Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-11-27
How Thanksgiving Came To Leyden.

There is a singular and most interest
ing connection between the nksgiving |
day in far-away Dutch Leyden and that
first celebrated by the Pilgrim Fathers.
Four centuries ago bitter struggle was
in progress between all-powerful Spain
and her little dominion OF the Neither
lands-a struggle for liberty, freedom in
religion, and the right of self-govern-
ment. The odds were terribly heavy
against those tiny Low Countries, but
they had the advantage of an indomltable
courage, and remarkable leader, William
the Silent, of Orange e-NaSsau.
The first great turning-point in their
favor during the long struggle was the
siege of Leyden, and the city's miracu-
lous delivery il 1874. In May of that
year, suddenly, without the slightest
warning, this city, one Of the most beau
tiful in all the Netherlands, found itself
surrounded by huge Spanish army,
under General Valdez. siege was be-
gun that was TO last five months, and re-
duce the city TO its very extremity OF
starvation, plague and despair.
William OF Orange was at the time in
Delft, but he sent many messages to them
. TO hold out bravely for the sake of their
country, and counseled their valiant burg
omaster, Adrian van der Werf, to take
every measure OF precautiou in econo-
mizing food. Within the city was only a
small crops of burgher guards under John
van der Does, so there was nothing in
the world to do but sit down quietly and
tire out the Spaniards. even if they starv-
ed in the meantime.
For while all were both willing and
anxious 10 hold out, but as food grew
scarcer and scarcer, and the populace
was reduced to living on the grass in the
streets and the leaves from the trees,
their courage began to fail them, and the
doughty Van der Werf had his hands full
endeavoring TO quell their rising diScon-
tent. Once a violent mob surrounded
him, and demanded that he open the gates
to the Spaniards, whose doubtful mercy
they deemed better than slow starvation
and disease. His answer was 81 have
sworn to hold out 10 the end, and nothing
will induce me to open the gates Here
is my sword Take ii and kill me if you
will, and use my body for food But
before God, will not surrender" The
mob, shamed at his noble reply, dispers-
ed in silence. But meanwhile, William
of Orange had conceived a startling
scheme for the relief ofthe city, and lost
no time in putting it into effect. He COM
nanded all the dkes that kept out the
sea TO be broken down.
This accomplished, the water gradual
ly flowed in over the land, and was final |
ly deep enough to float great fleet Of
vessels laden with defenders as well as |
supplies, and comma nded by Admiral |
Boisot. But this was not effected till the
town had been reduced TO utter despair,
and had sent messages TO William OF
Orange that it could hold out no longer.
1t was on the night of October I'd that
strange thing happened. A great storm
had come up from the northwest, blow
ing in a huge wall of water from the
German Ocean. The fleet OF Admiral
Boisot had advanced TO the last great
barrier held by the Spaniards, Fort Lam
men, and was awaiting last sharp en-
counter in the morning. The Spaniards,
thus hemmed in between the city, the sea
and the oncoming fleet, began 10 think
themselves in danger.
Suddenly, during the night, there was
a hideouS craSh-a sound so terrifying
that the poor citizens OF Leyden thought
that now at last the Spaniards had broken
in and would butcher them all The
Spanish, on their part, were sure the
LeydepeSe had broken out, and were
a last desperate sortie. Flight, they were
convinced, was the only hope Of safety.
So ii came to pass that the storm and
darkness, over the only remaining cause
way leading TO The Hague, the Spanish
army silently took its ignominiouS de-
parture.
The curious thing about it all was that
this horrible sound which had alarmed
both contending parties equally was
caused by the falling in OF a part of the
city wall for the space of nearly quarter
of mile. Not to this day-is it definitely
known just why that happened. Proba-
bly, it had been undermined by the in
coming water, but, at any rate, had the
Spaniards only known it, they could have ,
entered the deienseess city without op-
position.
Singularly enough, the only soul in or
about the city of LeYden who happened
to witness the flight OF the Spaniards that
night was little boy, GysbeH Cornellisen
by name. He saw the long procession
of lights fitting over the causeway,
guessed at the retreat OF the Spanish, and
when all was silent and dark again, made
his way to the headquarters OF General
Valdez. Here he found all deserted, but
in such hurry had they been that
great iron pot filled with "hodge- podge,"
or stewed meat and vegetables, was still
cooking over the campfire.
AT dawn the next. morning Boisots
fleet prepared for the attack, but what
was their astonishment TO find an empty
fort, with one small boy on the breast
works, waving his cap in one hand and
brandishing huge pot Of hodge-podge
in the other
There was rejoicing in the city that
day. The famished populace, with the
crew of the conquering fleet. repaired at
once 10 The great cathedral of ST. Peters,