Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1915-11-12
WOMEN KEROINES
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 u spN But
only very few are aware OF me rae,
that indirectly the capture OF Andre
was due TO u woman's intuition
During the operations OF Tia Amer
ican army in the vicinity OF The idd-
son, Lieut. John Webb, an Hid on
Washingtons stan was frequent Nis'
itor at the mansion of Gerard q hc"k'
man, at Peekskill One day lrNten'
ant Webb left valise coutaIninf u
amount of gold and one of h's un'
forms with Mrs. Beekman, asking her
not to give 1t to anyone without
written request from himself or bis
brother Samuel
Some two weeks later nel'hbor
named JOSHUA Hett Smith came rid
ing w for the lieutenant grip ana
talked 50 conyincingly thst Ar HDtN
man was about to give u t. him "hea
his wife interfered. Smith got i'm
patient.
why. Mrs. Beekman" he aid. you
know me very well. Jack didn't give
me that request for his valisc because
he WAS In hurry and DIDN'T nave
time TO write Il But nov hc needs
his uniform right away and must nave
Il. 1t isn't as Il you were giving the
valise To stranger
But Cornelia Beekman's fer nine
sixth sense told her that SOME hing
was wrong,
1T Is true that | know you very
well. Smith" she reioinr1 "fnly'
TOO well to let you have Sam prop-
ertyl"
Mr.. Beekman himself was inclined
10 side with Smith. but his vie re-
NAMED firm and finally the visitor
rode of diseruntled
Smith called for Lieutenant Nehbs
valise on the very day oI Andres
flight. Andre himself was Ia hiding
in Smiths house. Smith II 'eems,
had heard Lieutenant Webb tell about
the grip and its contents that alter
noon NJ the tavern. and knowing that
Webb and Andre wee 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 al aid al the com.
mander IN chief himself there II 40
doubt that the American outpost5
would have facilitated Instead Of
hindered his progress nnd mat b
would have reached the British lines
scot-free That he did not get Wehb
uniform is due solely "a the keenness
and determination OF an American ma
iron.
Other deeds of individual hardihooi
and even herolsm were performed BY
women without number There. for
instance, Is the story OF Mrs. J'7e
Thomas. mother OF seven Continental
soldiers, who learned that the tories
were going 10 surprise small pa
triot force at Cedar Spring. : C.,
and who rode 60 miles in one night Co
apprise them. with the result tha'
when the tories made their attack thu,
found themselves ambushed
There also is the story of a similar
service performed by Lydia Narrah,
with results OF far more moment q
the patriot cause. Mrs Darrah was
a Quakeress with whom number O.
British officers were quariercd durins
the occupation OF Philadelphin. Tie
Dsrrah house was opposite the head
quarters OF Lord Howe. and for that
reason was sometimes used for tn
reading OF general orders 10 the Off
GERS
On one occasion Mrs. narrah was
fortunate enough 10 overhear an or
der read for the troops to make a
night attack on Washington's arm,
which was then encampcd at White
Marsh. Lydia ran the British line
and apprised the Americans so thai
when the British came up they found
their enemy with his cannon mount
ed, his troops under arms and SO pre-
pared at every point TO receive the AT
tack that they had to fall back with
out striking blow. Had the attack
been successful Washington's army.
the flower of the Continental forces,
would have been scattered aud tn
war very possibly terminated.