The Monticellonian., 1899-02-17


 and looking out over the Wallabout, re- calls somethi E of the sad history con nected wif this little bay and the mis- cries suffered by our patriot soldiers during Washington's battles for a na- tion's 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 year both were burned. one in October, TIT, 8he other in February, ITS.
 Although no trustworthy record of 4he facts in the case were kept, hun slreds of feeble and dying men are be- 4ieyed to have perished in these fires. Certain it is that the one in February occurred in the night, when the wealth CT was intensely cold, so that. if efforts were made to save the prisoners. no more 1SsP partial success was possible.
 In 1Sil, ITS, the Falmouth, the Hopeind the "infamously famous old Jersey" were anchored in the Walla- bout and filled with captiyes from the American armies. The severity of their confinement was such that more than II ,000 are believed te haye died of cold, starvation and mali.<. it diseases. ss'',ie adjacent hiEst,.es, now graded down and included i(atl city of Brook lyn, became a vast cemetery where these brave patriots were hastily piled rbo IIor, r1trb.l,+ cred with earth. In 1908 tomb was built to their memory, and 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.
 It is not surprising that among such d host of liberty=loying prisoners there should have been some who made bold attempts at escape. Not many were successful, yet by fearful risks and bardships a few eluded their keepers, reached home and friends, and after q short rest. again joined the patriot forces in the field. Of these escapes, one of the boldest was led by young Con necticut captain, Abel Beman, q cousin of Nathan Beman, of Vermont, the boy who guided Col. Ethan Allen ipto Fort Ticonderoga when he captured it from the British.
 Although Abel Beman was very
 II ] ] I little frame the well-known strength and endurance of his almost gigantic linsman, which, combined with indom- itable courage and will, was no doub, the reason for his selection as captain in the colonial army. But the qualities of the man were not on the surface, for at 25 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 hi. company were captured and impris- oned on the Whtby 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 a harmless, dull witted fellow, and his large hazel eyes, smooth face and eimple manners gained for hinAnany favors stetg feFefused to other p1 1soners. 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 eonver- sant with the details Of his prison and the methods of the officers. and shrewd- ly studied the temper and efficiency of each with a view to discovering a way 10 freedom.
 A score of plans suggested them selves, but the circumstances surround ing him were desperate and forbidding Three soldiers with loaded niuskets