North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-06-06
TUNKHANNOCK, Pa WEDNESDAY,, JUNE g. 1866 @aaS} @iM In
DAN RICE BEFORE THE RECON.
STRUCTION COMMITTEE. "''

2 aaI .49 100 - aGn 49, 'r.r1.a.
~ The Committee on Reconstruction still
persists in suppressing the most important
testimony elected before it. Dan Rice has
recently been on a circus tour through the
lately rebellious States, and has had oppor-
tunities snch as are afforded to few, for OBJ
serving the condition Of the Southern peo-
pie as to loyalty. His testimony will be
found to show the true feeling that exists
in-the South when the thin crust of loyalty
IS melted away and the true character is
revealed under the exhilerating influence of
a menagerie, when man stands in the pres
ence of the untamed forces of nature, sepa-
rated therefrom only by the thin partition
of an iron cage. Mr.. Rice, being, duly
sworn, testified thus: s--aalss-. o. =
Q. You have an unruly animal, known
as pet mule, with your circus, have you
not ? A ..s.a s -.
A. / have. F." 80 ~s .. s.F .rs.. =.
Q. What are the idiosyncrasies of that
beast? l' '7o "..' -. .....a ...
.1- A. He is given much to kicking.
G 1t is almost impossible to ride him, is
it not iat So ... nj
A. It,is. Igenerally offer s25 to any
man who will ride him round the ring.
Q.On your late visit to the South, did
you receive any offers to ride that mule?
A. I did 1"'t- .. r~ s
q. State what occurred on these occa-
A. In Richmond, discharged Confeder-
ate attempted to ride him, but was thrown
fat on his back et .r.
Q. What did the confederate soldier say
to this -aa.r-s .s r. .....~ -
a. lie said the mule was a Id yam
kee Glss f.E ar.a.a = .E
Q. Did any others make the attempt?
y. Another of Lees veterans tried to
ride him, ard succeeded. .aa .. .y ~.
Z. What did he say .ifa .f .f
A He said, after he had dismounted, that
ifhe'd had a regiment O. them ere cavalry
he'd have whipped Fitzpatrick all to smash;
and that in the next war against Yankees
he intended to raise brigade of 'em.
4 Cross-examined by Mr.. Stevens b. ....
Q Is that a he mule or she mule
A. It's he mule. .. ...s t-
Q. You have monkeys in your show, have
you not ?. =. 80 -. ., ... ...
A I have. E..c. III. p. -.-. e, -t
@ Have you ever heard any disloyal re-
marks in relation to those monkeys ? q
A | cant say that | have. t- q. .u.r.~ e
Q. Have you heard anything said in
their presence. 'r s..1 d, t- ..' -.
a. A couple ofyounc ladies were one
day standing in front of the. cage, and i
heard orc of them say it looked like a
Freedman Bureau. .e .,..-.
Q. How was this remark received f? ....
A, 1t created much laughter. sr s.-...
@. Were there any personal allusions
made on that occasion [? "aa r-nGa t.t...I
A. Some one in the crowd said. pointing
to the ourang outang. 'That's Sumner
@. Did that please the by-standers /?
A. Very much. -7Fa II -e-eia 747s 81,
Q. Did YOU ever hear any observations
about the bears ar a.r -.l''- .... - a..l
A. heard it said once about one-eyed
bear that he looked hike Ben. Butler, and
about grizzl y, that it ought to be called
Ben Wade E..-' s..- ..... .
%. Were the points of resemblance sta
ted? F.t : e.... ~ -.,.s. e.t. e..
cd A, They were not The observation was
made on the toute ensemble, with special
reference, perhaps. to the ocular deformity
in the case of the one-eyed animal. rue
Q. Have you side shows with your cir
Gus? ~ H... 81 aa..,. on ..tI
A. / have. 30 .-1..i.I ..e-..a ....
Q. State if youohave ever heard disloyal
remarks in relation to them. '.-
A. / believed heard something of the
kind once about Danielin the. lions den.
O. State what it was. --f q .... ...
A. A young lady asked me which. was
Daniel and which was the lion. r ,.I 80
u Q What was your reply? -
"a. / told her it was easy to distinguish
Daniel from the lion, as the former wore a
swallow-tail coat, and had cotton umbrel-
la under his arm. f74gs #rG ..trt +. 4.
. What did she say Z! ... ..E s..-.
a. After looking into the cage she said
that Daniel looked like mean
Yankee. and she wished the lion would
chaw him up. 1r1 a.a....s lr --ar
y Es-.u..r sr Fa7r.. f..a..gs ia. ,.