Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1898-08-26

ont with both lists to make an opening
and knocked down two OF the oi1icere.
In an instant | was through the doce
aud had il locked on the inside. NJ.
purpose was to cut off the bell roye
and use that to escape with while to
door was being broken open, but whom
| went upstairs found a coil Of rope,
so took that instead.
Iopeued l berry window aud, after
fastening the rope, slid gown on the
roof below. Here / cut of the rope
with my dagger as high as / could
reach aud left the end hanging, run
ming along the roof to the rear with
the rest. | fastened the rope to pro-
ljection aud, crawling over the edge,
slid to the ground without the least
trouble. Running up towards the
front of the church l dropped one Of
my gloves, which had worn up to this
time, in Milk street and the other
around the corner ON Marlborough
street j did this to give pursuers the
idea that had gone towards the com
mon, as that was the most likely place
for man to try to escape to the op-
I posite shore. This ruse, as | subse-
I quently learned from deserter, worked
I El,erfectly. The gloves were of an un-
usual color aud having been noticed
2 by the officers in the church were rec
ognized when found. Lieutenant
Harry was so anxious to capture me
himself that he negfscted to have the
guards yarneito be on the watch,
and this was another thing in my
favor
After dropping MY gloves / ran
through lane below the church to
Water Street. l INTENDED to work my
way down to the boat from there, but,
after eluding several guards, found
myself in King street by the Town
House, called the State nonse after
the war. Here ! was startled by a
cry of ''Halti Who goes there?'' |
WIS Just getting ready to run when an
answer came from in front OF the
building, Citizen, with pass. "
Come here and show il, " ordered the
guard. As you may know, the Town
House is set right in the mi idle Of
hing street with an open space all
around it. went around in this
sp6ee to position where could see
the two men without being seen by
/ them. Theguard looked at the pass,
said ''all right and then, giving it
back, went up Queen street ont of
sight watched the citizen while he
stood still, with bundle on the ground
at his feet, carefully foldiug the paper
up, aud the idea came Into my head
that could use that pass. He was
facisg ME, so l ran around the building
to the other side. The man was lust
putting the pass in his pocket as /
came insight again. | never liked to
hit man from behind, but this was a
case Of necessity, and so | struck him
hard, iust behind the right ear, with
my fist. He fell with hardly a sound,
add quickly tied his feet with his
belt and his hands behind him with
TIE rope from the bundle he had been
carrying. In the bundle / found a
piece of cloth, among other things,
and tied this over the mans mouth to |
Keep him from making any noise when
he recovered. Then l secured the |
sliass and placed him and his bundle in |
tile deep doorway OF the Town House.
Z ] decided to go at once to the boat,
using the pass to get by any guards l |
should meet. At the first lamp in the
street stopped to read the pass. It |
ran as follows:
Head Quarters, Boston, 3rd Jan, ,1776.
The bearer. Nath'l Cushman, citi.
zen. has His Excellency the Com |
mander-in- Chiefs permission to go |
about inside the advanced lines at any |
tonight. = a IA: URouHARr,
Town Major.
To all concerned
| smiled as | thought how near
Nathaniel Cushman was to my name |
and after putting the paper away \
started on At Water street / was
challenged by guard and showed |
him the pass, which he took under a
light to read. "Are you Nathaniel
Cushman?n he asked. 1 answered 1
"Yes." He didn't seem to be salts
fed, bnt said, ''How do I know you
are? Can you prove it?" / had a
habit Of standing with the weight OF |
my body on my right foot and my left |
hand on the hilt of my sword. As /
stood trying to think of some plan Of |
action a assumed this position aud one |
finger came in contact with the dent
made by the bullet at Bunker Hill. |
"Yes," | replied, there is my name
engraved here, andI drew my sword,
Except that part Of it has been
rubbed out by rebel bullet He !
read the words on the handle, s'Nathan-
iel Cush h-" and then thought mo
ment, while | stood with the rapier in
my right hand. Then he said, 81 /
suppose you're all right Go along"
He never knew it, but these words
saved his life, for was all ready to
run him through ii he decided TO ar-
rest me or call for help. proceeded |
on my way, while the guard went up |
Water street. and soon came near
where my boat was. / was congratu- |
lating myself on my escape, when | |
heard the sound of man running |
along the street behind me. / sup |
posed that the guard had changed |
his mind an9 was pursuing me, so | |
started to run. Up to this time the |
sky had been cloudy, but now. as [
was running by field, the moon came
out brightly / looked back and was
astonished to see that my pursuer was
none other than Lieutenant Barry. |
thought'our little affair might as well |
be settled now as any time and so
turned into the field. l drew my
sword and stood on guard waiting for
my enemy. He came up painting and
seemed to be delighted to find me
ready to fight.
He came at me savagely, aud as soon
as our swords met, with feint and a
quick, strong turn Of the wrist the
Frenchman had taught me, sent his
weapon flying through the air. saying
at the same time, Il noticed You we're
out q breath, lieutenant We will go
on when you are in better condition. "
He glared at me aud went slowly to
pick np his sword. We came together
aoain buf This time he vrae mora eara