The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-02-16
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consider his err
rand accomplished
until he. takes his stand next the river,
and looking out over the Wallabout, re-
calls something of the sad history con-
nected with this little bay and the mis-
cries suffered by our patriot soldiers
during Washington's battles for ma
TONS freedom.
Here, in October, 1776, was moored a
British prison ship, the Whitby, crowd
ed with American patriot prisoners,
termed rebels by the English. Six
months later two other floating jails
Joined the Whitby, and within a year
both were burned, one in October, 1777,
the other in February, ITS.
Although no trustworthy record of
the facts in the case were kept, hun
dreds of feeble and dying men are be-
lieved to have persisted in these fires.
Certain it is that the one in February
occurred in the night, when the wealth
er was intensely cold, so that, if efforts
were made to save the prisoners, no
more than partial success was possible.
In April, 1778, the Falmouth, the
Hope and the UNANIMOUSLY famous old
Jersey" were anchored in the Walla-
bout and filled with captives from the
American armies. The severity of their
confinement was such that more than
1900 are believed to have died of cold.
starvation and malignant diseases.
The adjacent hillsides, now graded
down and included in the city of Brook
Ign, became a vast cemetery where
these brave patriots were hastily piled
into shallow graves and slightly COW
cred with earth. In 1908 tomb was
built to their memory, and a great
quantity of their bleached bones were
collected and inferred within it, with
solemn ceremonies, in the presence of
vast throngs of people. Over the door
to this structure was inscribed:
Portal to the Tomb of Patriot Pris-
oners who died in prison ships during
the Revolution"
1t is not surprising that among such
a host of liberty-loving prisoners there
should have been some who made bold
attempts at escape. Not many were
successful, yet by fearful risks and
hardships few eluded their keepers,
reached home and friends, and after
a short rest, again joined the patriot
forces in the field. Of these escapes, one
of the boldest was led by a young Con-
necticut captain, Abel Beman, a cousin
of Nathan Beman, of Vermont, the boy
who guided Col. Ethan Allen into Fort
Ticonderoga. when he captured it from
the British.
Although Abel Beman was a very
small man he seemed to condense in his
little frame the well-known strength
and endurance of his almost gigantic
kinsman, which, combined with indom-
liable courage and will, was no doubt
the reason for his selection as captain.
in the colonial army. But the qualities
of the man were not ON the surface.
for at rs he was as beardless and boyish
as a lad of 16, and among his friends
was often called ''Boy Beman."
By some misfortune of war he and his
company were captured and impris-
oned on the Whitby in the Wallabout.
Here he bided his time, and for many
months watched for an opportunity
to escape.
Meanwhile he played before the
guards the role of harmless, dull.
witted fellow, and his large hazel eyes,
smooth face and simple manners gained
for him many favors sternly refusedto
other prisoners. He was freely allowed
in every part of the ship, and often as
sisted the guards in various ways and
even handled their guns and accoutre-
ments with innocent familiarity.
Thus ingratiating himself into their
confidence. he readily became CONVEX
SAINT with the details Ct his prison and
the methods of the officers, and shrewd-
ly studied the temper and efficiency of
each with a view to discovering q way
to freedom.
A score of plans suggested them
selves, but the circumstances surround
ing him were desperate and forbidding.
Three soldiers with loaded muskets
stood at each end of the ship, and row
of them lined the rail on either side.
Around the shores of the bay stretched
Gordon of pickets, while several frig.
ates were moored in the river, and bris-
tied with shotted cannon ready to bel.
low away at any moment But for the
vast magnitude Of these difficulties he
would have liberated all the prisoners
on the Whitby, over thousand in mum
Der. Indeed, one magnificent attemp.
was made, but failed. s..
On a dark night the guards were
overcome and confined below decks
without q shotsor an cutlery; then the
anchors were lifted and the shipwas al
lowed 70 drift, in the hope that she