Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-03
Fooled The MAJOR
He Had to Flee at the Last Battle
of the Revolution.

/ Inc last pattle or the iteVOlutlOn WIZ
{ not Mt Yorktown, nor was il any of the
many small skirmishes that occurred
l after the surrender OF CORVALLIS and
! before the formal declaration OF peace
/ in 1888. The last battle was of the ma
| turc Of 81 duel. and ii happened on the
J day the British evacuated New York.
The great day that was to see the
last of King George HIS regiments
| leave these shores finally arrived. The
British army was to board the ships
that lay in the harbor Washington
and his troops were waiting mt Kings
bridge and McGowan's pass to take
possession of the city Immediately on
their departure.
Major William 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 with much unnecessary
violence. His infamous reign was
over. There were few forms of cruel
ty that he had hesitated to practice on
the luckless 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 fiocking back to the city tri
umphant. and it behooved Major Gun
bingham not TO linger. So he left
the prison, turned into the common.
and crossed it 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 spitfire, Mistress Day. He
would teach her one final lesson.
He reached the Day house. which
was tavern near Greenwich street,
opened the gate and shook his fist at
the Stars and Stripes that fiuttered
from tall fiaspole, as if waving a
welcome to the Continental
troops.
Wrathfully he seized the halyards
anu DSSHh " pun tiiC nus w" Air
pole. There was something about the |
action that soothed his ruffled feelings. |
He would at least take back to Eng |
land with him one captured rebel ban |
ner. But lie had reckoned without |
Mistress Day!
From her kitchen that patriotic wo
man heard the creaking of the pulley /
pm her Flagstaff. She tiptoed to her
front windows. and peeped out She
knew the major only too well. and she
to prevent this final out
age. She few back to the kitchen aud
seized her broom.
In the meantime. with his back to
he house, the major was hauling away
\ few more jerks and the
lag would be within his grasp. Bang!
His hat suddenly flew off and went
cuttling down the yard. In his as
enlistment he continued to pull me
on the halyards. Bang,
rhacki The major saw many times
more than thirteen stars, and the pow
er flew from his wig in all directions
Ie dropped the rope and turned about.
urple with indignation.
Woman, do you realize what you
re doing:" he roared. The broom
tick was in the air again, and the
major lodged. Whack. 1t struck him
quarely across the bridge of his nose.
nd the field at once became ensan-
uined.
The bleeding officer now began to
Ike hasty counsel with himself. He
as late for the embarkation, the
merican troops would soon be upon
lie ground, his hat had received an ir-
parable dent, his wig was in the
ildest disorder, his regimentals were
aimed with marks of the bloody af-
ay, his lead was yet spinning from
intact with Mistress Days weapon.
Id there Were unmistakable signs
lat Mistress Days arm was by no
cans weary! Some warning bugle
)t"s from the Battery decided the
after. BE turned about and strobe <
{, picking up his damaged headgear
the way. Mistress Day. smiling K
returned TO her kitchen to
ntinue the baking and brewing for
@ evening festival.
1t took the major some time to re- s
owe the evidences of conflict before
appeared at the Battery. He must
We been hard put to it 20 explain his
,eness and his disheveled state to his &
perior officer. His career after bis n
turn to England continued to be dis a
putable. He was executed for for fe
~ eight years after he left New
rk. As for Mistress Day. the wo II
In who few the first American flag IE
the evacuated city and who fought Il
d won the last conflict of the Revo- ~
ion. she deserves a wider fame than IS
2 has enjoyed.-Youth's Companion. g