Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-12-31
ITO Be eonti'HG
THE HAND IS DEAD.
AN Isea5EEE a6@Eas0R ~ ostEFIsS0 S0ua OF

The HAND DEAD
AN INCIDENT IN ffs TOUR on
The panorama Of liirkif times such
as these. is thrillingly Txkd, intensely :
enthusiastic. wondertfiy attractive.
and decidedly interesIp9 Ii tins
speaking. we allude patienIsrly To the
class Of men who occspt W sx .ited
! and proud position in Stzts 4s;ea j
affairs. Or this class. Coz sAhdre~ g
Curtin has promineat piacp before
the people of Peunsyltanis-in fact.
We may truly say before the w,rld -
In his present tour. an incident occurred
that Caused the tear 81 sympmhv To
start in the eye OF the iGoverppr. He
had addressed a large meeting st Gaia
sauqua. in the mountAin region As
the sun was fast rrceding behind the
mountain top. and casting long shade
in the valley, the Governor 1saok pas
sage 10 the train hound for more leieI
regions. He arrived in PhiIsdelphia
in due time. having been met hilf way
by Colonel w B Mann. andsby him
and two other wifm admirets, was
conducted to the Continental. wkrre he
sought repose. His nature was we'll
nigh exhausted. The want Of sleep.
the fatigue OF travel. the eventful scenes
Of his life. the universal hand shskin gs,
the surrounding crowds. The vivacity
and vocierations OF the lhronging mu.-
titude. all of which he had so recently
passed through. made it necessary for
retirement.
He was TO start the next day on
some business relative TO the defence
and protection Of the State, in case Of
another rebel raid, which seemed TO be
projected.
About ten o'clock 10 the morning
there appeared in the vestibule OF the
Continental. a well dressed young lady.
She was by herself. Her lace be-
tokened hard usage. that had added 20
her appearance ten years to her natural
life. She attracted rather more than
ordinary attention Of the throng NOV.
ing to and fro through the main avenue
OF that palatial building. She main
tanned her silence, and appeared
wrapped in deep thought.
PresentlyzCol. w. B. Mann -cane
down-ths large winding steps; slight
tap on his shoulder caused him to stop.
The young woman stood before him
and said:
"Sir, you are VIM. B. Mann, / be-
lieve."
81 am, madam; what do you wish?"
al desire to see Gov. Curtin
"Well, madam, he is very much en-
gagged at present; is your business pres
sing-is it of public nature?"
IL desire to see him. | have come
all the way from Ohio for that purpose.
l have been to Catasauqua, but the
train was too late; | arrived 10 the city
this morning, and must see him; he is
the only dear friend have on earth"
Such al appeal was resistIess. The
gallantry of Col. Mann. as we'll as his
business. could brook no delay. He
retired for a moment, and presently
ushered the strange lady into the
presence Of the Governor.
20! Governor. | am glad to see
you" said she. as she placed her left
arm upon his manly forehead.
Madam" said he. quite overcome.
''to what am | indebted Tor this unex-
pected salutatiOn?"
Sir. do you not know me?"
Take chair" said the Governor,
dandy. at the same lime extending
ne OF the handsomest in the p~rlor.
Col Mann and the lew gentlemen
present. al once became Interested in
the scene, ahd silently looked on.
Shortly after the battle OF Antie-
tam, you were upon that bloody field,
said she TO the Governor.
al was" replied the Governor.
thoughifulIy. with sigh. as the fear
fol scenes Of carnage were thus uDex-
pecledly brought to his memory.
"YOu administered TO the wants Of
the wounded and the dying"
at was my duty as feeling man."
"You did your duty we'll. Heaven
alone will reward you. sir. for in this
lite there is no reward adequately rx.
pressive Of the merit due 10 you
You. sir. impaired consolation and re-
vived the hopes OF dying soldier Of
the e6th Ohio. He was badly wound
ed IN the arm; and, the blood dripping
from him. stained your hands and
your clothing. That soldier was as
dear to me as life itself"
"a husband" said the Governor.
mo. SIR"
"a brother. perhsps?"
"No. sir"
"a father?"
mo. SIR"
"a son?"
"a loyer?"
No. SIR"
The little party around were more
interested than ever. If not a husband,
father, brother. son, or lovsT, -ho,
then. could it be?
my dear madam" said the Cover
nor, at length breaking the silence.
"this is an enigma to me. Please ex-
plain more about the gallant soldier oil