The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1916-02-05
On Washington's S
Errand and His Own
By ETHEL HOLMES

been, called by its present name for so
long that no one, except perhaps some
Of the present residents, knows the date.
Doubtless Mr.. Dobbs ran ferry there
TO some point across the Hudson. He
has passed away long ago, but his
name remains.
There Is another name connected
with DObbs Ferry Of far more impor-
tance-that is, George Washington.
One mounting the decliVity leading up
from the railway station and following
the road leading southwark will pass
a frame house before which runs a
wall to which is attached a tablet stat
ing that 1t was the headquarters of
General Washington during the RevO-
lutionary war.
One day a country lad named Enoch
Weatherby, who was a member of the
Revolutionary army and had not seen
his best girl in New York city for some
time, got leave to go there for the pur-
pose of meeting her. Being patriotic
youth, he went to General Washington
and, telling him what he was about to
do asked the general If he could be Of
any service to him in bringing informa-
ton of the British army, which was at
that time in possession of the city.
The general told Enoch that he very
much desired to know how many troops
were there, how many cannon and
whether any preparations were being
made for q movement. Enoch prom
ised to gain what information he could.
That night the youngster put load
of farm produce in his boat on the
river and the next morning started
with the outgoing tide for New York
On reaching Spuyten Duyvil creek he
turned into 1t and when he arrived at
Kingsbridge, leaving his boat under
the bridge, proceeded on foot to the
city, some nine or ten miles away
There was a British soldier at the
bridge, but Enoch, being loaded with
produce, was suffered to pass, and
whenever he was stopped on the way
a few eggs or pound of butter was
sufficient to pass him.
New York was then all at the south
ern end of the island, and Enoch's girl,
Becky Bleecker, lived at the lower end
of Greenwich street, near where 1t
joins the Battery. He found Becky,
and she was delighted to see him, for
there was little communication be-
tween the American troops In the re-
gion beyond Spuyten Duyvil creek and
the city. Enoch while in New York
was continually going about, counting
the guns he saw and estimating the
number OF the soldiers.
One day he made bold to sketch
redoubt In the region that Is now Cen
tral park and was observed doing so
by sentry. The soldier called the
corporal of the guard and by him sent
a message to the commanding officer
that a man had been seen sketching
the. works. By this time Enoch had
left, and couple Of men were sent to
bring him back. Enoch soon discov-
cred that he was being pursued, and,
though the men most Of the time kept
him in sight, he succeeded In reaching
Becky Bleecker's home without being
arrested.
Becky put him into the great hall
clock, he handing her the memoranda
he had accumulated, giving her kiss
at the same time, and she had no soon
er taken them than there was loud
rap at the door, She opened it, and
two redcoats entered, inquiring for the
young fellow who had just come in
Becky declared that they must be mis-
taken, but the soldiers. having seen
him close the door behind him, search
ed the house. Not thinking to look in
the clock, they did not find him. But
one man stationed himself at the front
of the house, the other at the rear,
and Enoch was pinned in.
After they had gone outside Becky
returned to Enoch, and he bemoaned
the fact that he would not be permit
ted to take his notes to General Wash
ington. Becky was in terror lest the
information he proposed to take away
should be captured on him and cause
his conviction as a spy. Something
must be done before any one came
from General Howe and while there
were only green soldiers on guard
Becky resolved to walk out with
Enoch'S notes and drawings in face of
the sentinel at the front door. She did
so, and the man eSsayed to stop her
but she gave him a scornful look and
proceeded. She had scarcely got out
of sight before a member of the staff
came with sergeant and eight men
and gave orders that no one should be
permitted TO leave the house. Enoch
had heard the door shut after Becky
and thought it best to come out of hid
ing. But. since there was nothing
found to indicate that he was a spy.
after being held for some time he was
suffered to go his way.
Meanwhile Becky, presuming that
her lover would not be permitted to
go back to General Washington. made
her way to Kingsbridge, where she
found Enoch's boat and pulled herself
up to DobbS Ferry Mounting the hill
to the house where Washington was