ALLENTOWN, Pa. — America’s symbol of freedom escaped suspected capture in a horse-drawn wagon under the cover of night, hidden beneath straw, hay, manure and/or potato sacks, depending on the version of the lore.
Escorted by a guard of 200 cavalrymen, it traveled from Philadelphia to Quakertown to Bethlehem and, finally, to Allentown on primitive dirt, muddy, rutted and challenging roads.
Paved roads still were 15 years away, making the journey jarringly arduous…