The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-09

Cumbcilcnd county, North Carolina was the scene of tragic events and deeds of the loftiest courage, and 1t is with Cum ber1and that the romantic history of Flora is associated during her residence ii this country. Her romantic life ex- cited the imagination of J. Seawell Jones in his Defense of North Carolina" of Mrs Elliott in her 'Women of the Rev. olution" and William II. Foote in his Sketches of North Carolina" But, like Mir Wheeler, I have studiously avoided any allurenent to draw upon the fancy and deal cnly in facts and figures as found them in the original papers or au- thentic copies thereof to be found in the splendid histories of John Burk, 1894 and John H. Wheeler Both rare and of great value.
 The high hopes and vaulting ambition of Charles Edward Stuart, grandson of James IT., to follow the line of Stuarts on the English throne were plotted out for ever as the sun went down on the fatal field of Culloden, on April 16, TAG. In 174 Williamson) Neal MacNeal, chief of elan from the west highlands of Scotland, purchased large body of land hear Cross Creek (now Faye.te- vile. N. @ which he settled with five or six hundred colonists, who wore the plaid and the tartan. Embarrassed hy pecuniary plattors at home, and cncour- aged by glowing reports from the high landers who had fiocked to the Cape Fear. in l175, Allan Macdonald and Flora left lionne Scotland, and in due time, landed in North Carolina, at Fayetteville. The history of Flora Mac dunald has been connected with the escape of Charles Ed ward from the English. The pretender had sought concealment in the highland glens, a price had been set upon his head, and he was hunted from mountain to dell, and from crag to cavern. Escape seemed impossible. Flora was on a visit to this part of Scotland from Millbury, on her return from Edinburgh, and it was sug- gested that the prince should be array ed in female dress, and return as Flora's waiting maid. But even this step was dangerous and difficult. Every place was watched by the troops of the arrogant Duke of Cumberland. Flora's own father in-law, Captain Hugh Macdonald, was one of the officers in search She, how ever obtained from him a passport for herself, her youthful companion, Neal Macdonald and for Betty Bourke,' stout Irish woman and three others
 "On the 2Sth of June, 1746 they embark ed from List to the Isle of Skye. Af- ter mucbf danger, they landed at Kill bride, in the Parish of Laird of Sleite. The laird was from home, and the house was filled with officers searching for the royal fugitive. By advice of Lady Mac donald, to whom Flora confided her se- cret, she set Out with her suit forthwith for Kingsborough, her own home, where they rested safe from danger and fatigue. The next morning Flora accompanied the prince to Potarre, and there they part ed" He finally escaped with Neal Mac donald to France, a son of whom was distnguised in the French revolution or l791 to 1794. He became one or Napo- Icons celebrated marshals, and Tor ms gallantry-ever conspicuous in van ana onset-Napoleon created him Duke or Tarentum The unfortunate stuart Charles Edward,-never returned to his native land. He died in France in 17SS. The English government was highly in- censed that it's officers and force at arms had been overthrown by the tact and tenderness of woman alone, and Flora was arrested, with Allan Macleod-whose mack the prince had carried on his should CTS: McKinnon of Straith, who had re- ceiyed him from Macleod, and Macdonald of Kingsburgh. She was taken to Seith, removed thence to Commodore Smiths ship and conveyed to Lenore, and after I've months on shipboard was trans ferred to the custody of the messenger, Dick where she remained until Juy. She was confined in prison and tried for high treason. The youth and chvalric daring of Flora created strong feeling in her favor. Impulsivehumanity of