The Original Old Farts Club

[Unca Walt]

I got more stories. I dunno why we are not famous. My 9-times grampa (when he was 20) escaped from the Brits DURING HIS HANGING.

If I can find the ms, I'll post it. But I dunno if I can find the original.

Dammit!! My 'puter is a mess, and I cannot find the original... I will describe the events:

An English Major Cunningham (later hanged for stealing his men's rations) was gonna hang the guy you see who (much later) received the sword from LaFayette. Six Hessian sojers and the Major escorted my young 9X grampa to the gallows in what is now Battery Park on Manhattan Island. This was done in the gloom of late evening, since hanging sojers would not sit well with most folks.

There was a sneaky wonderdude whose name -- sadly -- is lost to history. A buddy of Garret's... he sneaked over from the Jersey side and hid in an open grave, trying to figgur out how to save his buddy.

So here comes the hangin' party. The Major tells Garret, "I will give you three minutes to pray before your grave, and then we will hang you."

So Garret kneels down to pray... and hears his buddy's voice come up out of the grave hole:

"Pssst! Garret!! It's me, xxxxxxx! When your three minutes are up, stand up and turn around. I will cut the ropes around your ankles and we'll run for it!"

So... Garret prayed in the spooky gloom. Then he stood up. As the Hessians approached a dark figure with a hanger (sabre) jumped up screaming. The Hessians essentially **** themselves and ran off... with the Major.

Garret went on to be singled out by LaFayette for his honor guard when he came back to the new United States.

I offered the Sned with the sword $10,000 on the "Today" show on TV when we were brought together. I did NOT get the sword. The epaulette was also a gift from LaFayette. As well as a tortoise shell snuffbox.

 

[user 60570]

My uncle and namesake died and is buried in Tunisia fighting Rommel in Africa at the Battle of the Kasserine Pass.

In November 1942, the American and British forces launched Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa through French Morocco and Algeria. This was the first campaign in which the American Army engaged the armed forces of Nazi Germany, commanded under General Erwin Rommel. The Allied forces moved steadily eastward, with the British taking Tripoli under General Bernard Montgomery in late January 1943. Allied forces crossed the Atlas mountains and took up forward positions at Faid, from which they could thrust eastward toward the Mediterranean sea, dividing Rommel’s forces in the north and south. But the American Army was about to encounter the tough realities of what war with the German army truly meant.
Acting upon the threat, in mid-February Rommel used the Afrika Korps 10th and 21st Panzer divisions to push back the Allied defensive lines from the Eastern to the Western Dorsale within the interior plain of the Atlas mountains. The US II Corps concentrated its strength at Tebessa, where Allied commanders Lloyd Fredendall and Kenneth Anderson (UK) believed they could best protect the Kasserine Pass. Rommel, however, sensed the opportunity. With the momentum against the Allied forces, he realized an attack directly on their main strength through the Kasserine Pass might yield impressive gains— the capture of much-needed supplies, protection of the German-held coastal region to the east, and a possible forward staging area for the Luftwaffe to stage further attacks.

Kasserine Pass Symposium
The 75th Anniversary of The Battle of Kasserine Pass Symposium, taking place February 24 at the Museum, will look at the key lessons of the battle and explain ways in which the setback in Tunisia produced a hardened US Army that would march on to victory.

In the early morning hours of February 19, the Germans launched their attack through the Kasserine Pass. They were able to inflict heavy damage on the Allied forces in the coming days, as the Allies reeled westward in retreat for 50 miles. Underlying problems among the Allied forces, and within the American Army in particular, became painfully clear.

The Allied forces were not properly positioned because their commanders had not personally reconnoitered the landscape. Not only were the American, British, and French forces uncoordinated among themselves, but within the American forces Fredendall had split up elements within divisions, assigning them individual tasks on the battlefield rather than emphasizing coordinated, integrated actions.

The inexperience of the US Army in combat was evident in the performance of both troops and equipment. These elements later drew Rommel’s personal scorn. Finally, it was evident that the Allied leaders did not inspire confidence among their men.

Despite these losses and setbacks, the US II Corps along with British reserves managed to regroup and hold on February 22, launching a massive artillery attack that halted the German offensive. Faced with his own overextended supply lines and an Allied force that was now receiving rushed reinforcements, Rommel chose to exit and ordered all Axis units to return to their starting positions to concentrate on defending the German-held coastal areas.

While Kasserine Pass was not an American victory, it did hold deep significance for the future. The Americans seriously contemplated where their efforts had failed and boldly initiated changes to improve their battlefield performance.

Emphasis on air superiority, proper cover in the desert landscape, and positioning of units so that they could effectively work together and cover each other in a unified manner was stressed. Finally, General Dwight D. Eisenhower took control of the command structure. He created the 18th Army Group under General Harold Alexander (UK) as the new Allied headquarters in North Africa, and placed an invigorating leader, Major General George S. Patton (see top photo), in charge of the US II Corps. The American reaction to Kasserine Pass showed the American Army’s determination that next time the Germans would experience very different results.

 

[Unca Walt]

Kasserine Pass was a watershed. I am a student of this battle. Some Americans threw down their weapons and ran (shame!). I ain't brave, but I would die first.

It was the Brits who strengthened the American line and gave the brand-new green troops a few precious hours to get it together. It was the astonishingly accurate and effective American artillery guys that actually held the line.

Ernie Pyle wrote about it -- describing how the Germans were so impressed by the reverse-slope air-burst capability displayed by the American "cannon-cockers" that they dug foxholes down... and then over to get away from the deadly air-bursts.

One of my Family was in The Big Red One there in Tunisia. He came home with a gorgeous broom-handle Mauser with a combination holster-turned-stock to make a mini-rifle out of it. I would give my left nut and a year in H ell to own it.

 

[Hippie420]

The broomhandles were sweet, but I'd rather have a Luger carbine. Passed up a chance to buy a original version, dished toggles, and all matching numbers around forty years or so ago for just shy of two grand. I think if you could find one today, it'd be closer to fifteen.

 

[yooper420]

Good morning my old fart brethren. Took my wife's diamond ring in to get it appraised. Paid $5,000 for it 21 years ago. Appraised at $13,600. At least I did not get ripped off when I bought it.

 

[Unca Walt]

My uncle and namesake died and is buried in Tunisia fighting Rommel in Africa at the Battle of the Kasserine Pass.



View attachment 277920View attachment 277921





In November 1942, the American and British forces launched Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa through French Morocco and Algeria. This was the first campaign in which the American Army engaged the armed forces of Nazi Germany, commanded under General Erwin Rommel. The Allied forces moved steadily eastward, with the British taking Tripoli under General Bernard Montgomery in late January 1943. Allied forces crossed the Atlas mountains and took up forward positions at Faid, from which they could thrust eastward toward the Mediterranean sea, dividing Rommel’s forces in the north and south. But the American Army was about to encounter the tough realities of what war with the German army truly meant.
Acting upon the threat, in mid-February Rommel used the Afrika Korps 10th and 21st Panzer divisions to push back the Allied defensive lines from the Eastern to the Western Dorsale within the interior plain of the Atlas mountains. The US II Corps concentrated its strength at Tebessa, where Allied commanders Lloyd Fredendall and Kenneth Anderson (UK) believed they could best protect the Kasserine Pass. Rommel, however, sensed the opportunity. With the momentum against the Allied forces, he realized an attack directly on their main strength through the Kasserine Pass might yield impressive gains— the capture of much-needed supplies, protection of the German-held coastal region to the east, and a possible forward staging area for the Luftwaffe to stage further attacks.

Kasserine Pass Symposium
The 75th Anniversary of The Battle of Kasserine Pass Symposium, taking place February 24 at the Museum, will look at the key lessons of the battle and explain ways in which the setback in Tunisia produced a hardened US Army that would march on to victory.

In the early morning hours of February 19, the Germans launched their attack through the Kasserine Pass. They were able to inflict heavy damage on the Allied forces in the coming days, as the Allies reeled westward in retreat for 50 miles. Underlying problems among the Allied forces, and within the American Army in particular, became painfully clear.

The Allied forces were not properly positioned because their commanders had not personally reconnoitered the landscape. Not only were the American, British, and French forces uncoordinated among themselves, but within the American forces Fredendall had split up elements within divisions, assigning them individual tasks on the battlefield rather than emphasizing coordinated, integrated actions.

The inexperience of the US Army in combat was evident in the performance of both troops and equipment. These elements later drew Rommel’s personal scorn. Finally, it was evident that the Allied leaders did not inspire confidence among their men.

Despite these losses and setbacks, the US II Corps along with British reserves managed to regroup and hold on February 22, launching a massive artillery attack that halted the German offensive. Faced with his own overextended supply lines and an Allied force that was now receiving rushed reinforcements, Rommel chose to exit and ordered all Axis units to return to their starting positions to concentrate on defending the German-held coastal areas.

While Kasserine Pass was not an American victory, it did hold deep significance for the future. The Americans seriously contemplated where their efforts had failed and boldly initiated changes to improve their battlefield performance.

Emphasis on air superiority, proper cover in the desert landscape, and positioning of units so that they could effectively work together and cover each other in a unified manner was stressed. Finally, General Dwight D. Eisenhower took control of the command structure. He created the 18th Army Group under General Harold Alexander (UK) as the new Allied headquarters in North Africa, and placed an invigorating leader, Major General George S. Patton (see top photo), in charge of the US II Corps. The American reaction to Kasserine Pass showed the American Army’s determination that next time the Germans would experience very different results.

I like his grin. Looks like a guy who would be a lot of fun to hang with.

 

[ROSTERMAN]

If you visit Gettysburg Battlefield, you can buy a reprint of a newspaper that tells of the battle.

This newspaper is unusual because it was printed back in the day of hand-set letters.

So the front page of the PREVIOUS DAY remained intact, and the description of the battle began on Page Two -- because they wanted to get the story out, and did not have time to take down the first page of the previous day.

This historical treasure came about because some POS rebs pied the fargin type in the print shop just out of plain meanness.

So what was on the "not relevant" front page? Well, it was the article entitled "A Distressing Affair" <-- This told the story of the pore Sned that was standing in ranks (Yankee) when a dumb sumbitch behind him dropped his fargin shotgun... which went off, blowing my pore forebear's leg off. He ded.

So my Fambly managed to lose a sojer at Gettysburg BEFORE the fargin battle. Jeez.

I think me has been bull shooted

 

[ROSTERMAN]

Good morning my old fart brethren. Took my wife's diamond ring in to get it appraised. Paid $5,000 for it 21 years ago. Appraised at $13,600. At least I did not get ripped off when I bought it.

But what would that $5000 have bought you 21 yrs ago compared to the $13,600 today?

 

[Unca Walt]

I think me has been bull shooted

Fair response. I forgot to add the Biblical Imprimatur. Here it is: TINS!

I am looking through ancient records (used to be I had a website... and it simply got cancelled and I lost the whole fargin thing. I am finding SOME part of it, and since they are kinda fun, I will post this first one I found and hope I can find the rest.

Bolly And Tarver Go To War

Blood is definitely thicker than water. Darn good thing for a pair of young boys who almost got themselves into a pickle they might not have survived.

Many years before Johnny Cash sang of the woes of A Boy Named Sue, one of us Sneds got saddled with a name he obviously didn't care for above half. He was none other than Victoria Gayle Snedeker. While no clear-cut record exists proving that he had trouble with the name his father Isaac laid on him, it is significant that as soon as Victoria Gayle had a son, he named him... BOLIVAR GEORGE! Which is about as male a name as you can get, when you think of it.

Bolivar was affectionately called "Bolly" by his family. He liked to hang out with his cousin, Tarver, and the pair of them were sent North to Tennessee from Savannah to attend a sort of prep school.

Unfortunately, the Civil War broke out while they were up there. The Yankees came in and made a headquarters right in the area. This incensed our young firebrands, and they went right to the Confederate Recruiting Sergeant sitting at his table and demanded that they be allowed to join.

In one of the very few instances where such a thing can happen, as luck would have it, we have the actual quote of the Confederate Recruiting Sergeant:

"Boys, yer rarin' to git in, but if'n you was in, you'd be rarin' to get out!" And with that, he told the pair to go home to their folks.

This rebuff only made the forbidden all the more desirable. They hung around and pestered and pestered until finally one of the Confederates in charge allowed as how since the boys knew the area, they could go along on a raid and help guide the troops.

Well, there were the damYankees down there in the valley. The Confederates went a-whoopin' and a-hollerin' down, and conducted a mighty fine raid. Of course, when the Yankees woke up with all the noise, they just went ahead and arrested everybody (the raid was not comparable to Shiloh, one might infer).

And now, here stand our forlorn and frightened boys: One is holding the sword, the other the boots of the Yankee Captain... sort of prima facie evidence that they have been misbehaving.

The next thing they know, they are in a column of POW's, headed for prison camp. The adventure is no longer any fun at all.

But all was not lost. In an incredible stroke of good fortune, the prisoners column was commanded by none other than Lieutenant Snedeker, their Yankee UNCLE!!

Again, we have an actual quote from those long-ago days. Uncle Lieutenant Snedeker looks at the two boys and says:

"Bolly, Tarver... you see that Sergeant over there? Well I have just given him an order to look the other way for five minutes. When he looks back, you two had better be GONE!"

Tarver went all the way to Texas... and grew up to become a really colorful lawmaker.

But that's another story.

 

[Unca Walt]

I found another (the original "escape during hanging" story:

THE GREAT ESCAPE

OR...
A SWORD IN THE DARK​

This tale begins with the fall of Fort Montgomery, and the capture of Captain Johann Snedeker and his son, Garret by the perfidious British. Johann and Garret had been bodyguards to George Washington (sort of the first Secret Service), and when the Fort surrendered, all its inhabitants became prisoners.

Johann and Garret were taken to the infamous Sugar House Prison in New York City. The prison was run by a sadistic person by the name of Major William Cunningham. Cunningham was so bad that the Brits eventually hanged him. Major Cunningham had a poisonous hatred of the "Jonathans", and would execute them, while continuing to carry them on his roster in order to continue to collect the money to feed them. This, incidentally, was the cause of his eventual demise at the hands of his superiors.

Life was harsh in Sugar House Prison, and on September 28, 1778, Captain Johann Snedeker passed away from disease. Major Cunningham decided that it would be nice to finish off the rest of the family, so he decided to hang Garret.

While New York was largely Tory, it was still rather awkward politically to march young men down to the tip of Manhattan Island to hang them in broad daylight... so to avoid difficulties, Cunningham always did it very late in the day -- in the gloom of twilight.

So here we see our 24-year old hero, marching hobbled down Broadway, escorted by six Hessian soldiers and Major Cunningham. They turned into the Place Of Justice (aka: gallows yard and cemetery) right at the water's edge at the tip of Manhattan.

There on the gallows in the gloom, hanging gruesomely from the night before, was one of Major Cunningham's previous victims.

"Cut him down, and we will hang this one!" Cunningham barked.

Now we must step aside for a moment and observe something quite out of the ordinary:

A very close friend of Garret's (his name, unfortunately, lost in the mists of Time) had heard about the impending execution, and had sneaked across from Staten Island in a canoe. He had hidden himself in the only empty grave in the cemetery, trying to figure out a method to rescue his friend.

As luck would have it, when the Hessians cut down the previously hanged individual, they kicked the body into the grave where Garret's plucky pal was hiding.

"Very well," says Cunningham to Garret, "you have three minutes to pray, and then I will hang you."

Garret knelt down in front of his grave-to-be. As he began to pray, he heard a familiar voice:

"Hist! Garret! It's me! When your three minutes are up, stand up and turn around right here by the edge. I'll cut your hobbles and we'll run for it!"

"Sounds like a better plan than I have," Garret answered.

The three minutes were soon up. Garret stood, and turned around in place. His friend jumped up with his hanger (sword) in hand.

The result was spectacular. All the Hessian soldiers and Cunningham saw was that they had dumped that creepy, very dead corpse in the grave. Then the young soldier had prayed for a bit over that grave, and suddenly, up jumped a wild figure in the gloom with a sword waving! All seven ran away in terror.

Garret and his friend made it to the canoe and escaped.

 

[Unca Walt]

HOOHAH! OOOORAH!!

Summonabenches can't bullschtein me! Fargin sneeky bastages don't believe me... Ima gonna take-a you bells and stuff them uppa you ice-a holes!!

Yeah... I found it. (stone fargin luck) Prepare to eet sheet, O doubter!

"A Distressing Affair"
or...
​

Some Days, You Can't Make a Dime
​

From the front page of the Thursday, July 2, 1863 Gettysburg Star and Banner, which was left intact and therefore re-published. The editor, Mr. J.T. M'Ilhenny wanted to get the story of the great battle which had taken place out as quickly as possible, so the type was not taken apart. The battle story was reported on the inside pages, leaving the events of the day previous to the battle still on the front page. Thus, a singular chapter of the history of our Family was saved.

Typos, odd punctuation, and misspellings (they ALWAYS spell our name wrong) are left exactly as printed.

DISTRESSING AFFAIR -- A distressing accident occurred in Bendersville on the evening of the 23rd inst. A young man by the name of C.E. Snedreker was accidentally shot, resulting in his death on the following day. A military company, organized for home defense, had met for drill, and while in the ranks a gun in the hands of one of the men, was accidently discharged, the contents, consisting of ball and buckshot, passing through the thigh of Mr. Snedreker, who was standing next to him. Another young man by name of Myers was also severely wounded by the same ball. Both Mr. Snedreker's legs were injured, the bone of the one being so much shatterd as to cause his death on the evening of the next day. Mr. S. was a comparative stranger in that locality. He was a blacksmith by trade, and was in the employ of Mr. A.B. Hummer.-----
He was supposed to be between 30 and 35 years of age. From papers in his possession, it appears he is from Croton Landing Winchester county, N.Y., where it is presumed he has relatives residing. -----
Mr. S. during his short stay in Bendersville had made many friends and was much respected. He received every attention in his last hours, by the family with whom he was working, and was decently intered in the Bendersville Cemetery. Papers throughout the country will confer a favor by making a note of this in order to bring it to the notice of the friends of the deceased.

You can acquire your very own copy of this newspaper by visiting the Gettysburg Battlefield. Reprints are on sale there, so you can have your very own piece of Sned History!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Unca Walt]

Trivia: Those of you who have read my novel, "The Cadet -- The Adventures of a New World Pioneer in the 17th Century" -- the house on the far right is a contemporary drawing made at the time Jan gave it to his new son-in-law and his daughter as a wedding gift.

Those who haven't read it... FER CRYNOUT LOUD. Less than a fargin tank gallon of gas, and you get yer money back if you can get through all 557 pages without crying -- either for sad or happy. Or... in a pinch, get all chokey.

My reader respondents are now at 88% for that reaction above.

One guy wrote: "You sonuvabitch! You got me on the LAST PAGE!!"

This ain't advertising, 'cause I get $1.18 for an e-book copy. I want folks to know THEIR history <-- It is in there. Read the reviews. The worst review: "It was too short." (at 561pp)

https://www.amazon.com/Cadet-Adventures-World-Pioneer-Century-ebook/dp/B004KKXPQC

 

[ROSTERMAN]

 

[Tattered Old Graywolf]

What hit him a 45cal? I have no Idea. Family rarely spoke about it. Scar was about the size of a small Folgers can. Spent his whole life in and out of jail. Last i heard was over 30 years ago and think he died of Aids.

Sounds more like an expanding bullet which a civilian cop might use, than ball ammo. Most civilian cops had 38 Special revolvers back then, which could have done that at relatively close range with an expanding bullet, especially if it turned his shoulder blade into shrapnel.

My uncle and namesake died and is buried in Tunisia fighting Rommel in Africa at the Battle of the Kasserine Pass.

I visited the military graveyard there in Tunis, Tunisia, which was close packed and huge. Lots of lives laid down in Tunisia, including at Carthage. Sure pretty along the coast, but mostly brown inland. Some interesting ruins.

 

[Unca Walt]

As long as I am hogging all the bandwidth, while searching through scrolls, clay tablets, and the like... I found the ONLY photograph of the Rovin' Rhoda P-51

 

[Unca Walt]

And while we are on the subject of exploding alligators... Please take a lookit this:

TikTok

 

[Unca Walt]

While I am on this pony... There is so much history staring folks in the face that they simply have not ever been exposed to. Nor will they ever.

Unless, of course, they read The Cadet.

For instinks: In the Chapter, "Shee is a dangerous woeman", you learn about the only woman to ever found a colony in America. And the colony is still there.

TINS.

Back while writing the novel, I rented a Spam Can and tooken a photo of Gravesend. It has not changed the least bit since 1645. I betcha $1.18 you din' know this:

And I betcha you din' know what happened when the Injuns attacked.

 

[pute]

Morning OFC. You guys are a windy bunch today.

 

[giggy]

Morning everybody happy fry-day. May have to work tomorrow, not sure yet.

 

[Unca Walt]

Well, I got in my Hysterical/Hysterical niche. I love history.

This is a true vignette. Every person named was real, and did as depicted. Only dialogue has been added.

An Excerpt From The Cadet:Reprieve


January, 1641


Little Annetje was playing in the snow again. She was not only wearing her “soul warmer”, the woolen sweater that crossed double in the front and then was tied in the back, but also the leathern sleeves that attached above her elbows and hooked to her thumbs. Still, she always got cold quickly when she played in the snow, so it was definitely a short-term joy that had to be hurried. The lot between the Snedeker Tavern and the van Elslant house was covered in nearly three inches of soft, powdery coldness.

The bright sun made her squint as she looked down Pearl Street. Manuel The Giant was not yet in sight, and her nose and feet were already getting cold. Manuel did not speak very well, but Little Annetje loved the huge black slave. She knew that he had chores to do before he could come down the street to join her, but she wished he’d hurry. She sighed with a little girl’s impatience, and began flapping her arms, pretending she was a bird trying to keep warm.

Little Annetje wandered toward the back of the lot, looking up the tumbled slope of the Fort. It was really a lot of trouble to get up the slope when it was snow covered, but it was equally a lot of fun to slide down. She was debating the effort versus the gains when the brightness of the sunlight suddenly diminished.

There was a man-shaped shadow on the ground in front of her. Little Annetje smiled in joy, and turned around expecting to see her giant.

But the black man in front of her was the one that always just stared at her as he walked by.

“Hello. Do you know where Manuel The Giant is?” she asked.

The man leaned down and took Little Annetje by the arm, and led her over to the angle of the house that was not visible from the street. Little Annetje looked up at him and was about to ask again when the black slave suddenly picked her up and clamped his hand over her mouth.

His hand was cold and smelled funny. Little Annetje didn’t like it, and tried to squirm out of his grasp. But she couldn’t move very much at all.

Then she felt his other hand slide up between her legs.

Little Annetje struggled frantically, making mewling noises through her nose. She could not get away from his hand, and began to cry.

A load roar came from right beside her, and she was suddenly thrown to the snow-covered ground.

Little Annetje looked up through her tears to see Manuel The Giant holding the other slave by the throat with one of his huge hands. As she watched, the other hand of the huge man also gripped the man’s throat. Then, both hands twisted, and there was a loud crackling-popping noise. The body of her attacker began to vibrate.

Manuel The Giant dropped the body, where it lay on the ground shaking for several moments longer. Then he picked up the crying little girl and carried her around to the front of the house. The door thundered as he pounded on it.

Jan opened the door to see the huge slave standing in the street, the tears in his eyes matching those of his daughter. Little Annetje reached for her father’s arms, crying. He took her and held her to him as Manuel The Giant turned and walked away down Pearl Street.

The dead man at the side of the house was not found for almost a full day. Little Annetje had gone immediately into an exhausted and deep sleep without saying anything. Jan had assumed she had just fallen and been frightened, and her giant friend had brought her home. Much later, when Jan went out to get some more firewood from the box, he was staggered to see the body laying there with its neck bent at an impossible angle. Jan’s cry of surprise was noted by people on the street, and before long a large crowd had gathered to gawk and comment.

It did not take any great amount of detective work to find out who had done it. When Manuel The Giant was asked if he had killed the slave, he simply nodded in the affirmative.

Willem Kieft quickly pronounced that Manuel The Giant was to be hanged on the evening next day for the murder of the slave. It would be only the second hanging in the history of Nieuw Amsterdam.

The entire colony was abuzz with the news. Discussion of the murder and its locale caused a temporary boost in the number of customers in the taproom. Little Annetje soon heard what was going to happen the next day, and ran to her father in tears.

“Daddy! You’ve got to save Manuel The Giant!” she wailed.

“I’m sorry, Little Blossom, but he admitted to killing that slave. That is murder, and murder is punished by hanging.”

“But Daddy, he was just protecting me!” Little Annetje related the whole incident to her father, and Jan’s blood ran cold.

Jan went immediately to Willem Kieft’s house to explain what had happened. Kieft listened attentively, but when Jan was done, he shook his head. “It is too bad, Jan Snedeker, but I have already pronounced the sentence. It would look bad for me to call it back – after all, a murder is a murder.”

“He was protecting my daughter! It wasn’t murder.”

“He could have just pulled the man away and let the authorities handle the situation.” Kieft continued, shaking his head negatively. “He had no authority to kill the slave himself.”

Jan was enraged with frustration. “The man is a half-wit! He was only doing what he thought was right and necessary!”

“Still… unless there are other circumstances, I cannot rescind the order. He will have to hang tomorrow at sundown.”

Jan stormed out of Kieft’s house. His mind boiled. This was injustice of the worst stripe, he thought. He wracked his brain to find a way to convince not only Willem Kieft, but also everybody in the colony that Manuel The Giant should not be hanged. And he had to do it within the next day.

He went home to think.

Annetje looked at the tortured face of her husband and knew he had had no success with the Governor. “May God damn Willem Kieft’s soul to Hell,” she said with a completely uncharacteristic vehemence. “The man just likes to see death dealt everywhere.”

She was straightening the leatherworking equipment up in the back room as she spoke. Jan joined her. Sometimes, working with his hands helped him to think. He started helping her clean up.

“Maybe the rope will break,” she said hopelessly.

“Not likely. I’ve seen the hangman’s rope that is stored in the Place of Justice. It’s very strong and thick. So there is no chance of it breaking short of Divine Providence.”

And there it was.

Jan’s face lit up. “I’ve got an idea! I must go see Dominie Everardus Bogardus right away!” He ran out of the back room, through the taproom and into the street without even stopping for his coat.

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