The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1914-08-29
FOILED THE MAJOR
he Had to Flee al the Last Battle
OF the Revolution.
A FIGHT WON WITH A BROOM.
The Engagement Was Short, Sharp
and Decisive, and In Il the Patriot
spltfire, Mistress Day Earned the
Risht TO Her Title and TO Fame.

Spitfiro, Mistress Day, Earned the
Rlahs 10 Her Title and TO Fame.
The last battle OF the Revolution was
not at Yorktown, nor was It any of the
many small sklrmishes that occurred
after the surrender OF CORVALLIS aud
befope 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
last OF King George ms 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 at Kings
bridge and McGowau's pass 20 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, slammlng the door
behind him with much unnecessary
violence. H. Infamous reign was
over. There were few forms OF cruel.
~ that he had hesitated to practice on
the lucklcss Continental prisoners In
his charge. Among the mildest were
She 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 vie
Tins were ilocklng back TO the city tri
umphant, and II behooycd Major Gun
ningham not to llnger, So he left
the prison. turned into the common,
and crossed 1t to gain Broadway. lie
strode along mutterlng curses under
his breath. At the corner OF Broad
way and Murray street something
caught his eye. He stopped. hesltnted,
then turned aside and fastened down
Murray street.
what audacity What monstrous
audaclty" he thought. But 1t was like
that rebel spitfre. Mistress Day. lie
would teach her one final lesson.
He reached the Day house. which
was tavern near Greenwich street.
opened the gate and shook his fist nj
the Stars and Stripes that futtered
from a tall flagpole, as II waving n
triumphant welcome TO the Continental
troops
wrathfully he seized the halyards
and began TO pull the lag down the
pole. There was something about the
action that soothed his ruilled feelings,
He would at least take back to Eng
land with him one captured rebel ban
ner. But be had reckoned without
Mistress Day!
From her kitchen that patriotic wo
man heard the creakipg Of the pulley
on her Flagstaff. She tiptoed 10 her
front windows and peeped out. She
knew the major only too well. and she
determined TO prevent this final out
rage. She few back to the kitchen and |
seized her broom.
In the meantime, with his back TO |
the house, the major was hauling away |
vigorously. a few more jerks and the |
nag would be within his grasp. Bang! |
His hat suddenly few OFF and went
scuttling down the yard. In his as
tonishment he continued 10 pull me
chanically on the halyards. Bang. |
whack! The major saw many times
more than thirteen stars, and the pow
der few from his wig in all directions
He dropped the rope and turned about
purple with indignation.
woman, do you realize what you
are doing?" he roared. The broom
stick was In the air again, and the
major lodged. Whack! 1t struck him
across the bridge of his nose,
and the field at once became ensan
guined.
The bleeding officer now began TO
take hasty counsel with himself. He
was late for the embarkation, the
American troops would soon be upon
the ground, his hat had received an lr
reparable dent. his wig was in the
widest disorder his reglmentals were
stained with marks OF the bloody ar
fray. his head was yet spinning from
contact with Mistress Days weapon,
md there were unmistakablc signs
that Mistress Days arm was by no
ihNdho NfAi obAht " ~ hAAlE bhkN |
notes from the Battery decided the
matter. He turned about and strobe
Off picking up his damaged headgear
on the way. Mistress Day. smiling
returned to her kitchen TO
the baking and brewing for
the evening festival.
1t took the major some time to re.
move the evidences Of conflict before
be appeared at the Battery. He must
hSve been hard put 10 It to explain his
ateness and his disheveled state TO his
superior officer. His career after his
return TO England continued TO be dis
He was executed for for
gerry eight years after he left New
York AS for Mistress Day, the wo-
nan who flew the first American flag
n the evacuated city and who fought
Ind won the last conflict OF the ReYo-
ution. she deserves n wider fame than
The has enjoyed. Youths Companion, ,