Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-03
The Argus Daily Story
Washington's Dispatch-By Ethan Tomlinson
Copyrighted. by Associated Literary Bureau

have learned some things of the rebels.
have young collegian with me, fell
low traveller"
He'll have to see the officer Of the
guard to gain admittance"
"All right Call him"
The officer was called Connors took
him aside. and after brief conversa-
ton Janeway was suffered to ride in
with him.
'But how am to get out IN the
morning." he asked.
"Oh, you'll have to see me about
that" replied the scout. General Howe
is mighty particular about persons
leaving the city. They're liable to car
~ information to the rebels"
So Janeway inquired where he could
find his friend, not that he desired his
assistance. but to keep his confidence.
Once having got his dispatch in the
city, he had only himself to get out of
1t. Bidding his friend good night, tell
ing him that he would need him on the
morrow, instead of going to an inn he
rode into the stable of the man to
whom he bore the message. Then,
having removed the dispatch from its
hiding place, going to the front door,
he knocked and told the colored serv-
ant who admitted him to say to his
master that student of the College Of
New Jersey wished to see him. When
the two men were alone together Jane
way produced Washington's appeal for
the prominent patriots of Philadelphia
to stand fast for independence
At o'clock in the morning British
picket on the outskirts of the city
guarding the road to Trenton, hearing
a horse coming toward him from the
rear, supposed that an inspecting Off
Ger making the rounds was about to
visit him. He stood at attention, ready
to bring his musket to a position of
salute. The horseman rode past him
without stopping.
"Haltr'
The sentry had no sooner uttered the
word than he brought his piece up to
his shoulder and when the stranger
changed his horses gait from a trot to
gallop fired after him. Janeway,
who had chosen this means of leaving
Philadelphia, was crouched down on
his horses neck. and the bullet cut
slit in the back OF his coat Hear
ing the shot, the guard sprang to
fantry, they were unable to follow the
man who had passed out. But cavalry
were at hand, and sergeant, getting
together half a dozen mounted men,
| gave chase.
| Janeway, who knew he would be
followed. listened for the clatter Of
horses boots. He could have dis
mounted and hid in the wood beside
the road, but his horse would have
/ given away his locality. He deter
mined, therefore, to run the race, trust
| ing to the animals ability to outstrip
his pursuers. He had at least an hour
| till dawn before he could be seen
and hoped by that time to have out
| distanced them. Unfortunately for
! him, he had strained his mount on his
way south and soon discovered that he
was unable to do any fleet work. 1t
| looked as though he would be cap
tured, and if so his identity as u SOL
der in the Continental army would be
established, and, having been in the
disguise of a collegian within the en-
emy's lines, he would be hanged as a
spy.
The sounds in rear were drawing
nearer, while in the east was a faint
streak indicating the coming dawn.
! Within less than half an hour he
would be seen. He was reluctantly
coming to the expedient of abandoning
his horse and taking to the woods
when he saw before him a wooden
bridge beyond which the road made n
turn behind a thicket. A subterfuge
flashed into his brain. Riding over
the bridge, his horses hoofs resounded
on the boards But as soon as he had
passed over it he turned the animals
head and rode down under it. There
he waited, clinching his horses nos
trils so as to prevent a whinny, and
In a few minutes heard the din of
hoofs over and within a few feet Of
his head
He had now good chance for his
life. His pursuers had undoubtedly
heard him crossing the bridge, and the
fact of their not hearing footballs
ahead. If not accounted for by the soft
ness of the road, would be by the in
tervening thicket. However, his pur-
suers would surely know at dawn that
he had eluded them and he must
needs make hay" while 1t was dark.
He had noticed a diverging road a
short distance In his rear and. riding
back, entered it. BY sunrise he was
hidden in the haymow of a patriot
farmer. while his horse was nibbling
grain in a manger below. Two days
later he rode up to the Morristowr
headquarters and was introduced into
General Washington's offices.
"WeET asked the general quickly.
81 delivered your dispatch. general
and received a verbal reply. | wa:
told to say TO your excellency that tn,
patriots of Philadelphia would NEE
the offers of British brides with ~,
words of General Reed. Il am no
worth purchasing; but. such as ] am
the king of Great Britain is not rici
enough to buy me-"