Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1863-05-29
THE CUNNING EMISSARY.

The Detroit Free Press OF the I4th ult.,
states that communication has just been
received from Mackinaw. which gives the
particulars Of the passage through that
country Of Reid Sanders, son Of George N:
Sanders, and his escape to Canada, with
dispatches from the Confederate Govern.
ment, for transmission to Commissioner
Slidell, at Paris. The statement is as fol-
| lows
| The United States assessor for the Mack
NAV district, together with the sheriff Of
Mackiuaw county, had been on visit to
Della county, in the Bay Of de Noquette
section, for the purpose of assessing and
collecting taxes. On their way back, they.
overlook poor looking young man, of whom
they made inquiries concerning the roads and
other matters on which they wished to:be
Informed. They received no answer to their
interrogatories, however, and the fact was
soon ascertained that their fellow traveller
was both deaf and dumb. He had with
him small slate, with which be was able
TO converse with them in writing. The as
SCISSOR and sheriff endeavored to persuade
the unfortunate" young man to return
with them to Greenbay. for The reasen that
4 he had no bedding, and not sufficient cloth
lug to protect him from the inclemeucy Of
the weather III that cold climate 10 these
kind nersuasions, hewever, he refused to
listei4, stating hat be srad cousin at Sault
81 Marie Hhn9e aants he gave as 'tMr.
l.
4 Malictie, @slQm M had not. seen in %
! years, and it was his unalterable determin-
alton to steer for that place. He also
stated that be wished to enjoy hunt in the
vicinity Of Sault, and to com bine profit with
/ pleasure, he was intending to speculate in
/ furs. He accompanied the officials as far
as Mackinaw, enjoying the Inequalities OF
their tents, and passing the time as socia-
bly, as, under the circumstances, could have
been expected He stopped at Maekinaw a
few days, and at the end Of that time, &C,
companied the mail carrier to the Sault.
On the way they often met other travel
lers, with whom the mute conversed with
his slate, writing French as easily and flu
emily as English. He is described as be-
ing splendid penman and scholar of M
Ordinary merit Wneu Wltulu ABOUT three
4 miles of the Sault he bid adieu to his COM
panions on the journey, and procuring an
Indian canoe, cross the St. Mary's rive
I for Canada, at double-quick rate of speed
No sooner had he reached terra frsna OF
i the Canadian side, than he at once regaine(
i full possession Of all his faculties. and, il
good Frcpch, ordered breakfast. and, like
wise. ordered team to go to Colingwood
on the Georgian Bay. he stated to hi
Canadian friends that his name wa
Z Reid Sanders, that be was on his way t
I Paris with dispatches for Slidell from tn
Government Of the Southern Confederacy
j The United States assessor at Mackina,
has, since the esca G of Sanders, received
avery polite letter from his mute" com
panion on this voyage home thanking hin
for his Kindness and the many attention
bestowed so profusely upon an unfertunat
wayfarer. He has since taken his depart
ure, and is now on his way to his destina
ton, beyond the reach Of interrogation b
ony inquiring officials Of the .'Yauke
The assessor and sheriff state that h
played his part TO perfection, and, as the,
had no reason to suspect anything wrong
they do not seem to regard themselves ii
any way responsible for the escape of th
impudent temissary."