The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-01

! In Tappan, n. Y, is still preserved the
1 prison in which Major Andre was con.
| fired previous to his execution as a spy.
and 1t is today in an excellent state 81
preservation following its restoration in
| 1899.
| III there be any one parsonage of our
Revolution about whom every reader
might be supposed to be Well informed. il
is certainly Major Andre, whose fate. .
says General Heath. drew tears from
many eyes,, and of whom Washington
| said: "He was more unfortunate than
criminal" Yet very few know much OF
the arrest and execution of Andre
Few but historical students know that
Andres adventure really covers a wide
territory, extending from Dodd's Ferry.
on the south, to West Point on the north.
and from a spot a few miles west OF
Haverstraw to one almost on the Con-
necticut line, on the east. Roughly
speaking, this means a region % miles
square, within which limits he remained
for II days. During this time he trav-
eied not less than 125 miles, most of them
after he was captured at Tarrytown.
Within these limits remain nine houses
| identified with his story the authenti-
Gated ruins of five others, and the known
sites of two more.
Andre was arrested as a spy on Sep
TENDER %, his three captors discovering
on his person reasonable correspondence
between Benedict Arnold and the British
commander, Sir Henry Clinton
His trial for treason followed almost
Immediately and the courtmartial SEN
fenced him September 80 to be hung as a
spy, and his execution followed on Octo-
Der 2 1880, on the hill near the Tappan
village. The Iemains were buried at Tan
pan, but We're later removed to West
minister abbey, London, and only a plain
monument now marks the spot where
they were first buried.
In the building at Tappan Andre was
held prisoner during his trial, and from
this building he was taken to the place
of his execution. The village of Tappan
is on the Hudson, about midway between
New York city and West Point
The place itself is a sleepy little viii
lage, the whole interest of which centers
in three sites: Washington S Headquarters
which is kept in excellent repair: An
dre's prison. and the spot of his execu-
ton.
For many years Andres prison was
rapidly falling into decay, but of re-
cent years it has been restored, very
fairly, to It's originaIcondition.
The show part of the building is. of
course, the two rooms once occupied by
Andre. The front one was used as his
sitting room, and the back one as his
bedroom The first room is much as the
pest room or an ordinary rural dwell
ing anywhere, and the bedroom is now
used as a billiard room. The house is of
stone, and in good order and will prob
ably last another century
About 10 years ago bill was presented
to the New York legislature for &C.
curing the property and its preservation
as place of public interest, but it failed
to pass.
From the house it is only a short walk
TO the place of execution, less than half
mile, up slight rise. Here stands
the monument erected by Cyrus W. Field
in 1879, with the inscription written by
Dean Stanley, beginning
Here died, October 2, 1850, Mai John
Andre, of the British army, who, en-
tering the American lines on secret
mission to Benedict Arnold, etc.
This inscription has been Justly crit
icized for the misleading statement con-
tanned in these words. The lines from
the Aeneid with which it closes is, how
ever, well chosen and strictly true In
Conington's translation it is thus rem
dered:
EN- here a tear of pity springs
And hearts are touched by human things"
The country identified with Andre is
in every way worth visiting. It's various
points Of interest are all easily accessible
by conveyance from Peekskill, Tarry-