Newspapers / The Roanoke Beacon and … / Feb. 22, 1895, edition 1 / Page 1
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'FOR GOD, FOR COUNTRY AND FOR TRUTH." $1.00 a ycarin advance. VOL. VI. PLYMOUTH, N. C, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1895. NO. 33. Roanoke Publishing Co. TALLEY FORGE. !V7hcre Washington and the Pa- -triot Army Suffer A Reminiscence Made Timely by the Hero's Birthday. , Cheerless and sad indeed was the march of the patriot Army from the hills of' Germantown to the forgo within the valley, twenty miles away. Under the cold and lowering Decem ber sky the rugged, ragged rebels against monarchial oppression trudged Wearily toward their winter's home, where naught of cheer awaited them, where no habitation yet existed for theifrest and comfort, where for aught they knew the wolf of hunger and the sting of frost might end their days as surely as the hum of British lead or thrust of British steel. Money there was none ; patriotism, not pelf, filled up the ranks of this undaunted army. The undying flame of liberty, not bread and meat in plenty, kept warm the life-blood in their shivering irames. Half-clad, half-fed, defeat behind them, despair before them, dissatisfaction and dis sension all around them, they must have faltered and fallen but for the strength and wisdom of their daunt less leader and the innate righteous ness of their cause. So it was that Washington and his men marched to that place known in Bong and etory as Valley Forge. Ar riving there on December 17, 1777, the wearied, famished troops were forced to brave the wintry blasts in tents until they could fell the trees from which to construct the rude log huts in which they were to spend the winter months. This season had opened with unusual severity. The ground was covered with ice and jrWiwiiiiaiiiii(ii' , . WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS AT VALLEY FORGE. "snow and tho line of march was marked by blood stains from the feet of many a gallant fellow whose shoes had been worn out on other fields .while striving so long and earnestly "for the causo of liberty. Hatless, coatless, hungry and cold, this im mortal band set to work o provide shelter for themselves. Not a man flinched, not one shirked his duty. The sick and sorely wounded found temporary shelter as best they might among the farmers in the neighbor hood. A city of log huts sprang up along the hillside. In each of these rude dwellings, fourteen feet by six teen, scarcely high enough to permit one to stand upright, clay-daubed and filled, with roof of slabs and fire place of logs and mortar, twelve sol diers or non-commissioned officers were quartered. A brigadier or other general officer enjoyed the luxury of a whole hut to himself, and the same was-allowed to the staff of each bri gade and. regiment. The huts of rank and file fronted on streets, while the officers' quarters formed a line in the rear, the general arrangement being not unike the modern camp of our militia. Scarcely had the men begun their work when, December 22, couriers brought . news . that the enemy had made a' sortie toward Chester, with the evident intention of plundering the granaries, cellars and hen-roosts of the farmers thereabout. It was to prevent just such attempts that the patriot army had lingered near . the city instead of seeking greater com fort and immunity from military ser vice by retiring to the interior.' The rumor, fortunately, proved to '.be un founded ; but the desperate eo'ntlition Df tho troops was forcibly re fleeted in the replies of the two generals, Hunt ictou and Varnum, whom tho com- mander ordered to march against the enemy. ".Fighting will be far pre ferable to starving," writes Hunting ton. "My brigade are out of provis ions, nor can the commissary obtain any meat." "It is a very pleasing circumstance to the division under my command," writes Varnum, "that there is a probability of their march ing. Two days we have been entirely without meat. " This was Valley Forgo at Christmas, 1777. Suoli was the extremity to which was reduced, at that time, the army which eventually wrestled this mighty Nation of ours from the grasp of a mercenery, soulless monarch. To-day it is all different. The old drill ground where Baron Steuben, struggling .alike with the English tongue and raw recruits transformed them into the best soldiers,' still re mains, but nothing marks the spot where the noble .German labored. Even the house where he lived is un marked, and the casual visitor to Val ley Forge would pass it by as an ordin" ary farm house, without a knowledge that there dwelt one who, like Lafay ette, had given up all to help the strug gling colonists with only the assur ance that there was nothing to gain and all to lose. When I visited the forge, says a writer in Blue and Gray although November the ground was yet covered by her rich green robes and a few leaves still lingered on the trees around as if unwilling to give up their rule to winter's winds. Passing Port Kennedy, a little log hut comes in sight, where it is said Baron Steuben lived. Looking over and beyond this as we approach the headquarters is a steep cone-shaped hill which was known as the "3tar Redoubt." This commands the river crossing and marks the place to-day, by no efforts of the Government obli gated so immeasurably to that patriot band of starving heroes who were quartered there, but by tho provi dence of imperishable nature. Im mediately opposite this point stood an orchard, under the shade of which, tradition says, many graves were mad e. To-day it is gone and there remains no sign to mark the spot where our fallen heroe3 sleep. I was told that as recently as ten year3 ago bones were turned up by the plowshare, which has taken possession of all but the1 grounds immediately surround ing General Washington's head quarters. Around these places yet remain traces of the huts built by the army in December, 1777. Near Port Ken nedy the remains are more numerous. Only the holes in which the hats were built, however, remain in any ca3i. These remains are a3 a message from the dead, leaving no possible ques tion as to the mode of structure. Holes were dug in the ground, into which log cabins were built, over which dirt and brush were flung. Some of the remaining holes are deep er than otherf, and in theso the Northern and Eastern soldiers are said to have dwelt, while their Southern comrades, not so well protected from the cold, more easily succumbed to the climate. But to every visitor the attraction centers in Washipgton's headquarters, the old Potts building, which was erected in 1753. This building is in a good, state ol preseva tion and is almost as when General Washington wintered there. The headquarters, surrounded by about two acre., is enclosed by a com mon slab fence. Approaching from the west or main entrance, immediate ly before the door is auold iron can non captured from the British, which bears the royal cont-ot-arm3 and the monogram initials of George III. Entejing, is a wide hall, about eight feet across, into which the doors from both sides of the house open. The gun leaning up against the wail is an old and rusty flintlock, yet in a good state of preservation. It was present ed to the association whioh bought the building by P. C. Hess, of Philadel phia, and is said to have been carried through the entire war by a volunteer named McLathery. General and Mrs. Washington, some historians say, passed their entire winter there, while GEORGE WASniSGTOU (WEIGHT'S POBTB An) . others contend Mrs. Washington ar rived in February. Lossing is au thority for the statement that "on that cold winter journey to Valley Forge Mrs. Washington rode on a pillion behind her husband." There fore, Mrs. Washington occupied the Potts building with her husband dur ing the six months of encampment. In the room occupied by them are thirty nine chronological photographs of General Washington and a few sil houettes. The sword that is shown in the office was captured by James Jones from a Hessian at the battle of Brandy wine, and was presented by Nathan Jones. The cupboard contains many relics of the Revolution, including cannon balls, -hatchets found buried at Valley Forge, old bayonets, etc. Probably the most interesting room in the building is the kitchen, as it leads to the secret tunnel the pur pose of which has puzzled so many. This room is small, and has a fire place nearly its entire width. Th3 room itself opens into a log but which was used as a wood house, and in it the secret tunnel opened. The tunnel is now nearly filled up, and its course to the river is entirely cut off by the railroad embankment, although it is said that the water from the river used to rush in and rendered its filling necessary. The most plausible solu tion as to the object of this tunnel is that it was for escape from Indians in case of a surprise and was intended for the use of the Potts family. The log wood house does not remain, but another has been erected by the asso ciation to mark the place where it stood. To the soutb. stands the house in which General Washington's gal lant bay was sheltered. Washington iu Rctlrcmrnt. George Washington's life, after he retired from public service and went to live on his beautiful estate, Mount Vernon, was simple and methodical in the extreme. Every morning ha rose early, made a plain toilet, and, al though he had a body servant, washed and shaved himself. Before breakfast it was his custom to write a few letters with his favorite gold pen, and then visit tho stables. He kept his own ac counts very carefully, and his hand writing was remarkable for neatness, accuracy and uniformity of stroke. His breakfast usually consisted of In dian cakes and honey and tea or coffee. After leisurely partaking of it, he daily mounted his horse and visited every corner of his property. His ap pearance on horseback was most im posing, as he always wore a riding frock of handsome drap -colored broad cloth, ornamented with plain gilt but tons, and a waistcoat of fine scarlet cloth, trimmed with gold lace, and gilt buttons. His special attendant, Bishop, in scarlet livery, always rode behind him. Elephants annoyed by flies have often been known to break off a braach and use it as a fan. Oxen and sheep are believed by some stockmen to fatten better' in company than when kept alone. A Dog His Messenger. Charles Mosier arrived in this city Tuesday with a large drove of porkers which he purchasod in Round Valley and shipped from this city to San Francisco. Tho most interesting fea ture of the trip from the North was tho wonderful sagacity displayed by the eix shepherd dogs, which, practi cally alone, brought down the hogs. The canines exhibited remarkable intelligence. They apparently ra alized that they were directly respon sible for the safety of the drove, cor ralled tho drove at night without in structions, routed them out intha mornings and, when tho trip had been completed took a merited rest. Bright, the red dog, the dean of the paok, is perhaps one of the most intelligent animals in the world. Mr. Mosier had left the ranch and had reached a point some eleven miles from his home before ho discovered that he had left be'iind some very im portant documents. He hurried! wrote a note, inclosed it in a handker chief, gave it to Bright and ordered the dog home. In about three hours the canina Crichton returned to his master, bear ing in his mouth the documents he had been sent for, covering thus, in tho time mentioned, twenty-two milea and bringing to his owner the neces sary papers. Ukiah (CaL) Press. Spring Lamb in tho Winter. There aro farmers in central and western New York who are said to have established plants costing from $25, 000 to$30,000'for tho production of hothouse lambs. The lambs are born in winter in large stables lighted with glass and heated with steam or far nace. The little lamb brought up in this manner belongs to a breed noted for flesh rather than for wool, and af ter it has trotted at the heels of its mother for two months it is offered up as a sacrifice to man's appetite and is sent to commission houses in New York. Such lambs are said to have brought as high as $50, from that price ranging all the way down to 10. They go to the high-priced restaurants, and at the farther end of the line on the bill of fare, which begins with "hot house lamb," are likely to appear the figures "$1.50." Turkey is said to bo coarse and homely fare compared with this delicacy. This accounts for tho spring lamb and mint sauce that con scienceless restaurants keep on their bills of fare the year round. New Or leans Picayune. Ho Has Saved Forty Lives. Harry Westcott, of Bridgeport, N. J., who has been for two or three sea sons a member of the life-saving sta tions of Cape May and Atlantio City, has saved forty-three lives. He has received a large number of valuable presents and gold medals in recogni tion of his heroism, and now a gentle man whose wife he saved from drown ing has secured for him a good posi tion on the Northern Pacific Railroad, in the State of Washinfjton. He is only twenty-four years of age. New York Tribune. With cr Withont "I sell all my periodicals with or without," said the train-boy to the traveler. "Regular price with, double price without." "With or without what?" asked tha puzzled traveler. "Those 'without' have all references to Trilby eliminated." Tho grateful customer took his without.' "Detroit Tribune. Circumstantial Evidence. Magifctrato (to witness) "I under stand that you overheard the quarrel between this defendant and his wife." Witness- "Yis, sor." Magistrate- "Jell tho court, if you can, what he seeded to be doing." Witness- "He seemed to be doin thelistenin'." -Judge. A Considerate Matter Famous Violinist (after his great solo) "Do you play any instrument, Fraulein?" Miss Ethel "No; my mother al ways said that her children should not be a nuisance to auy one if she could help it."--Life. Some naturalists lay that tho whala was once a land animal that ook ti vat-cr for sfeTy. INSECT MIMICS. SOME CURIOUS AND MARVEI ""OUS TRANSFORMATIONS. Butterflies That Turn Into leaves Some Resemble Leaves, Others Twigs and Branches Stories About Crabs. "TV "TATURE has wisely endowed I I certain defenseless animals -L with a certain protective re semblance ; made them mim ics of their surroundings, so that they may avoid their enemies, and the ex tent to which thi3 is carried among certain animals, especially insects, makes the study one of absorbing in terest, writes Frederick Holden in the Washington Star. In all life there is a certain adapta tion to its peculiar surroundings. Gaily tinted birds are not, as a rule, found on white sandy wastes, but in forests where there is deep coloring and the contrast, is not great. The tawny lion, the giraffe, the ostrich, are forms which assimilate their sur roundings. In California the horned toad is almost as invisible as the sand in which it lives. A little canon toad mimics the rocks upon which it rests, in color, while the irogs of tho East are hardly distinguishable from the green reeds among which they hide. This peculiar method of defense is particularly marked among insects. Some years ago a traveling fakir stopped at a bungalow in India and offered for a small sum to show the guests of the sahib, who wero new in India, a miracle. Told to go ahead he produced a small tree with leaves about three inches long, which he thrust into the ground, then' took from a large box carried by an at tendant a dozen butterflies ot great beauty. After the guests had exam ined them and assured themselves that the insects were alive tho fakir tossed them one by one into the air. Each alighted on the tree and became invis ible. When all had disappeared the fakir asked the sahib to look for them. The Englishman examined the tree carefully, but failed to find the dozen butterflies, each of which was four inches across. They had all heard of the Indian hypnotism, and thought that this pos sibly was an instance in hand, butthe laughing fakir caught up the tree and giving it a shake the insects floated in the air for a moment, and then gath ered about the treo again to myster iously disappear. The fakir then pointed out the illu sion; the butterflies were not a foot from their eyes, and so mimicked the leaves when their wings were folded that tho deception was perfect, both in color and shape. There were even the delicate mold spots, the central or midrib of the leaf and the delicate lat eral branches from it, while the stem of the leaf was closely imitated by the lower portion of the wings which were pressed against the stem. This mimic, known to science as kallina, if followed by a bird simply alights on a bush or tree and becomes invisible, and the fakir has simply taken advantage of the natural pro tection of the butterfly. The same protection is teen in many of our common butterflies that mimio flowers or leaves. Remarkable re Semblances are noticed among the moths, some mimicking bits of wood or stone, so that when they alight they become at once invisible and thus escape from every possible pursuer. In almost every group of insects we Bnd this protective resemblance, ind those among the walking sticks and walking leaves are the most wonder ful. In the latter we have an exam ple of an insect so exactly resembling a green leaf that it would boar close examination without discovery. The in Meet looks as though it might have been made up from several pieces of leaves. They are of a vivid green, with delicate leavep, exactly as one finds in a leaf. While the phy Ilium resembles a leaf, the phasmidae is a mimic of a twig or branch. The long straight body is a perfect stick, th6 legs re sembling twigs branching from it, ami when walking they move in so delib erate a manner that even then the il lusion is not destroyed, i A Soutb American walking stick is a veritable giant, almost a foot in length. The curious insect3 known as tho tr.xi Us are renoik i for their pov 'era of mimicry. Their movements ate slow ; their bodies and legs resemble twigs, and they aro by this disguise enabled to creep upon their prey. Ono species has been known to seize and oat small birds, who, thinking it a bit of the brauch, so fall into its dutches. Perhaps the most remarkable mimic among these insects is a pink mantis of India, that is almost exact in its re semblance to an orchid. The object here is evidently to capture insects that alight on it by mistake. Many insects protect their eggs ox young by unconscious mimicry. Thit is true of the egg cases of many in sects. Those of the mantis resemble ia tint the immediate objects ; while a South American moth, in the cater pillar form, makes a lattice-work co coon that resembles a seed. The most bxtraordinary attempt at defense 'it was ever my good fortune to observe on the part of a spider was one in which tho inpnet not only disguised, but rendered itself completely insensi ble. I was wandering through the bog cedar bush of one of the Florida keys, sixty miles from Cuba, when I came uoon a husre web that comolete- ly barred the waj ; the long cables extended as braces in every direction, while in tho centre poised a big yel low spider. The moment it caught sight of me it began to swing the web, first slowly, and then more rapidly, until. in a short time the spidir had disappeared from view, although not a foot from my eyes ; it was simply vibrating in its web, but so rapidly ill at mir var nnnld not follow it. In a few moments the motion gradually ceased, and as I remained perfectly quiet tho spider assumed its normal position, beginning the swinging when I touched the , web. Such a device1 would completely deceive a bird. On the coral keys of the tropics I ; have seen crabs como out of their dens of sand and eye me as I lay there watching them, but these spectral fel lows were almost fnvisi&Ie even a few feet away, so white were they, almost perfectly mimicking the sand in their absence of color. The most interesting mimics I have seen in crab life are those which live in the eargassum or gulfweed. I have spent hours in drifting with these dis connected bits of the sargassuni sea, on the edge of the Gulf Stream, where it flows from the tropics, and hero' there is a special pelagio fauna, all of which are mimics. It is almost im possible to distinguish the crabs even when looking at them closely, as upon their backs, are reflected the exact tinge of the wead a remarkable phase in the straggle for existence. In this same locality, and I have also observed it among Northern crabs, there was one we called a decorator. In its normal condition it resembled a moss-covered stone, and was safe from many of it3 enemiee, but it was evidently not satisfied, as upon its bask was a per fect forest of seaweed , of various kinds, which might have been con sidered accidental growths,, but such was not the case. As a rule crabs object to this invasion of their shell, but our little mimic was an exception k) it, recognizing the fact that it sould secure perfect immunity from fishes by covering its back with weed, and forthwith doing so. To test it, I cleaned tho back of several with a brush, then released them in an aquarium, where there were some broken bits of weed. Al most immediately they began to plaoe the weed upon their backs. Seizing a bit in the big claw, th9y pr3S33.l the broken end to the mouth, -evidently attaching some glutinous secretion, then reached up and deliberately fastened it to the shell. This was repeated until in about two hours the back of the crab was well planted, and resembled a miniature forest, thoroughly protesting tho animal from the observation of its many enemies. ; Such are a few instances of this re -markable feature in the struggle for life, a feature that results in ths preservation1 of myriads of animals that otherwise would be wiped out of existence. . - i i. T. . t i ' . . Switzerland is about to estfibh-.h a Ststd bank 'at Berne w hie It wid lrv the exclusive right 'to . iis.-iuar t..-fiT; notes. ' "The-capitaV is fited tt O0D, the Swiss OofvJUra'.io.i mnkin it-elf rcsj'OT.siMo f .r a'.1. 1' il il,:U
The Roanoke Beacon and Washington County News (Plymouth, N.C.)
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Feb. 22, 1895, edition 1
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