Evening star., 1932-10-09

Arnold proceeded Immediately to get in touch
with Sir Henry Clinton in order to settle upon
. plan for turning West Point, with its fortifi-
cations and military stores, over to him with
Is little opposition as possible. In order that
tnere might be no misunderstanding of details
Arnold insisted that the person sent to confer
with him should be Adjt Gen. Maj. Andre. AS
| the Information Clinton was to obtain from
Arnold was of the greatest value Andre ac-
cepted the mission strictly as matter of duty
II was by no means of his own choosing as may
be seen.
A FTER several attempts had failed to pro-
wide a meeting between Arnold and Andre
tne latter. late one night left his Maj2cty'S
snip Vulturc, under a passport and in row.
beat furri. i,ed by Arnold and landed below
Stony Point where the meeting took place AS
the interview took more time than had been
anticipated, TO attempt was made t. send
Andre back to lis ship that night, and b. the
next night Joshua H. Smith. who triczed
INTO bringing Andre within the American Ines.
became alarmed and would not make the return
trip by water This left Andre no other oou Sc
than to return Iy land into his own lines To
avoid Gctecticn before starting he charged his
uniform fer civilian attire
He proceeded to Kings Ferry and crossed the
river frcm St-ny Point to Verplancks Point.
smith, who had accompanied Andre at ArroldS
direction, left him at Pines Bridge and Andre
proceeded on alone
Near TarrytoWn. John Paulding, David VII
liams and Isaac Van Wart three American
patriots were concealed beside the road on
the iookc11t for cattle marauders ard su pi i-us
persons. It wes on Sunday morning. Sep,cm-
Der zS, and as Andre approached he was halted.
upon being asked where he was going. he said.
Gentlemen, hcpe you beiong to cur party"
and being asked. What party?" replied, The
Lower party (neaniEg the British. Pau,dmg,
VINO hed stopped him, threw Andre off his
guard by saying ''he did also" when Andre told
him he was British officer. And here he was
trapped.
He wac then told to dismount when he pulled
out Gen. Arno;d's pass, which was to John
Anderson" and TO pass all guards to White
Plans and below" He then dismounted and
was ordered to tcke eff his clothes, which he
oad, and his boots were then removed from his
feet. In his stockings, next to his feet were
Ascoveled several papers which clearly indi-
Gated he was spy.
{ EALlNG 70 tempt his captors with bribe
he was taken to the nearest military post,
At North Castle, and turned over to Lieut.. Col
Jameson.
Andre. like Hale. made no attempt to hide
his identity, and his execution was a matter of
course. He was tried. convicted and hanged
October ?. 1880 Every attempt to save his life
failed. Even the suggestion of the surrender
OF Benedict Arnold, who had succeeded in
reaching the British lines, as an exchange fer
Andre was advanced by the Americans. but
manfestly this was cut Of the question and
Andre paid the penalty suffered few years
before by Nathan Hale. A marker on the spot
where he IVES executed reads:
Here died, October 2, 1850, Maj John Andre
OF the British army who entered the American
lines on secret mission to Benedict Arnold for
the surrender of West Point, was taken prisoner,
tried and condemned as spy. His death,
though according to the stern code of war.
moved even his enemies to pity, and both
armies mourned the fate of one SO young and
SO brave. In 1921 his remains were removed
to Westminster Abbey.
"a hundred years after his execution this
stone was placed above the spot where he
lay, by citizen of the States against which
he fought-not to perpetuate the record of
strife, but in token of those better feelings
which have since united two nations, one in
race, in language and in religion, with the
earnest hope that this friendly union will
never be broken
In February, 1847. the papers which were
found concealed in the boots of Maj. Andre .
when he vas captured on his way to New York
City, on September g. 17s0, we're exhibited in
washington at Plumbe's Daguerrean Gallery,
Concert Hall Building, north side of Pennsyl-
vania avenue, between Sixth and Seventh
streets.
1t pays .onletimes to 60 abroad and see what
there is in foreign countries and it makes you
love your own country all the more when YOU
get back.
A MOTHER thing the writer saw last Summer
that fits in with this story was the place
In Brussels, Belgium, where Edith Cavell was
executed, October II, 1915, just II years ago
next Wednesday. 1t is safe to say that of the
many outstanding incidents of the recent World
War, none will be remembered longer than the
unwarranted shooting of this defenseless
VIC nan.