New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-17

ments' detention. But confess had reckoned with.
out my host and was not Of the storm that was
gathering around me- II is true that had soundedthe
hoowness of boosted Virginia hospitality" and had
found ont the rotenness of Virginia "chyshy," but
had not yet fully learned the brutality of the Virginia
people at large nor the utter endisness Of Virginia
mob. l was guilty Of act the Inconvenience Of
which had already experienced but the unPardona-
bic sin of which, at that particular time and place, lhad
not yet fully realized. was from the NOrth-a North
ernerl On being Intercepted stated, as usual, that
WAS from Washington City and papers upon my per-
con showed hs fact, and further Ia fact had not be-
fore thought of in connection with my Southern tour
that was from the same State as "Abe Lincoln
These two facts, taken together or separntey, were
proof positive in the mind Of the majority of the large
crowd that had gathered around me and my captors
Glere was a county muster at the time and pace) that
/ was spy and nothing else Besides what operated
very much against in the igBorant ard illiterste
community was in), was at the lime fully equipped
US pedestrian, with pen, ink and paper ON my per-
son, from which it was explained 10 tie crowd that
could probably "read and write Being specially in
terros on the latter point, confessed that conid
in my poor way. IL was even suggested that was
",vide ntly very intelligent man for my apparent
station in life and consequently might be avery dan
gerous one Just AT that time, if were ci 7oeed 10 be-
before tated, excited the surrounding crowd to the
highest pitch of frenzy and blooG.thirsness and with
out further deberution the fornahy and geuiity Of
a rope execution abandoned and giale vine was
actually sent for aud brought upon the ground IL Wac
suggested that even tits be Gisuensed WITH and thai
be se up as a target for the company drill to prac
tce at. his Iious suggestion, | understood after
ward, was made by Methodist eldsS-leader OF the
Methodist Church South.
Hardly ten niinvtes after had been leisurey and
ty a birds aTdn Qf
Virginia FORGET, this storm Of popular fury burst sud-
denly upon me. All exposuldtion and entreaty for
time 20 explain and yindcate my position seemed for
5he moment in vain. The verdict OF gnilIy" bad
been rendered by q phrenzied mob, and j; only re-
manned to execute the sentence III the most summary
and barbarOus manner, uDets / conld cell my life
dearly possible against such fearful and elm
ing odds. Colts improved revolver had been dis
covered upon my person, and taken from me, but
still had concealed in convenient place about me,
most effective dagger OF my own invention, VITA Viii
felt, that by sudden and desperate onslaught, might
Sendtwo three Of the principal hends around ne
back 10 Avemus while l. falling by the hands OF their
survivors entered upon the anIred realities Of another
world. But, fortunately, the elements Of respite
existed among the papers which had been taken from
my person, which tie cooler and more intelligent and
lawabiding portion Of the crowd bad been carefully
examining. Among these they found lot Of phouo.
graphic nOtes and a memorandum showing that had
left my baggage in Richmond to be forwarded to order
These notes had had the precaurion TO head in plain
Conservative Press" This simple article, noticed,
had humanizing effect upon tho minds Of the ex.
sminers Of my papers, and doubt was instrumental
in saving my life this ii not subsequent, occasion.
These Dotes also, notwithstanding the photography
entirely OF my own invention, Tor my own excl,-
siye use. and could not possibly b. read by any other
peroD, had bad the precauon, IN care l should lie
required 10 read hem 10 30 word - 10 convey The or
poste Of their real meaning, wherever they were full
enough to express sentiment at all. Being now re-
Qured 10 translate my photography for tue benet Of
the crowd fully realized the advantage OF tie pre-
canton had taken, both In the facility Of uuhesi-
tsingy rendering the text in that moment OF ex iie-
ment, and in The satisfactory effect which the rendering
seemed TO have upon the crowd-which was such. at
the close Of my reading that again inspired with
the hope Of an immediate release. Bat, alas my evil
genius the Methodist elass-leadrr acrctAid the arch
hend Ut the mob was not "a isied. He prOpo. e. 10
detain me until tie notes could lie to Richmond
for ition and my baggage could lie snt for aid
examined This prorofition, 20 my surprise and hcr-
ror seemed TO meet with tho general appreciation OF
the crowd and, before knew what wa going on, by
come fseile swist Of Virgbia law, wiiloat M eycn
knowing that there Justice Of The Pace any.
where about, stood committed 60 the County jail
until the next meeting Of the County Cont neatly
month of, on the charge Of being "a suspi osS char
acter." exposnlaled against such cruel detention
and Incarceration and proposed 10 be taken at once 20
Richmond aud have the matter fully Investigated.
confess that at this particular Juncture yeaned for
the superior civilization OF the city Notwithstanding it,
too, under reign Of terror. But l was
coolly told that the times were "ticklish and tia,
the law must take its coursc-that stood committed
for examination at the term OF The County Court
and that the proceeding could not be reversed.
So was Ia for IT, and bad but to make the best Of
bad matter. learned with increased dread that tie
Jail and courthouse several miles further on in
the country aud that there railroad, telegraph,
nor printing office them. Nearly MONTHS i'm
prsonn ent IN such place unpromising indeed but
noions voioRs was soon on my winding way thitbcr
in an old fasl ipned dearborn wagon in charge Of
a. lIaI
sun sank behind tho Western hills the humble indi-
ydual who now addresses you might have been
surveying the beauties OF Nature through the afIce
window Of Virginia lookup. Opposite the win.
dow in the apartment which had been az.
signed to me was q cosey little Fireplace, with
q liberal pile Of pine wood on the right, willie
q new straw mattress and Mackinaw blanket
grsced the oak floor ON the left. The remain.
der of the furniture consisted Of old PIKE table
splnt-bottom chair, piggin OF water on Il shelf,
gourd TO drink out of, III d tim washbow Hore
il was my destiny to be kept nearly month on a
scanty supply of corn bread and herring or pork ad-
ministsred twice day by the jaor ana colored ser;
from the fact that all kcds Of provisions in Virginia
were ut famine prices that the sors allowed only
thrty-fve cents per day for keeping prisoners, ana
that mine host In the parsimoniousuess Of his SOUL
had TO make at leas. five hundred per cent bis ex-
penditures ia my behalf II had not had the means
and been allowed to lay in extra, at an enormous
shave, verify believe that l would have been starved
TO death; and my heart now aches to think Of the
hundreds of prisoners, political and criminal, Ia vir-
gi,ia sils that must al tits moment he at the point OF
starvation with insatias hunger continually gnswng
at their vitals.
Aher got the hang of my new quarters aud had
properly regulated my extra supplies, managed to
pass the time as comfortably could be expected
der the circumstances. Only one thing preyod par
ticuary upon my mind and thio, II will readily bo
seen, was very serious matter. had nothing fear
from my Photographic notes, anything else that
had been found upon my person on the Of my
arrest. The notes. as have said, nobody could read
but myself, and nothing prejudicial to could be