Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-05-09
Dan Rice Before the Reconstruction
Committee.

The Committee on Reconstruction Still per
sists in suppressing the most important testi.
mony elected before it. Dan Rice has re-
Gently besn On q circus tour through the late
ly rebellious States, and has had opportuni-
ties such as are afforded 10 few for observing
the condition of the Southern people as to
loyalty. His testimony will be found 10 show
the true feeling that exists in the South when
the thin crust of pretended loyalty is melted
away and true character is revealed us under
the exhiira,ing influence of menegerie,
when man stands in the presence OF the un-
tanned forces of nature, separated :hererom
only by the thin partition Of an iron cage.
Mr. Rice, being duly sworn, testified thus;
@. You have an rnruly antsAal, known as q
pet mule, with your circus gave you notY
Il. have.
Q. Whstare the idiosyncraSes of the beast ?
\. Ee is much given to kicking.
g. 1t is almost impossible TO ride him, is
it not?
a. 1t is. generally oaer $2s to any man
who will ride him round the ring.
Q. On your ale visit to the South did you
receive any offers to ride that mu]c2
4. did.
Q. State what occurred on these occasions.
A. In Richmond, discharged Confederate
soldier attempted to ride him, but was imme.
diately thrown fat on his back.
@. What did The Confederate soldier say
to this?
4. lie said the mule was id Yankee
cnsS.
Q. Did any others make the attempt?
a. Another of Lees veterans tried to ride
him, and succeeded.
4. He said, after be had dismountcd, ,nat
if he'd had regiment o them c,e cavalry
had have whipped Fitzpatrick all to smash {;
an that in the next var igainst the Yankees
he intended to raise brigade Of 'em.
Cross.examined by Mr.. Stephens:
Q. Is that lie mule o. she mule?
A. It's I he mule.
|, Q. You have monkeys in your show have
you not
a. have.
Q. Have you ever heard any disloyal re-
marks in relation TO these monkeys?
B.. can't say that have.
Q. Have you ever heard anythi ng said in
their presencc2
a. A couple Of young ladies we're one day
standing in front Of the cage, and 1 heard one
Of them say it looked like sasE Freedmen s
Bureau.
G. How was this remark received?
a. 1t created much laughter.
Q. Were there any personal illusions made
on that occasion
A. Some one in the crowd said, pointing to
that o.r,ng outang, " That's Sumner"
Q. Did that please the bystanders?
A. Very much.
@. Did you ever hear any observations
about the bears?
A. heard it said once about one-cyed
bear that he looked like Ben. Butler, and
about a grizzly that it ought to be called Ben
Wade.
q, Were the points of resemblance stated
A. They were not. The observation made
on the tout ensemble, with spccial reference,
perhe9s, to the ocular defornity in the case
Of the one-eyed animal.
| @. Have you side shows to your circus?
!, I hare.
| @. State If yol have ey@ heard disloyal
remarks in relation to them?
a. believe heard something of the kind
| once about Daniel in the lions den.
@. State what it WASP
A. A young lady asked me which was
Daniel anl which was tho lion.
@. What was your reply
A. told her it was easy 10 distinguish
Daniel from the lion, as tho former wore q
swallow-tail coat, and had cotton umbrella
under his arm,
O. What did she say Y
{. a. After looking into the cage she said,
very spiteiuHy, that Daniel looked like a
mean Yankee, and she wished tho lion would
chaw him up. MACK.