Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1915-07-01
WOMEN HER0INES
OF REVOLUTION
Two Whose Efforts Are Worthy
Of a Place in the Pages
of History.

Everyone of course is familiar with
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 a spy. But
only very few are aware of the fact
that indirectly the capture Of Andre
was due to a 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 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 it to anyone without
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
it. II isn't as if you were giving the
valise TO a stranger
But Cornelia Beekman's feminine
sixth sense told her that something
was wrong.
1T is true that I know you very
well. Smith," she rejoined, sternly
TOO well to let you have Sans prop
erty,"
Mr.. Beekman himself was inclined
to side with Smith. but his wife re-
NAMED firm and finally the visitor
rode off disgruntled.
Smith called for Lieutenant Webb's
valise on the very day of Andres
fight Andre himself was in hiding
in Smiths house Smith, it seems,
had heard Lieutenant Webb tell about
the grip and its contents that after
noon at the tavern, and knowing that
Webb and Andre were both of the
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 he
would have reached the British lines
scot-free. That he did not get Webb :
uniform is due solely to the keenness
and determination Of an American ma
iron.
Other deeds Of individual hardihood
and even heroism were performed by
women without number. There, fol
instance. is the story of Mrs. Jane
Thomas, mother of seven Continental
soldiers. who learned that the tories
were going to surprise a small pa
triot force at Cedar Spring. S. c.
, and who rode GO miles in one night L
, apprise them. with the result tina
when the tories made their attack the,
found themselves ambushed.
There also is the story Of simila
service performed by Lydia Darraf
with results of far more moment t
the patriot cause. Mrs Darrah Wa
=. a Quakeress with whom a number c
British officers we're CHARTERED durin
the occupation of Philadelphia. TIL
l. Darrah house was opposite the heaC
d quarters Of Lord Howe, and for tha
c reason was sometimes used for III
reading of general orders to the of
l. GERS.
2 On one occasion Mrs. Darrah wa
d fortunate enough TO overhear an o
X De- read for the troops to make
l. night attack on Washington's arm,
; which was then encamped at Whit
u Marsh. Lydia ran the British line
and appraised the Americans. so til;
q when the British came up they foun
l their enemy with his cannon noun
d ed. his troops under arms and so pr
n pared at every point to receive the a
n tack that they had to fall back wit
g out striking a blow Had the attac
le been successful Washington's arm
the flower of the Continental force
o. would have been scattered and Il
10 war very possibly terminated.