Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-04-06
DIXIE GOES AHEAD
By Frederic ]. Haskin
[Continued From Editorial Page. ]

[Continued From Editorial Page
of them wanted to help the Prince es-
cape, but none of them dared-except
the resolute and beautiful Flora. She
obtained a passport for herself, a boat
crew OF six men, and Betty Burke, an
Irish spinning maid. Prince Charlie
donned the petticoats and hood of
the Irish girl, and was passed by the
authorities. The party affected a land
ing on the continent and Prince
Charlie escaped to Rome, where he
ended his days in exile.
Flora was about to return TO Ben
becula when she was arrested by royal
command. One of her boatmen had
revealed the method of the Princes
escape to the authorities, and Flora
was imprisoned in that dungeon
where so many famous lives have
ended-the Tower of London. There
she was the object of all sorts of plots
and attentions by Jacobite sympath-
izers. Among other things, she was
presented with a set of silver dishes,
(Which must have been a great COM
fort to her in PRISON. and these are
still in the possession of her descend
ants here in Moore county.
Had she been of a less magnetic
and winning personality. she might
well have been forgotten and left to
die; but she quickly won the favor of
her gaolers, and ultimately the ear of
the King. He was so pleased with her
| address and appearance that he set
her free, and she appears TO have be-
come something of a favorite at court.
DR.. Samuel Johnson reports having
seen and been charmed by her. 1t is
also said she told the Duke of Cum
berland. son of George III, that she
had befriended Prince Charlie solely
because he was hunted and unfortu-
nate. and would have done as much
for the Duke under the same circum-
| stances. Evidently Flora was canny
as well as brave.
Meantime she had married IIurh
Macdonald, of Armadale, and in 1913
they Joined a large party of Scotch
men who came to America on the shin
Baliol. Flora quickly became a leader
Her husband was a man of some
means, and in North Carolina he OBJ.
tanned a tract of $50 acres where this
village now stands, and built thereon
homes in North Carolina. The place
was called killigray. Nothing is left
| of 1t now but the graves of two OF
| her children, whom Flora Macdonald
buried here.
At that time all of North Carolina
was a great pine forest-one of the
| finest In the world-interspersed with
/
Scotchmen built their homes on the
loWlands. There was timber without
limit. and the country swarmed with
sandy hilltops and cultivated the ricl
game. Here they lived just as theN
had in the Scotch Highlands, preserv.
ing their clans, all the traditions anC
customs of their highly individualizet
race.
Then came the revolutionary war
and the Highland Scotchmen, o.
| course. were loyalists. Driven from
their homes by the defeat of the
Stuarts they now offered their service.
to the House of Hanover. The call o.
the clan was sent far and wide ovel
the hills. few miles from here the
| Highlanders gathered armed will
their hunting rifles; and the roll Of
! the clan was called. 1t is a striking
fact that If the same roll were called
! in Moore county to-day, every name
would be answered
Flora Macdonald was a leading
spirit in organizing this company tc