching themes of the Reyolu.
waiting manners, his varied and grace
ful accomplishments, his love for his
Honora, his calm courage in the face
OF an ignoble death, all combine to
| move world to sympathy, and to i'm
oue the literature of two ispheres
with the tenderest tributes to his
memory. Even his captors and his
eXecutioners wept at his uutimely fate,
while Westminster Abbey, the final
amoltlon OF monarchs, statesmen, poets
ana warriors, gathered his ashes under
Its wall and commentaries his name
in marble.
Anc yet he was spy. In conspiracy
with despicable traitor. Andre
schemed to buy with gold what steel
bad failed to win West Point, the
key OF the Hudson, and the last hope
OF the American cause. Under an
assumed name and in disguise he was
captured within an enemys lines, and
reasonable documents were found con-
brlbe his captors as he had bribed the
recreant hero of Saratoga, failed. He
was capture1 as spy, tried and con-
vlcted as spy, and hanged as u spy.
a shameful and ignominiuus death, in
deed, but war is war. and its stern
DEGREES are as immutable and inexora-
Bile as those of Fate.
The story is a familiar one. a story
in which, after more than "a century.
"a ~ for ,,t Of /
est. John Andre was a brilliant. ac-
compllshed, chivalric and ambitious
young adjutant in the army of Sir
Henry Clinton, then in possession of
New York and lower Westchester.
Benedict Arnold, smarting under a
reprimand of Congress, was in com
mand OF the strong garrison at West
Polnt. These two men, under the NOM
de plumes of John Anderson nad
'Gustavus, entered into Il reasonable
correspondence for the surrender of
West Point to the enemy. end thereby
practically to close the WI for inde-
pehIenee.--1As "a 99ti Was arranged.
Andre was brought up the Hudson by
the sloop Vulture, and in thcket be-
low Haverstraw, in the darkness of
September q. 1880, Arnold and Andre
met. Seven Thousand pounds and q
orlgadier generalship in the British
army were to be the price OF West
Point. Arnold provided John Ander-
son" with q pass through tho American
lines and gave him full information as
to the armament and defense of West
Point, and how the sham capture was
to be effected. These discriminating
papers were concealed in Andres
stockings. The next day he crossed
the river to Verplank's Point. accom-
panied by Joshua Smith, vt whose
house on Treason Hill' he had STAYED
the night before. They rode south
ward along the river road through the
American lines, Arnold's pass seeming
to disarm suspicion. Remaining ali
night of the 22d within the enemy's
lines at Crum Pond, he marched on the
next morning happy, garrnIous and
tuneful. AT Pines Bridge, Smith left
him to go on alone. Through Sing
Sing and Sparta, past the old Sleepy
Hollc - church, the young major
blith y rode and approached bridge
over thc little brook near parrytowu,
which was to be his fatal Rubicon.
There he was halted by three young
minute men, Paulding. Williams and
Van Vert, whom Andre at first mis-
took for friends, and incantiously de-
clared his identity. Percciving his
mistake, he presented Arnolds pass,
but their suspicions being then
aroused, on Il careful search, the trea-
sonable papers were discovered.
Princely bribes were offered, but
spurned, but Andre was taken first to
West Point, then to Washington's
headquarters at Tappan, on the west
august tribunal, including Lafayette
and Steuben, tried Andre by court
martial. He was adjudged guilty and
condemned to the halter us IL spy.
Every effort was made by the British
officers to save him. but IN vain. An
DIRE, undisturbcd by fear of death, ask
ed only to die as a soldier, and not as a
spy But the stern rules of war again
lnterposed. Il pray You 10 bear wit
ness that | meet my fate ike Il brave
man." were his last words, AS at noon
on Saturday, October >, 1850, the band
age settled over his eyes and shut out
forever the light Of The world.
1t has been counted by many blot
upon the fame Of Washington that he
listened to the prompLln%s Of policy
and justice, and not to those of mercy.
He was called Il ''remorsclcss mur~
derer," and Miss Annie Seward,
Andres friend, denounced in poetry
his Nero thirst for guiltlcas blood"
In the British army the widest indig-
nation broke out against the American
general. The execution ~of Nathan
Hale in New York, onyy four years be-
fore, under c0nditlOnY more cruel and
circumstances almost rs pathetic, was
entirely forgotten by them In the viru-
lence of thei' condemnation. Yet we
know from concurrent testimony that
Washington's kind ueart was pro-
foundly moved. and that he would
have prevented the sacrifice, had not
the gravest public necessity demanded
IT,. He even refused 10 meet the brave
young spy, lest pity ana sorrow might
overcome his sense OF duty to his coun-
try.
Major Andre was buried at Tappan,
but in lS32 his remains were taken to
West.n nsLer Abbey. where Il splendid
memorial commentaries his virtues
and his untimely death. His broJhSM
was knightcd. and various mem bog OF
his family received marks of flavor
from the crown. Not even A1re has
his memory bccA furgottpE. Several
years ago Cyrus W. FITd erected a
monument TO his memory upon the
! place Of his execution, and although
vandal hands frustrated his benevolent
| design, condemnation Of the icono-
elastic deed WAS general and severe.
Andres captOrs, too, were" richly
rewal ded in life, and their deed per-
| petuated after their death. Medals
from Congress. grants OF coniiscated
lands in Westchcstcr. honOrs during