Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-03

The city OF New York was FOUNDED
on the southernmost point OF Mammal
tan Island and first grew to the east
ward. Later It started up Broadway
and the east side. as 1t Is called. Tel
into decadence. But till after the be
ginning of the nineteenth century the
bandsomest residences were In the
neighborhood of the East river.
Some years ago workmen engaged In
tearing down an old dwelling neal
Franklin suuare-in which Washington
lived when first inaugurated president
came upon q closet built in wall
In which was a skeleton. How 1t got
there was a mystery, for there was no
opening to the closet, IT being inclosed
within four thick walls. The find was
referred to a historical society, which
appointed Heileger Bogardus. an an
tiouarian, to investigate the whole
| matter and report The following Is
extracted from the papers filed with
/ the society:
'STbe fact that the skeleton was
| found within four solid walls Is easily
explained The house was repaired
and altered during the last decade or
| the eighteenth century. and the wall
| wherein was the door to the closet was
made whole. The apartment inciosed
was of such size that workmen would
not necessarily have seen what it con-
tanned, especially since there were no
windows to admit light in that part of
the house.
"As to there being such closet at
Aaa rrifh IA q
sufficient explanation, for the opening,
which was walled up, was closed by
sliding panel What has not been sat
isfactorily explained Is the use for
which the closet was designed. At
the time the house was built such Sc
cret chambers were not unusual, espe-
cially in the homes of those who were
in constant danger from some enemy.
But in America when the country was
first settled avenues of escape were
rather tunnels through which the set
tiers might save themselves from be-
sieging Indians 1t seems probable
that the house in Franklin square was
thus provided by its builder, Meinheer
Van Vranken. simply because he had
a similar closet in his residence in Rot
terdam, for it appears that his ances-
tors were prominent officials In the
Netherlands during that period when
the bloodthirsty Duke of Alva held the
country in his grip"
But to the story I have unearthed
concerning the skeleton found in the |
closet Meinheer Van Vranken came |
to America in 1868, bringing with him !
what was in those days a fortune. |
Soon after landing he sent to Holland |
for brick with which to build his resi- |
dence and completed it in 1862. model
ing it after his home in Rotterdam.
even to the secret closet. When it was
completed the house was the finest in
the city, which was then Dutch town
and called New Amsterdam.
Now, it was in 1864 that the city
was captured by the English, the
Dutchmen refusing to make an effort
to defend it despite the protesta lions
of their governor. Peter Stuyvesant,
who stamped with his wooden leg
and swore by St Nicholas that they
were an arrant set of towards. I'M
worthy of the protection of their patron
saint
This change in the government was
also a bitter pill for Member Van
Vranken to swallow. He was Dutch
from the crown Of his head to the soles
of his feet, and his ancestors. who had
been sailors. had fought the English
when the Netherlands were power on
the sea. Now. meinheer had a very
pretty daughter. Anneke by name, who
much more readily adapted herself to
the new country than her old father.
who could be content in it only so long
as 1t was Dutch. When the English
landed many OF the Inhabitants OF New
went down to the Battery,
where the aquarium now stands. to see
them come ashore Among them was
Anneke Van vranken, buxom and with
eyes as blue as the heavens above and
two ropes of f1axen hair hanging down
her back.
One of the boats which brought sup
plies ashore was commanded by Ralph
Eggleston. a midshipman. nineteen
years old. three years Anneke's senior
Though six feet in his stockings, he
wore the jacket of MILDLY, decorated
with brass buttons. that shone re-
;plendent in the sun and added to the
attractions of his handsome person. His
we lighted upon Anneke. who stood
among those looking on. and Anneke's
we lighted on him. To her this young
nan giving orders to dozen stalwart
men. who obeyed his slightest COM
nand. was little less than god. But
he young man was on duty and. bav-
ng unloaded his boat. set off for his
hip. lying out in the Hudson river
Busy as he was, however. young Egg
,leston found time to give Anneke Van
Iranken an admiring glance. and In s
eturn there was rapture in her eyes c
t what was to her heavenly vision. !
t was but few days after this that c
While walking under the guns of the @
ort. whereon the English had replaced Il
be Dutch flag. Anneke met the mid c
hipman. who was on shore leave. i
trolling about with a brother officer. ,
This meeting seems to have resulted
an acquaintance between Ralph and v