Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-04-06
FOILED THE MAJOR
He Had to Flee at the Last Battle
of the Revolution.
A FIGHT WON WITH A BROOM.
The Engagement Was Short, Sharp
and Decisive, and In It the Patriot
Spitfire, Mistress Day, Earned the
Right to Her Title and to Fame.

not at yorktown, nor was 1t any OF the |
many small skirmishes that occurred |
after the surrender Of CORVALLIS and |
before the formal declaration of peace |
in 1888. The last battle was of the ma
ture of duel. and it happened on the
day the British evacuated New York.
The great day that was to see the
leave these shores finally arrived. The
British army was to board the ships
that lay in the harbOr Washington
and his troops were waiting at Kings
bridge and McGOwan's pass to take
possession of the city Immediately on
their departure.
Major WiAam Cunningham. the
British provost marshal and command
er of the prison on the common, gave
one last look about his office. tossed
the key on the table and went out
into the sunlight. slamming the door
behind him IN much unnecessary
violence. Infamous reign was
over There were few forms OF cruel
ty that he had hesitated to practice on
the mckless Continental prisoners in
his charge. Among the mildest were
the contamination OF their drinking
water by throwing rubbish into the
well and the appropriation and sale Of
their rations for his own profit.
The friends and relatives Of his vic
tins were flocking back to the city tri
umphant, and it behooved Major Gun
ningham not 10 linger. So he left
the prison, turned into the common.
and crossed 1t TO gain Broadway. He
strobe along muttering. curses under
his breath. At the corner of Broad
way and Murray street something
caught his eye. He stopped. hesitated,
then turned aside and FASTENED down
Murray street.
What audacity! What monstrous
audacity" he thought. But it was like
that rebel spitfre, Mistress Day. he
would teach her one final lesson.
He reached the Day house. which
was q tavern near Greenwich street
opened the gate and shook his fist at
the Stars and Stripes that 6uttered
from a tail fagpole, as if waving q
triumphant welcome TO the Continental
troops.
Wrathfully he seized the halyards
and began to pull the flag down thr
pole. There was something about tn,
. action that sOothed his ruftled feelings
He would at least take back TO Eng
land with him one captured rebel ban
ncr But he had reckoned without
: Mistress Day.
From her kitchen that patriotic wo
man heard the creaking of the pulley
- on her flagstaff. She tptoed to hel
front windows and peeped out She
knew the major only too well, and sh'
determined 10 prevent this final out
rage She few back to the kitchen ant
seized her broom.
In the meantime. with his back t.
the house, the major was hauling away
vigorously. A few more jerks and tn,
flag would he within his grasp. Bang
:. His hat suddenly flew off and wen
y scuttling down the yard. In his as
!. tonishment he continued to pull me
: chanically ON the halyards. Bang
{ whack! The major saw many time
more than thirteen stars. and the pow
der flew from his wig in all directions
He dropped the rope and turned about
l. purple with indignation.
/ Woman, do you realize what yo
are doing?" he roared. The broom
stick was In the air again, and tn
major lodged. Whack! 1t struck hin
squarely across the bridge OF his nost
and the field at once became ensaI
a guined.
~ The bleeding officer now began t
e take hasty counsel with himself. Ii
was late for the embarkation. th
= American troops would soon be upo
the ground. his bat had received an II
reparable dent. his wig was in tn
widest disorder. his regimentals wer
J. stained with marks Of the bloody a.
fray, his head was yet spinning froI
contact with Mistress Days weapol
4 and there were unmistakable sign
a. that Mistress Days arm was by n
means weary. Some warning bug
notes from the Battery decided th
matter. He turned about and strod
off. picking up his damaged beadgea
on the way. Mistress Day. smilin
contentedly, returned TO her kitchen
continue the baking and brewing Il
the evening festival.
- II took the major some time to r.
move the evidences OF conflict befol
N he appeared at the Battery. He mu
have been hard put to 1t TO explain b
lateness and his disheveled state to b
superior officer. His career after h
lis return to England continued TO he di
nd reputable He was executed for 10
op gerry eight years after he left Ne
p' York. As for Mistress Day. the W
~ man who few the first American ht
10 in the evacuated city and who foug
m. and won the last conflict OF the Rev
us luton. she deserves wider fame thf
4 she has enjoyed.-Youth's Companion
. Cutting Remark.
=, II we Judged ourselves by the san
standards we use for judging othe
ul