Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-05-04
Correspondence Cincinnati Commercials:
Dan. Rice Before the Reconstruction CON-
niittpa.

!
! Dan Rice Before the Reconstruction Com
mittees
| The Committee on Reconstruction still per-
sist in suppressing the most important testi-
mony elected before it. Dan Rice has re-
Gently been ON a circus tour through the late
ly rebellious States, and has had opportuni-
ties such as are afforded to few, for observing
the condition of the Southern people as to
loyalty. His testimony will be found to
show the true feeling that exists in the South
when the thin crust Of pretended loyalty is
melted away and true character is reyaled us
under the exhilerating influence of a menag-
erie, when man stands in the presence of the
untamed forces of nature, separated there
from only by the thin partition Of an iron
cage. Mr.. Rice, being duly sworn, testified
thus:
@. You have an unruly animal, known
as pet mule, with your circus, have you
not
A. I have. .
@. What are the idiosyncrasies of that
beast ?
A. He is much given to kicking.
Q. 1t is almost impossible to ride him, is
it not?
A. It is. I generally offer $25 to any
man who will ride him around the ring.
@. On your late visit to the South, did
you receive any offers to ride that mule? Z.
A. [ did.
@. State what occurred on these occasions.
A. In Richmond, discharged Confeder-
ate soldier attempted to ride him. but was
Immediately thrown fiat on his back.
@. What did the Confederate soldier say
to this
A. He said the mule was d I'D Yam
kee cuss.
@. Did any others make the attempt?
A. Another Of Lees veterans tried to ride
him. and succeeded.
Q. What did he say
A. He said, after he had dismounted, that
if he'd had a regiment O them ere cavalry,
he'd have whipped Fitzpatrick all to
smash and that, in tie next war against the
Yankees, he intended to raise brigade of
EN-
Cross examined by Mr.. Stevens:
Q. Is that he mule, or a she mule?
A. It's he mule.
Q. You have monkeys in your show, have
you not
A. / have.
@. Have you ever heard any aisloyal re-
marks in relation to those monkeys?
A. I can't say that | have.
@. Have you ever heard anything said in
their presence?
A. A couple Of young ladies were one
day standing in front Of the cage and [
heard one of them say it looked like a freed
mems bureau. a asr
@. How was this remark received
A. It created much laughter s
O.. Were there any personal illusions
made on that occasion?
A. Some one in the crowd said, pointing
to the orang outang, "Thats Sumner.
@. Did that please the bystanders
A. Very much.
@. Did you ever hear any observations
about the bears?
A. L heard it said once about one-eyed
bear that it looked like Ben Butler, and
abouta grizzly that it ought to be called Ben.
Wade.
Q. Were the points Of resemblance sta
ted?
A. They were not. The observation was
made on the tout ensemble, with special ref
erence, perhaps, to the ocular deformity in
the case of the one; eyed animal.
@. Have you side shows with your cir
Gus? ,..a
A. [ have.
@. State if you have ever heard disloyal
remarks in relation to them.
"A. I believe heard something of the kind
once about Daniel in the lions den.
q. State what it was.
A. A young lady asked me which was
Daniel and which was the lion.
@. What was your reply
A. | told her it was easy to distinguish
Daniel from the lion, as the former wore
swallow-tail coat and had cotton umbrella
under his arm.
@. What did she say?
A. After looking into the cage she said,
very spitefully, that Daniel looked like a
mean Yankee, and she wished the lion would
chaw him up,
MACK.