White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-11-28

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tNW MI hO6CluSkO duu SHSlu1T
III Pulaski, the two Polish
II soldiers who fought in the
II Revolution, are familiar to
rs most citizens of the Unit
III n ed States, but it is doubt
III full If the name of another
>ti Pole, Haym Sale mon,
means anything to more
than one out of thousand Americans.
Yet his contribution to the cause Of
American liberty may In some respects
be considered infinitely greater than
those Of the other two combined.
The invaluable services of this Pc
lish Jew, whose financial genius was
30 vital to the Revolutions success,
have always been known to the schol-
ars of that struggle, but the difficulties
kept this inspiring story from the pub
lie and the efforts which have been
made to pay appropriate tribute to
bis memory have, for some unknown
reason-unless it can be attributed to
the proverbial ingratitude of republics
which so easily forget their debts to
some who labored nightly in their
cause been defeated for more than
century.
Fortunately for the cause of Truth
there has appeared recently biog
raphy Of this man which enables us
to see him in his true stature as one
Of the really great figures of the Rev
olution. 1t Is the book "Haym Salo-
mon and the Revolution" written by
Charles Edward Russell and published
by the Cosmopolitan Book corporation.
Solomon was born at LISA in Po-
land in 174O. At the age of thirty he
Joined in the fight to resist Russian
domination of Poland, was associated
with Kosciusko and Pulaski in their
heroic but futile effort and like those
two, was forced to flee from the coun-
try. He first made his way to Eng
land but soon left there and came to
America, arriving in New York in 1772.
Solomon had had considerable training
In business before leaving Poland and
he quickly established himself as
broker and commission merchant in
New York city. The opportunity lay
at hand for him to make great for
tune but he hindered his chances for
that by one act. For the freedom-lov-
Ing Pole almost Immediately allied
himself in the strongly Royalist
colony of New York with dis
reputable and discredited" organiza-
ton, called the Sons Of Liberty, who as
early as 1884 had banded together to
resist oppressive acts by the British
crown.
He was worker in their cause at
the outbreak Of the Revolution, and
late in 1776 he was one Of number
pf the Sons who were imprisoned by
the British, accused Of having started
the fire which swept New York soon
after the defeat of Washington's army
on Long Island led to the occupation
Of that city by Lord Howe. Solomon
was lodged in the Provost and to be
held there meant certain death for
many q patriot during the reign Of
Cunningham, the brutal master of the
British prisons in New York.
Among the British troops were thou
sands Of Hessian mercenaries who
rould not speak a word of English.
When it became known that Solomon
could speak German Che was also a
master Of French, Polish, Russian and
Italian), he was put in better quar-
'ers and used as an interpreter to the
Hessians by the British. Eventually
re was released on parole. Even
While prisoner he was working in
he patriots cause for, unknown to
he British, in his talks with the Hes
tans he was urging them to desert
md pointing out to them the bound
ess opportunities which lay in the new
ountry for them when the war was
Wer. More than that he was taking
advantage of the fact that was regard
I'd as ''trusty" by the British, pass
ng by their sentries freely and going
,retty much where he pleased, to aid
the escape Of American prisoners.
litter his parole, he was able again to
mgage in business, using this as well
rs his interpreter duties for the Brit
eh, as cloak for his activity in be-
lalf of the patriots.
For two years Solomon led SEEM
ngly peaceful existence, although
mere was never a moment when his
tie was not In danger of being ended