Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-01

nearly two centuries, a fine specimen
of the homesteads built by the early
Dutch settlers in America. 1t was for
" years Old when the Revolutionary
war opened. and its original owner had
then long passed away.
When il was built the country round
about it was infested by Indians. They
stole a son of the owner. and so long
as he lived there he and his family
were in terror of other depredations.
A recent investigation of historical
society has revealed an ingenious con-
trivance whereby if besieged by saw
ages those who lived in the house
might make their escape.
When Washington was called TO the
chief command of the American armies
his first duties were at Boston, then
New York city. then New Jersey.
While operating in the latter field the
old Dutch house on the Hackensack
lay between him and Manhattan Is
land on ground belonging to neither
British nor Americans. The homestead
was at the time occupied by John Old
erShaw. an aristocratic EnGlishman
who had turned what means he had
into cash and emigrated to America
His family consisted of a wife and
two children. the latter having been
born in America. The mother was i'll
suited to the rude life OF new cOun-
try and lived in the hope of some day
returning to England. Both she and
her husband were bitter Tories. but
their children. who had never been in
the mother country, sympathized Sc
cretly with the patriot cause. They
were young man. Edgar, aged TWEEN
ty-two. and daughter, Anne. aged
nineteen.
One evening General Howe. COM
handing at New York. with certain
members of his staff. rode out over the
Jersey fats between the city and the
rising ground beyond on a tour OF re-
connoissance and at nightfall stopped
at the Oldershaw mansion. Too late
in the day to return to his headQuar-
tiers, he suffered himself to be persuad-
ed to remain all night. with his attend
ants. and was entertained by Mr. Old
erShaw
During the evening he and his host
sat over a bottle of port wine. and the
general, warmed by the juice of the
grape, became confidential as to his
plans for gaining an advantage over
General Washington. Above the apart
ment in which they sat was Anne Old
erShaw's bedroom. Though the timber
with which houses were built In those
days was far more durable than now,
1t was rough hewn and not so carefully
selected. In the floor of Anne's room
was knothOle. and in the wooden
ceiling Of the room below was a crack.
Anne, who had gone to bed. but not to
sleep. hearing voices below, was de-
sirOus of learning what the general
might have to say to her father. So
she arose from her bed and. slipping on
warm wrapper, put her ear to the
hole in the floor She was enabled ia
hear plan the general was stating to
her father for capturing a large Ameri-
can force then located near Trenton
Indeed. the Britisher's reconnaissance
was on business connected with the
projected exploit.
The next morning Anne related what
she had heard to her brother He took
a very different view of the matter
from that of his sister He was desir
Gus that General Washington should
be warned. but was deferred from be
trayinG his fathers guest by giving the
information. Love of country. howev
er, triumphed over other considerations
and he determined TO carry it to Gen
eral Washington, whose headquarters
at the time were in the Ford mansion
ut MorriStOwn. Letting his sister into
- tie secret - his intended move and
telling his parents that he was goinl
10 New York to see friend. he set out
on foot. On reaching the town he as
cended the incline west of it and arriv
ed at n tavern in Orange. which was
then a stopping place for postboy'
travelling between Morristown and Ho
bOken There he secured II horse. pass
ed over the heights lying west OF the
town and in a couple of hours rode III
TO Washington, headquarters He wa
received by Colonel Alexander Hamil
ton Of the staff and Immediately intro
duCed 10 the commander in chief.
Upon receipt of the information HI
brought Washington gave orders which
would block his enemy's game anC
asked Edgar Oldershaw what he coulC
DO 70 re"iproCate the favor he had re
Ccived AT his hands. The young man
feeling loath to return to his father
roof, begged the general to secure hin
a commission in the army. and his re
, quest having been granted. he openl.
took sides with the patriots
1t was not long after this that Wash
ington being DESTROYS Of information
as 10 the enPmy's forces in New York
sent a young man. Lieutenant HarOl
Travers. who had done some secre
work for him. to obtain il. Traver
, was to proceed in citizens dress I
New York, learn what he could and re
turn Before ne departed the genera
called upon Lieutenant Oldershaw t
instruct Travers as to the routes b
which he might travel. Among othe
things Oldershaw told TraverS that I
he needed aid and comfort TO apply
secretly, OF COurse-to his sister ANN
giving him n bit Of paper on whic
was written an Introduction.