The Ordway new era., 1915-07-02
WOMEN HEROlNES
OF REVOLUTION !
Two Whose Efforts Are Worthy
Of a Place in the Pages
Of History.

Everyone of course II familiar with
the tragic story of Major Andre, the
young oficer sent by the British to ne
Rotiate the treason OF Benedict Arnold,
who was captured when the plot was
frustrated and hanged as q spy. But
only a very few are aware Of the fact
that indirectly the capture OF Andre
was due to q woman's intuition.
During the operations Of the Amer
lean army in the vicinity Of the Hud-
son, Lieut.. John Webb, an aid on
washiugton's stan, was frequent Wis
itor at the mansion Of Gerard G. Beck
man. at Peekskill. One day Lieuten-
ant Webb left valise containing an
amount Of gold and one OF MS uHi'
forms with Mrs. Beekman. asking her
not to give It to anyone without q
written request from himself or his
brother Samuel.
Some two weeks later a neighbor
named Joshua Hett Smith came rid
ing up for the lieutenant's grip and
talked 30 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 hurry and didn't have
time to write it. But now he needs
his uniform right away and must have
It. 1t isn't as II you were giving the
valise to stranger"
But Cornella Beekman's feminine
sixth sense told her that something
was wrong.
at is true that know you very
we'll. Smith," she rejoined. sternly.
"Too we'll to let you have Sans prop
erty!"
Mr.. Beekman himself was inclined
to side with Smith. but his wife re-
mained firm and finally the visitor
rode OF disgruntled.
Smith called for Lieutenant Webb's
valise on the very day Of Andres
night. 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
Webb and Andre were both OF the
same size had determined to get the
patriot ofYlcer's unifoim for the Brit
fsh 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 soutposts
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's
uniform is due solely to the keenness
and determination of an American ma
tron. 49,
Other deeds of individual hardihood
and even heroism were performed by
women without number. There, for
instance, IL 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. 8. c..
and who rode go miles in one night to
apprise them, with the result that
when the tories made their attack they
found themselves ambushed.
There also 10 the story Of . similar
service performed by Lydia Darrah.
with results Of far moro moment to
the patriot cause. Mrs. Darrah was
. Quakeress with whom q number OF
British officers were quartered during
the occupation OF Philadelphia. The
Darrah house was opposite the head
quarters Of Lord Howe, and for that
reason was sometimes used for the
reading Of general orders to the ON.
Gers.
On one occasion Mrs. Darrah was
fortunate enough to overhear an or
der read for the troops to make .
night attack on Washington's army.
which was then encamped at White
Marsh. Lydia ran the British lines
and apprised the Americans. 80 that
when the British came up they found
their enemy with his cannon mount
ed. HIS troops under arms and 30 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 and the
war very possibly terminated.