The Van Buren press., 1899-02-18

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 a ma
lions 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, 1878.
Although no trustworthy record of
the facts in the case were kept, hun
dreds of feeble and dying men are be-
lieved to have perished in these fires
Certain 1t 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, IT'S, the Falmouth, the
Hope and the UNANIMOUSLY famous old
Jersey" were anchored in the Walla-
bout and filed with captives from the
American armies. The severity of their
confinement was such that more than
1000 are believed to have died of cold,
starvation and malignant diseases.
The adjacent hillsides, now graded
down and included in the city of Brook
lyn, became a vast cemetery where
these brave patriots were hastily piled
into shallow graves and slightly cov-
cred with earth. In 1903 a tomb was
built to their memory, and a great
quantity of their bleached bones were
collected and inferred within 1t, 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
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 a few eluded their keepers,
reached home and friends, and after
short rest, again Joined the patriot
FORCES in the field. OF these escapes, one
OF the boldest was led by young Con-
neeticut captain, Abel Beman, a cousin
oil Nathan Beman, of Vermont, the boy
who guided Col Ethan Allen ipto Fort
llconderoga when he captured 1t from
the British.
Although Abel Beman was very
small man he seemed to condense In his
little frame the well-known strength
and endurance of his almost gigantic
Mnsman, which, combined with indom-
ltaole 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,
1or at rs he was as beardless and boyish
as lad of 16, and among his friends
was often called boy Beman."
by some misfortune of war he and his
company were captured and lmpris-
oned on the Whitby in the Wallabout
dere he bided his time, and for many
months watched for an opportunity
to escape.
Meanwhile he played before the
guards the role of a harmless, dull
Wltted fellow, and his large hazel eyes,
smooth hfaee and clmple manners gained
lor him many favors sternly refused to
o'her prisoners. He was freely allowed
IN every part of the ship, and oftenas-
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 Of his prison and
.ne methods Of the officers. and shrewd-
y studied the temper and efficiency of
each with view to discovering way
to freedom.
a score Of plans suggested them
selves, but the circumstances surround
.ug him were desperate and forbidding.
Three soldiers with loaded mual1ets