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« ■1 J « f f Wv III % : -A -W y, M >;< mw/ m Nil ? »5 yJw. V y. ;V 1 x'iiâï: m J iii I Battle of Uexinqtonÿ April 19, 1775 ^ William Pawes.Jr. FROM CARLE'5 OftAWiNC. MAPC A PAV6 LATER. Paul Revere By ELMO SCOTT WATSON jiSTEN, my children, and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of . . . No, not of Paul Revere—at least, not of him as the only rider on that historic April night 160 years ago. For there were two others who also sped through the darkness as mes sengers of alarm and whtf also de serve to be remembered by their fel low-Amerlcans. But they are not thus remembered. Why? How does it happen that Paul Revere Is so famous while William Dawes, Jr., and Dr. Samuel Prescott are virtually "forgotten men"? There are several plausible reasons. One of them is the lucky chance of his having a name which fitted well Into the swinging cadence of a poem by one of America's best loved poets. "William Dawes" and "Samuel Pres cott" are good, substantial American names. But somehow they lack the musical quality of "Paul Revere." L •fcl ■ Another Is the lucky chance (or perhaps It was shrewd foresight) of his having written out an account of his exploit and of this manuscript being preserved for posterity. Still another Is the fact that tills midnight ride was only one incident in the career of a man of extraordinary versatility. For Paul Revere was a silversmith, an engraver, a cartoonist, a publisher, a poet, a dentist, a merchant, an inventor and a soldier and his accomplishments in any one of these occupations might easily* have guaranteed more than transient fame for him. Recognition of these accomplishments did come to him in his / lifetime but for the immortality that is his, he can thank Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and the poem "The Ride of Paul Revere," first pub lished some 65 years ago and since then recited countless times by countless American school children. ' Recognition was longer in coming to William Dawes, Jr., even in his native New England. For many years April 19, the anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord, has been ob served as Patriots' day and celebrated as a holi day. In 1915 began the annual re-enactment of Paul Revere's ride as a part of the celebration, but it was not until five years later that William Dawes was similarly honored. On April 17, 1921), the Boston Evening Transcript carried an article which said in part: "Both William Dawes and Paul Revere will ride from Boston town to Lexington on Mon day. In these Twentieth century years, while Paul Revere has repeated his famous ride on each succeeding Patriots' day, William Dawes has not, heretofore, ventured forth over the route jvhlch he followed on the nineteenth of April, century before last/ But this year he will make the trip and will receive his share of the honors of the day. The story of the ride of William Dawes is a generally forgotten incident of the dawn of the Revolutionary struggle, yet he seems to have been entitled to an equal share with Paul Revere in the credit of a daring and dangerous enterprise. He left Boston at the same time and carried the same message of warning, and alarm to the inhabitants of each outlying vil lage and hamlet Dawes went under orders of the Committee of Safety as did Revere, but Dawes was sent by the way of Roxbury, Brook line, Cambridge and Arlington to Lexington, instead of the route followed by Revere through Charlestown, Somerville, Medford and Arling ton. The Idea .was that the British were not likely to capture both riders and one of them was almost certain to get past the enemy. As a matter of fact, both overcame the difficulties and dangers and reached their common desti nation in safety. While the ride of William Dawes has been a majority of tig general public, it has been by no means overlooked by the his torians. In connection with the present observ ance a brief account of the exploit and some thing about Dawes himself has been prepared by W. K. Watkins, historian general of the Sons of the American Revolution. Mr. Watkins says: "William Dawes, Jr., a young tanner, was born in the North End in *1^45. He was an active patriot with Revere, Doctor Warren and others, a small group In watchful waiting, for a move of the British against.the Americans. Warning of such a movement was given by William Jasper, an Englishman, who had mar ried Ann, sister of Robert Newman, the sex ton of Christ church. Jasper was a cutler and did work for the soldiers and so beard of the Intended expedition. "During the war Dawes removed with his family to Worcester, where he was assistant commissary of issues at the mngazine.X After the war from 1782 to 1795 he Kept a general store at 13 Dock square now numbered 21 to 30. He lived on Ann, now North street, where stood (he 'Franklin House' half a century ago. In 1795 he went to live on his farm In Marl boro where he died February 25, 1799. His body Is buried in the King's Chépel Burial ground." But although Massachusetts thus in 1920 be gan to pay belated tribute to one of her heroes, it was not until four years lateF that Americans unknown to MjjS «fjS - M v* ■* j fJH ... I ÜB pm mm . . m ■ WÊ m ■ ' J ' ' ■ Jf* . rast» Retreat of the British From Concord generally became aware of the name and fame of William Dawes, Jr. That came about through a rather curious development during a political campaign. In 1924 the Republican party nominated Gen. Charles'Gates Dawes of Illinois as the running mate for Calvin Coolidge who had succeeded to the presidency after the death of President Harding. A few weeks later Senator Pat Har rison, "keynoter" at the Democratic convention called upon his party to give to the nation a "new Paul Revere" who should act as a mes senger of warning to the country of the dangers of continued Republican rule. That led a reader of the New York Herald-Tribune to recall that the great-grandfather of the Republican nominee for vice president had' ridden with Paul Revere In 1775 and to bring to light the following poem by Helen F. More, a New England writer or verse, which had appeared In the Youth's Com panion : WHAT'S IN A NAME? J am a wandering, bitter shade; Never of me was a hero made; Poets have never sung my praise ; Nobody crowned my brow with bays ; And if you ask me the fatal cause I answer only, "My name was Dawes." 'Tis all very well for the children to hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere; But why should my name be quite forgot Who rode as boldly and well, God wot? Why-'Should I ast? The reason is clear— My name was Dawes and his Revere. When the lights from old North church flashed out, Paul Revere was waiting about, But I was already on my way. The shadows of night fell cold and gray As I rode with never a break or pause, But what was the use when my name was Dawes ! History rings with his silvery name; Closed to me are the portals of fame. Had he been Dawes and I Revere No one had heard of hlm, I fear. No onfe has heard of me because His name was Revere and mine was Dawes. This poem was widely reprinted both during the campaign and after General Dawes had be come vice president, and it did much to establish in the minds of Americans that William E. Dawes as well as Paul Revere was a heroic figure in the events of April 18-19, 1775. His name be came even better known durftfg the Lexington and Concord Sesquicentennial celebration in 1925 in which his descendant, Vice President Dawes, had a prominent part. During this celebration two bronze tablets honoring Dawes were un veiled—one marking the site of his home at 16 North street in Boston ancT one on the Brighton end of the Larz Anderson bridge, marking the spot where he crossed the Charles river "on his way to alarm the country of the march of the British to Concord." As for the third of the "midnight riders," Dr. Samuel Prescott, he Is still pretty much a "for gotten man," so far as Americans generally are concerned. Even in New England his recogni tion has been even more belated than was Dawes'. On April 19, 1930, the Boston Globe car ried a special dispatch from Concord which said in part: "Dr. Samuel Prescott'' (Impersonated by Sergt. Andrew G, McKnight of Troop A, One Hundred Tenth cavalry) galloped into town at two this afternoon, reined in his horse in front of Wright's tavern to notify the natives that "the British are on the march." "Dr. Prescott" presented the reproduction of his historic ride for the first time today and It added much interest Concord's observ ance of Patriots' day. "Dr. Prescott" has waited some time for his place in the limelight, but he found solace in the fact that he was generally accredited with being quite the handsomest and best-dressed "rider" of the three. When the original Revere and Dawes left Lexington on that famous night in April, 1775, fROM THE PAINTING ÔT CHAPPCL to come to Concord, they met Doctor Prescott on tiie way. Doctor Prescott lived In Concord and had been courting In Lexington that night. Thus, Charles L. Burrlll of the Boston com mittee, explained to Concordions near Wright's tavern, this afternoon, the reason for the bro caded costume, the white lace and other pret ties worn by "Dr. Prescott." Wright's tavern Is the building at which the men of Concord and surrounding towns gath ered at the call to arms on April 19, 1775. Major Pitcairn of the British detachment which reached Concord made the tavern his head quarters, and it was here he made his famous boast that he would "stir the Yankee blood this day." Not only is Dr. Samuel Prescott a "forgotten man" so far as the average American Is con cerned, but he is still pretty much of a shadowy figure In American history. You will look for his name in vain in any of the school book histories or even In the cyclopedias of biography. But that he had an important part in the history-making events of those two April days 160 years ago Is attested to by a contemporary account of no less importance than Paul Reveres own narrative which says: "I set off upon a very good horse; It was then about 11 o'clock, and very pleasant. In Medford I waked the captain of the Minute Men ; and after that, 1 alarmed almost every house, till I got to Lexington. "After I had been there about half an hour, Mr. Dawes -arrived, who came from Boston, over the neck; we set off for Concord, and were overtaken by a young gentleman named Prescott, who belonged to Concord, and was going home; when we had got about half way from Lexington to Concord the other two stopped at a House to awake the man. I kept along, when I got about 2Ö0 yards ahead of them ; I saw two officers as before. I called to my company to come up, saying here was two of thèm. In an instant I saw four of them, who rode up to me, with their pistols In their hands, said, 'You stop. If you go an Inch fur ther, you are a dead Man.' Immediately, Mr. Prescott came up. W^ attempt to git thro' them, but they kept before us, and swore If we did not turn Into that pasture, they would blow our brains out (they had placed themselves op posite to a pair of Barrs and had taken the Barrs down). They forced us in, when we got in, Mr. Prescott said, put on. He took to the left', I to the right, towards a wood at the bottom of the Pasture intending, when I gained that, to jump my Horsè, and run afoot; just as I reached it, out started six officers, seized ray bridal, put their pistols to my breast or dered me to dismount, which I di(L them examined me and asked me ^v One of hat my name was. I told him. He asked me If I was an express. I answered in the affirmative. "He demanded what time I left Boston. I told hifn^ and adijed that their troops had catched aground in passing the river, and that there would be 500 Americans there in a short time, for I had alarmed the country all the way" up. He immediately rode towards thçse Who stopped us, when all five of them came down upon a full gallop. One of them clapped a pistol to my head and told me he was going to ask me some questions, aud if I did not give him true answers he would blow brains out He then asked the questions and ordered me to mount my horse. "When we got to the road they turned down toward Lexington. When we had got about one mile tiie major-rode up to the officer that was leading me and told him to give me to the sergeant. The major enquired how far It was to Cambridge. Then he asked the sergeant If his horse was tired and said "take that man's horse." I dismounted, and the sergeant mount ed my horse, and they all rode towards Lex ington meeting house." The British then released Revere, who went on to Reverend Clark's house where he warned Hancock and Aduras in time for them to flee. In the meantime Doctor Prescott had safely made his escape and soon readied Concord. As for what followed—"You know tiie rest. In books you have read . .'' ® by Western Newspaper Union. my Simple Motif in Bedspread Design - By GRANDMOTHER CLARK L/ > : . üü 8* m . mmm Mil m iS » Some needleworkers hesitate when it comes to crocheting a bedspread, '"because ijjpo much work and time is required to finish 1 it. The design shown above is about the simplest pattern known and works up fast. This model is worked in cream, rose and yellow carpet warp and meas ures 4% indies for each square. Find the size spread" you want to make and then figure how many squares it will take. 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