Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-09-08

eyes on the Liberty pole, which, they
said, was exactly what they wanted.
"Although at war with ", the En-
glish offered to buy it Of the islanders.
The town fathers talked the matter
over ana decided at last to sell it to the
British, for, said they, II we do not sci!
it they will take IL by force, IN which
| fire their cannon right into the very
houses of the town if they had seen fit
| to do SO. So il was decided that the
next morning beat load would come
to land 10 secure the priced possession.
''Of course, there was strong feel
ing with many against being deprived
Of their Liberty pole, which represented
so much to them. Il had stood there
so braveiy and the sun shone SO ,ovlng-
iy upon it that 1t ha come to seem a
| part Of their life. And TO have their
| loved pole taken by the British and
become part of an English man-of-
war, it was unjust; it was wicked.
They shan't have it. they shan't
have it!v cried Bessie, stamping her
small feet upon the sanded floor, while
her eyes flashed and her mouth grew
very determined. what were the men
thinking of to sell it? They should
have let the British take it. But to
sell it sell our Liberty pole Well,
they shau't have it II can help it,
"Wnatever plan was in her mind,
she went to work quietly to carry it
out. She had bosom friend TO whom
she intrusted the secret. How they
managed it without letting some of
the boys known it, do not know, but
in the night, after everybody was abed
and asleep, Bessie and her friend stole
| quietly out of the house and walked
up the hill to the Liberty pole. Bessie
had secretly procured a pailful of pow
der, and her friend had an augar con-
cealed about her clothing. Everything
was quiet and still about the place; be-
low lay the village 10 lis midnight
sumter, and through the darkness
they could see the British man ofwar
swinging at anchor in the harbor.
at was more difficult job than
they had calculated upon-boring the
augur hole in the Liberty pole. they
were unaccustomed to the work and
their hands were soft and tender, and
though they changed aud took turns
many times they had several large
blsters before they were through their
| task. But what did they care for blist-
cred hands, these two gIlls working for
liberty notwithstanding the smart
they did not pause.
"But when the hole was bored Bessie
/ bethought herself Of the means ofignit
I ing the powder which they had until
/ then forgotten. So the young girl ran
| back through the darkness to the house
where she secured burning ember and
piece Of fate pine. BY the time she
! li2d ltlulutt ll0l illNiu iitb ttiN pOW :
der rammed into the cavity and all
ready to light. The long piece OF pine
was set sblsze and applied to the end
of the candle wicking which had been
used for fuse, and clapping their
+ hands to their ears, the two girls start
/ ed down the hill.
/ "What stir there was the next
morning. Bessie was awakened by
I hearing the voice of her brother at the
chamber door; Girls, girls, he called (,
the Liberty pole is blown up-bursted
into smithereens. Won't the British
/ he mad.
/ "'l am glad o. it, Bessie shouted
back; but do you suppose they VIII
, lombard us?'
why they did not, God in His
mercy knows. They INDUCED in a
good many threats but they sailed
away without doing any damage, and
/ it was long time before it was known
who blew up the Liberty pole. But
after the war was over the story came
cut, and in her cid age Bessie received
a pension from the UEited States gov
ernment for her share in this patriotic
deed. There are papers up stairs in
mother sold black trunk TO verify
every incident | have related, for
Bessie was your great grandmother,
and before she died she wrote lne facts
down IN little book that We have
always kept.u-Fred Byron Colby, In
United Presbyterian.