The Meeker herald., 1916-03-04
On Washington's
Enand andHis Own
b. ETHEL HOLMES

By ETHEL HOLMES
One visiting the town Of Dobbs Fer
~, on the east bank Of the Hudson and
some twenty miles from New York.
will find himself In place that bus
been called by Its present name for 10
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 bis
name remains.
There IL another name connected
with Dobbs Ferry Of far more inpor-
iance-that IL. George Washington.
One mounting the declivity leading up
from the RAILWAY stssion and following
the road leading southwark will pass
4 frame house before which runs n
wall to which In attached tablet stat
Ing that 1t was the headquarters OF
General Washington during the Revo-
lutionary war.
One day 4 country lad named Enoch
Weatherby. who was q 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 4 patriotic
youth, he went to General Washington
and. telling him what be was about to
do, asked the general II he could be Of
any service to him in bringing informa-
ton Of the British army. which was at
thnt 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 q 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 be
turned Into It and when be arrived at
Kingsbridge. leaving his boat under
the bridge. proceeded on foot to tho
city. some nine or ten miles away.
There was 4 British soldier at the
bridge, but Enoch, being loaded with
produce. was suffered to pass. and
whenever he was stopped on the way
q 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 Blocker. lived at the lower end
Of Greenwich street, near where 1t
Joins the Battery. He found Becky,
and she was delighted to SEQ him. f0f
there was little communication be-
tween the American troops In the re-
gion beyond Spuyten Duyyil creek and
the city. Enoch while in New York
was continually going about, counting
the guns he saw and estimating the
number Of the soldierA
One day he made bold to sketch .
redOubt In the region that Is now Cen
trail park and was observed doing 20
by sentry. The soldier called the
corporal Of the guard and by him sent
q message to the commanding ofacer
that a man had been seen sketching
the works. By this time Enoch had
left. and u 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. be 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 q loud
rap at the door. She opened It, and
two redcoats entered, inquiring for the
young fellow who had Just come i.
Becky declared that they must be mis-
taken. but the soldiers, having seen
him close the door behind him. search
cd the house. Not thinking to look in
the clock. they did not nnd 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 he captured ON him and cause
his conviction as q spy. Something
must Ike 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. Sbe did
30. and the man essayed to stop her.
but she gave him q scornful look and
proceeded She had scarcely got out
OF sight before a member Of the stan
came with a sergeant and eight mon
and gave orders that no one should be
permitted to leave the house. Enoch
had heard the door shut after Becky
and thought 1t best to come out OF hid
Ng. But. since there was nothing
found to indicate that he was q SOY
after being held for some time he waa
suffered to 60 his way.