The Western outlook., 1915-07-03
WOMEN HEROINES
OF REVOLUTION
Two Whose Efforts Are Worthy
of a Place in the Pages
of History.

Everyone or course is ram1nar Win
the tragic story of Major Andre, the
young officer sent by the British to ne
gotiate the treason of Benedict Arnold,
who was captured when the plot was
frustrated and hanged as spy. But
only very few are aware Of the fact
that indirectly the capture of Andre
was due to woman's intuition.
During the operations Of the Amer
lean army In the vicinity Of the Hud-
son, Lieut.. John Webb, an aid on
Washington's staff, was a frequent Wis
itor at the mansion of Gerard G. Beck
man, at Peekskill One day Lieuten-
ant Webb left a valise containing an
amount OF gold and one Of his uni
forms with Mrs. Beekman, asking her
not to give 1t to anyone without a
written request from himself or his
brother Samuel.
Some two weeks later neighbor
named Joshua Hett Smith came rid
ing up for the lieutenant's grip and
talked so convincingly that Mr.. Beck
man was about to give it to him, when
his wife interfered. Smith got i'm
patient.
'Why, Mrs. Beekman," he said, "you
know me very well. Jack didn't give
me that request for his valise, because
he was in a hurry and didn't have
time to write it, But now he needs
his uniform right away and must have
1t. 1t isn't as If you were giving the
valise to stranger
But Cornelia Beekman's feminine
sixth sense told her that something
was wrong.
'It is true that I know you very
we'll, Smith," she rejoined, sternly.
''Too well to let you have Sans prop
ertyl"
Mr.. BeekmaD himself was inclined
to side with Smith, but his wife re-
mained firm and finally the visitor
rode off disgruntled
Smith called for Lieutenant Webb's
valise on the very day OF Andres
flight. Andre himself was In hiding
in Smiths house. Smith, 1t seems,
had heard Lieutenant Webb tell about
the grip and its contents that after
noon at the tavern, and knowing that
Wabb and hnara-- -rrara hnth -nf -tha
same size had determined to get the
patriot officers uniform for the Brit
fish spy.
Had Andre made his dash for New
York disguised as an aid OF the COM
mander in chief himself there Is no
doubt that the American outposts
would have facilitated instead OF
hindered his progress, and that hf
would have reached the British lines
scot-free. That he did not get Webb's
uniform is due solely to the keenness
and determination Of an American ma
tron.
Other deeds Of individual hardihood
and even heroism were performed by
women without number. There, for
instance is the story Of Mrs. Jane
Thomas. mother of seven Continental
soldiers. who learned that the tories
were going to surprise small pa
triot force at Cedar Spring, ). T.
and who rode so miles in one night U
apprise them, with the result tina
when the tories made their attack the!
found themselves ambushed.
There also IS the story Of a simila
service performed by Lydia Darrah
with results Of far more moment U
the patriot cause. Mrs. Darrah wa
a Ouakeress with whom number
British officers were quartered durin
the occupation Of Philadelphia. Tn
narrah house was opposite the heac
quarters OF Lord Howe, and for tina
reason was sometimes used for tn
reading Of general orders to the OH
GERS.
on one occasion Mrs Darrah wa
fortunate enough to overhear an O
der read for the troops to make
night attack on Washington's arm
which was then encamped at Whit
Marsh. Lydia ran the British line
and apprised the Americans, SO tn;
when the British came up they foun
their enemy with his cannon noun
ed his troops under arms and so pr
pared at every point to receive the q
tack that they had to fall back wit
out striking blow. Had the attac
been successful Washington's arm
lhe flower of the Continental force
would have been scattered and Il
war very possibly terminated.