Show forgotten HEROES by ELMO SCOTT WATSON the patriots Patriot 3 messenger N NO 0 SOONER had the patriots won their victories at lexington and cone concord ord on that historic morning in 1775 than tile the provincial council do da aided that tile the news of tile tho battlo battle should be taken at once to london and be given to sympathizers with the american cause before the british ors could present it to the public in a light favorable to their side of the argument tile the man who was to carry tills this message must be a man of discretion and courage Lou ingo for it was certain th that atlie lie would be ai rested arrested by tho the officers of tile the crown it if tits his mission became known so it was entrusted to capt john derby a well known skipper ivilo lio was to make tile the journey on tile packet quero lie ile was wag ordered to make for tile the port of dublin or any other irish port that seemed scorned wise se and proceed from there theio to london to tits ills orders was attached this imperative postscript you are to keep heep this order a profound secret from froia every person on oa earth 0 after a voyage of 20 lays days the quero reached england aan further safeguard against beti ayal of ills his plans plan captain derby did not put in at an irish port ns lie had been ordered to do but sailed balled to tile the isle of wight an and then thell wont went overland to southampton and I 1 ondon london there lie immediately placed ills his papers in the hands of benjamn benjamin Fr franklin auldin tile alio massachusetts agent in london and the next lay day patriot sympathizers throughout england knew of thil result of the th battles that tho the officials of the crown knew that an attempt would be made to bring this news to england Is shown by the fact that they were on the lookout tor for much auch a messenger who they believed would be captain brown commander of tile the sukey brown however did not arrive in R england till june 0 and by that time captain derbys quick trip in the quero had rn ie suited in presenting to the british public first the patriots side of the story although captain derby had fulfilled his mission successfully he was waa not yet out of danger there was still the chance that agents of the king W would try to capture him and his preparations for departure from england were W ere as mysterious as they had been for his leaving america there was still danger too from the authorities when lie he returned to america and so BO lie he made a a secret landing upon his return to tills this country one other item in derbys exploit la Is interesting in rendering his bill to the provincial congress for the trip lie he made no charge tor for his own expenses it was his contribution trib ution to the patriot cause |