America’s Most Memorable Christmas. By ROBERTUS LOVE. ' [Copyright, 1907, by Robertus Love] T: most memorable Christmas | in American history was that of | 1776, the day on which Wash- ington crossed the Delaware. As a matter of fact, Washington and his army crossed the Delaware four times during that same month, but ft was the crossing on Christmas night | that made vivid history. of “Washington Crossing the Dela- | ware,” feamed as a colored chromo or a binck and white print, milinr to two generations of Ameri cans. But how many of us know Just | why, how and where Washington! crossed the Delaware, what bearing that movement had upon the destiny | of America, picture who painted the famous from which the Driven from Long Island and New York across “the Jerseys,” Washing: ton's defeated and discouraged army was pursued closely by the British un. der Cornwallis. Washington reached Trenton Dec. 2 and began preparations for crossing over into Pennsylvania. Collecting all the boats he could find. he sent his army across the river on the night of the Tth, following with the rear guard the next morning, just ag Cornwallis, puts it, “came down, snd parade, to the opposite shore.” Cornwallis expected to find boats and cross the river, capture Philadelphia, the capital of the struggling colonies, and end the rebellion in short order. But the wily Washington had destroy- ed all the boats which he could not hide on th: Pennsylvania shore for his own future use. The Rritish general therefore decided to wait until the riv- er froze, so that he could «ros: on the fee. Mild weather prevailed fue a fort- night. In the meantime Washington had paced strong guards at several fords and ferries up and down the river, the enemy also posting detach- ments at important points on the New Jersey side. Washington, with a por- tion of his army, was encamped at ! Newtown, a little northeast of Bristol, Pa. The British garrison at Trenton consisted of about 1,500 Hessians and some British Light horse under com- mand of Colonel Rall, a gallant Hes | sian ‘officer, The capture of Philadelphia seemed “80 imminent that by advice of General Putoam, in command there, the Con- tinentnl congress retired to Baltimore. The situation was highly eritical. The time of service for which most of Washington's men had ealisted would expire within ten days, and unless money could be had for their payment few of them would remain in the field Maay citizens who had espoused the patriot cause became discouraged and went over to the enemy. Cornwallis was 80 pop sure that the “rebels” were on their last legs und the war prac- tically over that he waat to New York with the intention to sail for England ou leave of absence, Washington felt that some decisive blow must be struck. The British must be shown that the Americaus still had fight In them. Timid citizens in their homes must be encouraged by a dem- oustmtion of patriotic valor and mill- tary prowess. Accordingly Washing- ton planned attacks at several points along the river, but he could not in- duce some of his snbordinate com- manders to co-operate with him. They could not cross the river, they said. But Washington could and did. He proposed to go over and give the Hes- The picture has been fa. familiar | chromos sare made and where the origi | nal oil painting may be seen today? as the historian Lossing ! with great pomp | sians at Treuton a Christmas after Wa ¥ WASHINGTON CROSSING THE DELAWARE Christmas Night 1776 Pl ™ V7 4 on EN A ae + war Re math In the way of a daylight surprise the morning after Christmas, knowing that the jolly Germans would be more or less demoralized by their bibulous manner of celebrating the anniversary. Washington's troops at Newtown were chielly New Englanders. He had about 2400 wen and twenty pieces of artillery. The weather bad turned much colder toward Christmas, and on | the afternoon of that day a chill storm of snow amd sleet began, lasting throngh the night. Washington's troops marched to MeConkey's ferry In the snowstorm. MceConkey's was a river side inn on the New Jersey bank of the Delaware about nine miles above Trenton. The hoats previously hidden by the Americans were collected at this ad 4 4 a 5 ¥ “NG ) A : ee. RALL TRIED TO RALLY HIS MEN, point, opposite McConkey's house, and at dusk the soldiers began crossing. Everybody knows, of course, that “the river was full of floating ice,” but Colonel Glover and his fishermen sol diers from Marblehead did not mind that. They knew how to guide boats amid cakes of ice. These Massachu: setts fishermen were placed in charge of the boats. The plan of Washington was to reaeh Trenton by 5 o'clock in the morning and catch the Hessians sleeping off their Christmas potations He coninted | upon getting the whole army across by midnight Owing to the delay caused | by the ice and the storm it was J o'clock in the morning when the last boat load of patroits reached the Jer sey shore. By 4 o'clock the force was formed ready for the march upon Trenton. Colonel Henry Knox had brought over his cannon on the frail flatbonts, with horses to pull the pieces along the road. General Washington crossed the riv- er a little before midnight. The in mates of McConkeyr's house were astir practically sil night, brewing big jo- rums of hot and steaming punch, which | the cold and weary Continental officers drank with eager zest. [It is related that early in the morning hours Wash- ington himself stepped into the inn and found some of his young officers inclined to loiter by the fire and in- dulge in extra potations. There was more serious work on hand. Washing- ton, it is said, drank just one stout “snifter” and ordered his officers to be about their business. McConkey's house still stands, and the place is known now as Washington's Crossing. Washington divided his forces iuto two bodies, one to march down the river road and attack the enemy from | Yorktown five years later. the west, the other to enter the town from the north. The commander fin- structed all his officers to set thelr | watches by his, so that the attack aight be made simultaneously at every i point. It was 8 o'clock when the en- emy’s outposts were encountered and | driven in, firing from behind trees and | fences as they ran. Colonel Rall had been up all night, with other officers, carousing and play- Ing cards at the house of a Tory. Though the attack was made three hours later than had been intended, it was still practically a surprise. Rall buckled on his sword and gallantly tried to rally his demoralized forces, but it was too late. Already the light horse and 500 Hessians had taken flight and escaped Knox had planted his cannon to sweep the principal streets, and the attack from all points was furious. Colonel Rall fell mortally wounded. and a little later he sur- rendered his sword to Washington, The American commander took neasly a thousand prisoners, with many stands of arms, cannon and other equipment. The vietory was complete. Cornwallis deferred his trip to England, remain- ing here to surrender to Washington at The next day Washington's army re- crossed the river, taking the Hessian prisoners to Newtown. On the 20th, his forces having been increased by the arrival of other troops, he made the | passage of the Delaware for the fourth time In a month, reoccupying Trenton until forced tu retire to Princeton by the maneuvers of Cornwallis. In cross- Ing and recrossing the river and fight- ing tiie battle of Trenton Washington lost only seven wen. Two were killed, four were wounded and one frozen to death. The famous pleture “Washington Crossing the Delaware” was painted in 1851 by Emanuel lLeuntze, who was born in Wurttemberg in 1816 and died at Washington in 1865, having settled permanently in America. Leutze paint. ed several other American historical scenes. The Washington pleture, an immense canvas to which no printed | reproduction can do justice, now hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York city. where it may be seen free of charge by any American patriot : —or by any Hessian or British visitor, for that matter. The great painting was presented to the museum ten vears ago by John 8. Kennedy. Itisa matter of congratulation that thi; ar- tistic representation eof an fuspirirg in- cident connected with America’s most historic Christmas now belongs prac- tically to the people of America, one and all. In the Kitchen. Miss Ella (the cook)—Go 'long, now, Mistah Johnsing! + mah ruby lips? | Mr. Johnson—Fo' de Lawd, Miss’ Jacksing. Ah jess couldn’ ersist claim in’ de privilege when Ah seen dat mis tietoe. | Miss Ella—What mistletoe yo’ all talkin’ "bout? i Mr. Johnson—W'y, dat hangin’ fom de shelf right 'bove yo' beautiful haid. | Miss Ella—Huh! Dat’s nothin’ but a bunch o' spinach! | For the Present. “] am very giad to learn,” said the girl friend who had come to spend the Christmas holidays with her, “that yon are on good terms with Mr. Smiley for the present.” “Yes,” replied Miss Smirkey, “just for the present, you know." The Dear Friends. Clara (exhibiting photograph)—How do you like it? Hattle—It's perfectly lovely! “You think it a good likeness?” “Oh, no; it doesn’t look a particle like you, you know. But 1 wouldn't mind that, Clara. You are not likely to have such wonderful luck again if you sat a thousand times!"—Londen Telegraph. How dare Yo kiss |" CHRISTMAS ON SHIP OF ICE. Strange Story of Skipper Shipwrecked on the Pacific. Captain 8. A. Hoyt, s®retary of the Masters and Pilots’ association of Seat- tle, Wash.,, and possibly one of the | most widely known seafaring men on | the Pacific coast, has a fund of expe- riences to draw from when he wishes to while away an hour. Up in the big, pleasant rooms of the association the captain recently told the following fale: “The approach of Christmas always reminds me of the December that I spent on an Ice ship. Never heard of one? Well, they are unusual. 1 was master of the little brig Holly, and along about the 1st of November we were wrecked away down south of the Horn. The ship went on an ice floe and was battered all to pieces, We f i when aid manage to save some tools and food and part of the cargo. “1 put the crew to work to cut off a large pinnacle of the berg. Then I set them all to work with axes, and we shaped it into a graceful ship's hull. After that we hollowed it out inside, making cabins snd everythivg like a regular ship, and with some of the timber saved from our vessel we rig- ged her as a bark, side lights and ev- erything, even going so far as to paint ber and name her the Holly. She was a fine craft and floated like a duck finally launched. We spent Christmas on board of her and had a great time. 1 loaded part of the wreck- ed Holly's cargo in her, and we then ' started for Callao, which was our des- tination. “The ice ship salled fine and was as good a sea boat as any in which 1 sail- ed. This was only, however, when we Vere sawn sorth in cold walter The — FETROPOLITAN MUSEUM GF ART 3 tT SB pa oT uw 3, TE vines | nearer we got to the o,... 2 Might. er became our vessel, and 1 finally dis- covered that our ship was melting be- neath us. Another two days and we would have been in the water when a steamer picked us up and also saved the cargo. This paid for the loss of the vessel, which was also insured, so the owners came out ahead in the end.” . Willy's Hot Christmas. “Well, Willy.” said Uncle Ned, who sometimes talked slangy, “1 suppose vou had a hot time on Christmas.” “1 sh'd say 1 did,” replied Willy. “Santy Claus filled my socks so full that they fell down into th’ fireplace an’ ketched on fire, an' [ got up t' gother up the scraps that wuz left an’ found paw there tryin’ t' do th’ same thing, an’ 1 got m’ hands an’ arms burned so I had t' stay in bed all day, an’ then paw licked me fer gittin’ up 80 early on Chris'mus mornin’.” 3 " mn mn " mn Mn n n \ BS: | Mm mand. n n n n n n n to town. Mistletoe. m mn mn n Mn mn PEE33333333 Clear Toys, made of pure sugar. 0 0000000 Santa has been working very hard for the last two months at Sourbeck’s Candy Kitchen to make enough of those Pure Candies to supply the de- W We have the largest line of plain and fine candies ever put on sale in Bellefonte, consisting of Huyler's one, two and three 1b boxes. g y 0 0000000 BlG LINE OF LOWNEY'S Stacy's Fine Chocolates and Bon Bons. seal shipped Oysters. The largest line of Christmas Greens ever brought Holly Rings, Loose Holly, Crow Foot, Laurel by the yard and Almond, Walnu, Home-made Caramels Turkish Caramels, and Don't forget—the goods Don’t forget our famons Nut Candies: Peanut and Maple Pecans. best of all our Celebrated Salt Farinna Taffy. come under the head of pure food law and we guarantee everything we sell. We have a very beautiful line of half pound boxes in the Moving Picture line, just the thing for Schools and Churches, such as Jack-be Nimble, Old King Cole, Ding Dong Dell, Pussy in the Well, Goosey, Goosey Gander, Little Miss Muffet, Little Jack Horner, Hey Diddle Diddle, Santa Claus and lots of others, Special prices to Schools and Churches. 00000000 SOURBECK’S, Old Stand and Petrikin Hall, bh gecgee A Merry Christmas to All 333333 Don’t forget our Hand Made ' A full line of Fruit, Nuts, Celery, and 333333333333 333333 333 Ee & - = =% Bellefonte. Ye3cceeeces £0
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers