New-York tribune., 1902-02-16
FISHKILL LEGENDS
TALES OF ENOCH CROSBY. THE SPY
DUTCH DOMINIE'S WOOING- HOW
THE VILLAGE DANES BOUGHT
TEA AT THEIR OWN PRICE.

It was shortly after tho battle Of Long Island
and the retreat Of the American forces to White
Plains that strong company Of Townsend's rang
ers marched dozen prisoners to the old Dutch
Reformed Church in the village of Fishk and
confined them under guard. The captves We're
'1oyalist" farmers who lived near White Plains.
and the crude American secret service had detected
them in a plot against the cause.
The church Dutch in every architectural
line except, perhaps, the Gothic stcepe. The walls.
built Of rough stone. thick and the house of
worship was changed into a secure place Of con
fnement for prisoners of without much diff
Guilty I'm spite OF the of arched windows
which pierced each side. The willows grouped
about the entrance dropped quite in harmony with
the spirits Of the party under guard. They had
been caught red handed, and it likely go
hard with them. OF the twelve. Enoch Crosby
was considered arch traitor by his guards. He
had grown up in the Fshkil Valley, and his father
and brothers stanch patriots. That very morn
ing he met his old schoolmaster. who, with of
sorrow IN his eyes cursed him for his perfidy.
He Of the first to be taken before the
Committee Of Safety. which was holding its ses-
sons in a neighboring farmhouse Trembling as if
from fear. and with eyes cast down. though the
shame of il had overcome him, Crosby approached
the stern bar of justice. The chains his
kles canked and the faces of the judges stern.
The officer who had conducted him into the
bowed and withdrew
With the closing of the door every face changed.
The judges laughed outright; the prisoner smiled.
II was a situation The committees most trusted
spy was standing before them charged with the
very crime which he had detected in the others at
the risk OF his life John Jay and other members
Of the committee congrat tulated him. consulted as
10 the best mode Of escape. and sent him back TO
prison. At midnight Crosby let himself out OF the
church through window at the northwest corner.
Seated in newly made grave, he filed off his irons
The sentinel the church door had not been
alarmed, but there were others between him and
the swamp in which safety lay. No one outside the
rnr7offf
had 10 the risk Of being shot down as an es-
Gaping prisoner. That the several shots fired
him did not have this effect due TO the poor
aim of the startled sentineIs
His next work lay Newburg. the other
side Of the Hudson, where British officer was en-
rolling men for Lord Howe. Again il was neces-
sary for Crosby TO be included in those "a ptured,
and great was the JOY of Captain Townsend of the
rangers. when he found him among the thirty
Tories captured in barn on the west side of But
ter Hill A member Of the committee who had ac-
companied the rangers for the purpose Of afford
ing the spy chance 70 escape could do nothing,
49,, You o showed WED; Us Iight pair Of heels at Fishkn
but may never be major If 1 don't make them
Ior Crosby; and Townsend carried him "a mile be
John jay He was placed in room by himself
and trusiy soldiers were stationed the door and
meal in many hours. A pretty maid attended to
M ne wants aha me captain drank from bottle Of
her lips. and that enough TO make him SLEEPY
The sentinel at the door received the same atten-
ton. and soon slept at his post. From the cap
tains pocket the girl took the key Of the strong
room and awakened the spy
Follow me" she whispered. Don't say a word
and hold fast TO those ugly things that they don't
make noise"
She pointed TO the chains which bound his wrists
and ankles.
crosby gazed at the slumbering sentinel and as
i was serious crime TO sleep at post in time
he sorry for the fellow.
But ! cannot gl escape At such cost to YOU and
pen when they ind me gone"
Fear nothing for us" she cried. but hasten to
the mountains. She pointed in the direction of old
West Mountain The captain is asleep. and
VIII return the key his pocket The guard will
be awakened before the relief comes"
hearted SPY.
You owe me nothing" she said John Jay is
your friend. Now go,"
Thus did the Committee of Safety care for its
spies in those troublesome times the neutral
ground. Great the mysti6cation Of the
rangers when they found that Crosby had es-