New-York tribune., 1921-12-18


Continentals made history in the dead of win
ter now bears the earmarks Of a summer re-
sorti
There is the typical hotel fanked by sum-
mer cottages, all of them having flung on
their winter garments of repentance" There
are the corner groceries, with the extra line
of sweets and knick-knacks for the frivolous
resort trade. One might find golf course if
one looked further but ones sense of chrono-
logical values is enough awry as it is. A
mild December day further impedes one in an
attempt to visualize the snow. sleet and freez-
ing cold which characterized the date when
fame claimed the vicinity for it's own.
$50 this queries the station agent, "is
where Washington crossed the Delaware?"
$50 they do say" that official skepticaly an
swers, yet with grateful smile which seems
to say, Hence railroad station and lob
hereabouts.'
Evidence is more positive when one visits
the old-fashioned residence which now usurps
the site Of McKonkey's ferryhouse
Eyes, this is the place." the lady OF the
house declared, pointing to the shore. when
my grandfather first came here with his
father to live an old soldier met them one
day. This is the very place where General
Washington brought US across that night he
told them"
Alas, the old veterans story has been lost
as it passed down. but one could almost
picture the aged Continental standing on the
bank while he lived again that stormy night
and felt again the thrills of the battle that
followed.
The spell is broken Fv the sight of bridge
across the river VIII. might we'll have been
placed further up or down stream and dis
cordant note avoided. However, one ap-
proaches it, it's there, and is halted by
lady, who demands two-cent toll
Washington" one Indignantly informs her.
never paid this
II wasn't here then," she comes back
The Pennsylvania SIDE where Washington
embarked, is being reserved as state park
to commemorate the crossing. Only two old
fashioned buildings will be left standing
much to the disgust Of local citizenry whose
land and houses have been condemned and who
are prone to state that history may be his
tory and all that, but the housing shortage
is tragedy. On the outside of the old ferry
house, which is to be an inn, hangs portrait
of the General, a portrait which the weather
u cl6fEV
place at wh;ch Ls warmed himself before the
ferrying.
That difficult feat through the dark and the
gr'ndiDg ice was accomplished by parallel of
the famous teamwork which had share in
the hating Vi the second German drive on
Paris-"with the help of God and few ma
rines" Doubling for marines in this instance
was Colonel Gloyer's regiment of MarbIehead
fishermen, and they did doughty ferrying that
night. when landlubbers would have gone down
below.
The ground on the New Jersey side, which
boasts but monument, was muddy and icy
and marked with bloody footprints that night
Washington stood s.c@- the ferryhouse and
watched the landing, Colonel knr- =*--z9~s~s>-r
ly repeating his orders, SO that they could be
heard "eyen above the voices of the artillery
drivers" who appear to have been rather
noisy lads then, now.
The ice ground and growled in the river,
baked of its prey, much as minister is