, 1866-07-27


vsals many things connected with the prison
life of Davis that have not hitherto been made
public, aud relates some facts about the wretch
ed treatment which the prisoner was subjected
TO during his first confinement, that were be.
heved fictitious and unworthy of belief when
they were rumored through the public press.
"Weil!' said Davis, as they entered, slightly
raising his head.
az have an unpleasant duty to perform, sir,
said Captain Titlow; and he spoke the senior
blacksmith took the shackles from his assist,
ant. %
Davis leaped instantly from his recumbSsl at
titude, flush passing over his face for moA
ment, and then his countenance growing livid
and rigid as Death:
He gasped for Greath, .clutching his throat
with the thin fingers of his right hand, and then
recovering himself slowly, while his wasted fig
ure lowered up to its full hight-now appearing
to swell with indignation and then to shrink
! with terror, he glazed from the Captains face
to the shackIes-he said slowly and with a la
boring chest:
My God you cannot have been sent to iron
me.''
"Such are my orders, sir" replied the officer,
beckonIng the blacksmith to approach, who
stepped forward, unlocking the paddock and pre-
pairing the fetters to do their Office. These fet-
| tiers were OF heavy iron, probably 6ve.eights of
] an luCu IN lulchNeSS, an u connected together by
a chain Of like weight. | believe they are now
in the possession Of Major General Miles, and
will form interesting relic
| This Is too monstrous, groaned the priso-
| ner, glaring hurredly round the room. as if for
some weapon or means Of seii-destruction II
demand, Captain, that you let NE see the com.
manding officer. Can he pretend that such
shackIes required to secure the safe custody
of weak old man, SO guarded and in such
fort this ?'
at could serve no purpose" replied Captain
TItlow; ''his orders ARE from Washington, as
mine are from him
'But he caa-tclcgrarh, iuterposed Davis, ca
gerlyi "there must be some mistake. No such
outrage as yor threaten me with is on record in
the history of nations. Beg him to telegraph,
and delay until he answers"
MY orders are peremptory," said the officer,
''aud admit Of no delay. For your own sake
let inc advise you to submit with patience As
soldier, Davis, you know must execute or
| dels."
"These are not orders fer soldier, ," shouted
the prisoner, losing all control of himself
They are orders for jliler-for hangman,
which no soldier wearing a sword should ac-
cept! tell you the world will ring with this
1 disgrace. The war is over; the South is con-
| queredi | have no longer any country but
America, and AS for my own honor and life, that
/ plead against this degradation. Kill me kill
mel he cried passlonately, throwing his arms
wide open and exposing his breast, rather than
intlict on me, and on my people through me-
this insult worse than DEATH
''Do your duty, blacksmith. " said the officer.
walking toward the embrasure as if not caring
| to witness the performance. at only gives in
creased pain on all sides to protract the inter-
view" -
At these words the blacksmith advanced with
the sbackles, and seeing that the prisoner had
one foot upon the chair near the bedside his
right hand resting on the back of it, the brawny
mechanic made an attempt to slip Of the
shackles over the ankle raised; but, as if
with the yehemence and strength which frenzy
can impart, even to thcweakest invalid. Davis
suddenly seized his assaildnt and hurled him
half way across the room.
On this Captain Titlow turned, and seeing
that Davis bad backed against the wall for ftr-
ther resistance, began to demonstrate, pointing
out in brief clear language, that this course
was madness, and that orders must be enforced
at any cost. "Why compel me, said he, "to
add further indignity of personal violence to the
necessity of your being ironedY'
81 am prisoner of war, iercely retorted Da-
Wis; 81 have been soldier in the armies Of
America and know how to die. Only kill me-
and my last breath shall be a blessing on your
head. But while have life and strength to re-
sist, for myself and my people, this thing shall.
not be'doue."
Hereupon Captain Titow called in a Ser
geant and file of soldiers from the next room,
and the Sergeant advanced to seize the pr.sC-
ner. Immediately Davis few at him, seized his
musket and attempted to wrench it from his
grasp.
Of course such a scene could have but one is-
sue. There was a short, passionate scufle. In
moment Davis was flung upon his bed, and b
fore his four powerful assailants removed their,
hands from him, the blacksmith and his assist,
ant had done their wOrk-one securing the riv.
ct on the right ankle, and the other turned the
key in the paddock on the left.
This DONE Davis lay for moment as if in a.
stupor Then slowly raising himself and turu-sf
ing round, he dropped his shackled feet to the {
hoor. The harsh clank of the striking chain
seemed frst to have recalled him to his sirua-
tion, and dropping his face into his hands he
burst into passionate hnnd- of snhhina rnrk-
ing to and fro, and muttering at brief intervals;
'iOh, the shame the shame r
On the oath, the Doctor found his patient fe-
verish ard emaciated, suffering from great irri-
te:ion of mind and body, and chronic neural
gia which had destroyed the sightof his right
eye. Too weak to bear his shackles, taey we're
taken off in four or FIVE days by the sdvice of
his physician. 'In June he was permitted to
walk on the ramparts for an hour every day,
though too i'll at>frst to stand more than half an
hour; and in August, while suffering from cry
sipelas and carbuucle, was removed to more
comfortable quarters at Carroll hall. His pris-
on fare, if not choice enough for one in his sem
sitive i'll health, was improved by supplies from
the Doctors table. Under prison regulations
he was not allowed to knife or fork, and
ali his letters were inspected by the Govern
ment From June TO November, which closes
the volume, we hear his complaints of deterior-
ating health, and his frequent protest against
the rigor and indignity of his treatment as the
head of six millions of people, and prisoner
refused an impartial trial. We must believe that
if, as appears, Davis has been shattered inva-
lid during the whole'of his incarceration, i'm
prisonment is the worst punishment that can be
meted out to him.
A comedian lent brother actor two shill>
ings. and when be made demand for the
sum- the debtor turned peevishly from him,
Il. u Hon.. III 49,. -. Ao, Inr In