The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-11-20

ANOTHER VERSION or The INCIDENT
MADE FAMOUS ~ WHITTIER.

~ ~ Younger oman VINO waved
the Flag ~ the confederstes-Bow bar
bsrs Came co Get the Credit-Ths Char
scter and Home Of Barbara Freitobis.
IL seems pity 10 upset 40 pretty
picture as the one drawn by Whittier
Of the aged Barbara Freitchie waving
the stars and stripes over the heads Of
the rebel hosts as they marched through
Frederick. but truth oompels the state
ment that Barbara only displayed the
dag after the arrival Of the Federal
troops while younger woman dared
the rebelL without. however. being
hrsd upon.
Barbara's maiden name waS Haner,
and she was born on Dec. ., 1890,
In Lancaster. Pa Her family moved 10
Frederick. Ma. when shs was q child,
and In 1905 shs married John Casper
Freitchie. Ons Of her relatives now iiv-
ing In Frederick 10 authority for the
following statement;
"Barbars was intensely patriotic.
and in September, iSea, when the
Union soldiers drove the rebels out Of
Frederick, Barbara manifested her de-
light BY standing at her window with q
silk nag In her hand. Owing TO her nd.
vanoed ago NEARLY 96) she Attracted Q
great deal Of attention, both officers and
privates breaking rsnks 10 shake her by
the hand. For three hours she continued
BY the window. until. becoming exhaust
Cd. she was persuaded TO come in and
rest Earlier In the day q younger wo-
man had waved . small Union flag
from house In the same street while
the rebels were passing. She was NOT
fred upon, however.
"In the excitement following q, the
retreat Of the rebels the two incidents
became blended together. and resident
Of the town, writing to Mrs X. d. e. N.
Southworth, treated them ~ ona Mrs.
Southworth. feeling that she could not
do justice 70 the theme. wrote IN. 90
count Of II 10 tho poet Whittier, who
stretching poets license TO the limit
peuned the well known verses entitled
Barbara Freitchie.'
"Barbnra's home was situated on
West Patrick street, on the east bank Of
Carroll creek. Directly oppcite was the
town spring, whose waters still bubble
mp a. refreshingly a. they did through all
the years Of our bitter strife. Whichever
party held Frederick was sure TO be rep
resented BY its soldiers at that spring.
There during hot summer days they
would lounge In the shade Of BarbaYa's
stoop. II 10 were the boys In blue. aha
was very gracious and would come down
and lend them her tumblers or her dip
per and give them bisouits. but not 20
the Confederates, whom shs would drive
from her premises on order from her
portico with . majestic motion Of her
came, her great age protecting her from,
insolence or harm.
Barbara died on Dec. 1S. 1852, at
the ago Of % years and 10 days She
was buried beside her husband In the
German Reformed church yard Of Fred
erick.
"In 1868 Q food did q great deal Of
damage to property on West Patrick
street. and Barbara's house was CON-
demned and torn down 10 widen Carroll
creek. The carpenter who RACED the
house made canes Of the balustrade and
sold them. One was sent 10 General
Grant AZ q souvenir.
"After Barbara's death there was q
sale Of q portion Of her furniture, and il
was my pleasure a few years since to see
q bedstead owned by her in an uphol-
sterer's store. Old fashioned, severely
plain and simple. should have passed
10 hundred times without noticing IL
had my attention not been called TO Il
BY the storekeeper, who told me he had
purchased ID from . Frederick dealer
upon sworn afidavit as TO its genu-
ipeness. The bed on which she died 10
now owned and used BY q grcat-great-
nephew. Her sideboard 10 the property
Of another nephew.
1.-THE historic silk nsg Is In the pos
session of the niece who stood upon
that memorable occasion by Barbara's
side while the latter held IL In her hand;
also among her priceless treasures this
same niece values q blue china coffee
pot which was the property Of Barbara,
and from which coffee was served to
General Washington when he visited
Frederick In 1891. Upon that occasion
Washington spent the night ct Mrs
Kimbal's hotel. where the City hotel
now standa and Barbara Freitchie
brought her Liverpool china 70 grace
the table.
"whittier painted truthfuIiy whom
he said;
"The clustered spires of Frederick stand
Green walled BY the hills Of Maryland.
"Singularly enough. the churches
are all grouped together within .
stones throw Of each other. Barbara
was member Of the German Reformed.
with DR.. Zacharias a. pastor. A few
years after the war he was interviewed
BY some admirers Of Whittier's exqui-
site lines. 'Ah. yes, answered the doctor
tenderly, I was Barbara Freitchie's
pastor for nearly 30 years. ] handed her
the cup and the bread. Al our COM
munion service she always partook, ~
had been her lifelong habit. standing,
and afteYward Was sure TO shake hands
cordially with her pastor.
Livingstone's Boyhood.