Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1894 — COOPER’S SPY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COOPER’S SPY.

He Was a Beal Character Named Enoch Croeby. Few people know that Harvey Birch, the hero of Cooper’s qovel, “The Spy," had a prototype in real life who played a somewhat active part during the revolutionary war in this country. The man’s name was Enoch Crosby, and he lived near Brewster, N. Y. His house Is still standing on the farm which he cultivated for many years. Crosby got into his work as a spy shortly after the battle of Long Island, when he was setting out to join

the patriot army. He fell In with a party of ’Tories, and they mistook him for one o f themselves, so he went with them and passed several mays in their company. Finally ho Jleft them, and going to John Jay, a

member of the Citizens’ Committee of Safety, reported all the Information he had gained. Jay deemed Crosby’s action so brilliant that be Immediately commissioned him as a spy to watch the Tory forces. This was very Important work and Crosby accomplished It with much success. He continually managed to penetrate the secrets of the Tories, sometimes disguised as an itinerant shoemaker, and to gain most valuable information. He was often captured when in their company, but always managed to escape, of course, much to the enemy’s mystl flcation, who believed him to be in league with the devil. Once with Tory prisoners he was chained in a church, but while his companions were asleep he got away through the window. On another occasion he only escaped through the good offices of the maid of a house where he was imprisoned, who drugged all the sentries and guards. At the close of the war Crosby settled again in Brewster. There he lived, married and died. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and for years a justice-of the peace in the township. Effective. In some of the German towns when a man is convicted of beating his wife he is allowed to go to his work as usual, but his wife gets his wages and he is locked up only on Saturday nights and remains tn prison until the following Monday. The punishment usually lasts for ten weeks.

ENOCH CROSBY.