Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1906-01-04
"a HIST HIST ORIG J e, BRRANliEli !
CAESAR RoDNEY's GREAT HORSE
BACK RIDE IN 1916.

BACK RIDE IN lI1o.
Msw the Declaration Of IDdepend-
suce was saved by Vote In the
Session OF the Provision Al Congress,
In Philadelphia.
It happened on that famous Fourth
OF July, 1776, the day on which the
American colonies were declared free
and independent states If Caesar Rod
ney had not made his historic ride there
might not have been any free America
today.
The provisional congress was in SEES
sion ut philadelphia, each OF the thir-
teen colonies having representatives
there. 1t WAS a great congress. and
molnentous question was before the
distinguished body. The great charter
OF our freedom had been written by
Jefferson. and Benjamin HARRISON fae
ther aud t-grandfather of presi-
dents. had presented 1t to congress on
Monday, July /. What would the Con,
tinentai congress do?
In order that our country should be
free and independent the declaration
must he adopted This could be done ii
only the colonies We're divided. and
there were some good men who did not
believe ii best to take this step at this
time, Four Of the seven delegates of
Pennsylvania were opposed to it, and,
OF the two Delaware delegates present,
Thomas Mexican was in favor of indie
penlence but George Read was OPP
posed to the measure. Caesar Rodney,
the other member, was In the southern
gpart OF his state In the capacity OF q
brigadier general, organizing and drill
Ing troops for the coming struggle,
Two Of the opposing Pennsylvania
delegates We're persuaded to absent
themselves, and thus the Keystone
State would favor the declaration, but
the vote Of Caesar Rodney was neces-
sary to carry the state Of Delaware,
A messenger was dispatched In hot
haste to summon him to Philadelphia,
and then for four days the patriots
Of re. talked and maneuvered to de-
lay the final vote, On Thursday. July
4, congress was to vote on the mo
mentous question.
On the afternoon of the Sd the
messenger found Caesar Rodney in
Sussex county, more than eighty miles
from Philadelphia, General Rodney
was at that time forty-slX years old,
with a tall, lean. worn figure, his face
SCARED by cancer that was finally
to cause his death, The brave patriot
did not hesitate. Saddle the black"
he commanded, and in ten minutes he
had mounted his faithful steed and
was galloping AZ IT for life to the
northward
Eighty miles away from congress,
which WAS waiting for him to declare
the Independence OF the colonies, The
Thought caused him to drive his spurs
deep into his horses Hanks and sent
him flying along the long, dusty high
way that stretched away toward the
Quaker City. 1t WAS one Of the great
rides Of history That black steed
bore the destinies of America, and his
rider knew it, and there was neither
halt nor delay.
The sun went down, and the stars
came out one by one in the blue vault
OF heaven. and that solitary rider rush
ed on his way. All through the cool
summer night Caesar Rodney kept up
his reckless pace,
k The stars faded cut OF the morning
sky, and the sun came up red and fiery,
the herald Of a sultry day. And still
Caesar Rodney kept on his way. He
was yet many miles from Philadelphia.
/ His horse was jaded and he was travel
worn and covered with dust, but the
patriot did not slacken his rein. He
must be there to vote for the independ-
ence Of America And he was there
All that hot, swelteriI,g July day the
delegates OF the colonial congress were
talking aud voting In independence
hall. The aession had begun. The pres
ldent. John Hancock. was In the chair
aud the clerk. John Dickinson, was
calling the colonies one by one. Yir
ginia had voted and Massachusetts and
the great state of New York and tht
little state OF Rhode Island, and now
New Jersey was Voting, and Caesar
Rodney had not come,
Anxious and worried, Thomas Nc
Kean went out to the door of Inde
nendence hall. Would his friend ant
compatriot be too late His fac,
Frightened ~ he heard the sound o