The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-08-28
pirate" which the "Times of India" has
been pleased to term him.

LII ilPlI1uCe Will Guo JcqueSG VI Ooi'
Ferguson, Captain Tolbert narrated the
particulars Of the manner in which he
won the wager in Calcutta-''that Booth
was alive;" and in reply to arcmark ven
tured by Captain Hunt, as follows: "Wcll,
Captain, must say you did humbug the
Calcutta folks pretty badly, really it is
shame?" "Humbuggcd them? there was
no humbug about It, sir! I fulfilled my
part of the contract, and furnished proof
that Booth was alive! Why do you term
it humbug? / desire an explanation sir!'
The following conversation then ensued,
which (having taken down on the spot) l
give verbatim ct Meratim: "The reason
why call it by that name is simply this:
i do not believe that Booth is alive: nor
that, if your opponent had seen proper to
have contested the matter, q fair decision
would have given it in your fa7or.-
Whercupon Captain Tolbert becoming
somewhat excited, remarked: "Captain
Hunt, if am not mistaken in you, you
arc man who will back any assertion
you may make with your money; am l
correctY' To this Hunt replied: II be-
lievo 1 am sir, ii know myself" "Wcll,
then, sir, if you believe Booth is not alive,
how many pounds would you DO willing
to back that belief with; otherwise, what
do you value your opinion at 2" II value
my opinion very highly, Captain, but that
is not saying that would risk bet on
thing unless l thought | had some chance
tor a fair shake p "Plcase name your
own conditions, and the amount you wish
to put up; you shall be accommodated in
each" 'sThe only manner in which l
should be willing 10 stake anything upon
the matter in dispute, would be this: |
must see Booth with my own eyes, and
have an opportunity of conversing with
and questioning him in order to satisfy
myself whether he is alive or not as it so
happens I know him quite intimately and
could not be deceived. If the person
whom you allegc is Booth should prove
to be humbug the money at stake will
be mine; but if I recognize in him the
genuine John Wilkes Booth, it will be
yours. 1 know Booth so we'll that ]
could not fail to identify him at first sight,
even through his disguise-should he
wear one. If you will grant me this lib
crty I would be willing to draw draft
in favor of the winner for two thousand
pounds sterling at thirty, sixty or ninety
days sight" "Your proposition Els ac-
ccptcd, provided that you have no objec-
tions to going before q Magistrate and tax
ing an oath of eternal secrecy, the nature Of
which shall then and there make known
to you." "Having no desire to profit by
giving information to tho United States
Government of his whereabouts, in case
he is alive, I have no objection of taking
an oath of secrecy so far as divulging
Booths place of residence is concerned.
Firmly believing that he is not alive, my
only object is to fully satisfy myself of
the fact. fl lose, shall have sufficient
sense to hold my tongue, and if l win, OF
course | will do the same. In either case
nv curiosity shall have been fully salts
fed. Is that satisfactory ?" II will take
you at your word, Captain. But hold /!
perhaps it would be better to have all
this in black and white, as we are stran-
GERS to each other;" whercupon, having
gained Hunts assent, Captain Tolbcrt
hastily drew up an article specifying tho
terms of tho agreement, 10 which both
Hunt and himself signed their names, re-
questing the remainder OF the party pre-
sent to witness it, and then gave to Col.
Ferguson, requesting him to keep it until
the question was decided. Tolbert then
said: "Let Us now proceed to q magis-
tratc's office and have the other articles
drawn up at once"
Everything being in readiness, we oil
above started ashore few minutes after
the spirited conversation transpircd, Capt.
Tolbert going in his own boat, Ca hand
some little gig with which his ship was
supplicd) We were not long in reaching
the quay, and, being invited by the two
Captains to accompany them to the Mag
strate's office, Colonel Ferguson, Captain
Parker, and myself were witnesses to'all
that transpired between them. Upon
reaching the Office the following oath was
administered to Captain Hunt: "You do
solcmnly swear, in the presence of Al
mighty God, that you will not bctray the
codndenco reposcd in you by the t'oo in
dividuals with whom you arc about to
entcrinto an agreement, so help You God"
Tolbert then suggested the following
more secure form, which was drawn up:
"I, Charles Newton Hunt, do solemnly
swear, in the presence of Almighty God
and these witnesses, that l will forever
conceal and never reveal the name of the
town, city or country where lives and
brcathcs the mortal body of John Wilkes
Booth, so help me God.' Tolbert then
drawing sharp-pointed stillcto, very.
coolly presented it to Captain Hunt, asked
him to pick his arm till the blood camo
then, handing him pen, requested him
to catch drop Of the blood upon, tno
point and write his signature to the apofo .s
oath. Captain Hunt very re, reluctantly ,sa[tay
with his own blood The magistrate, MIR.
Samuel I'M I Robolict Colonel Moses D. Fer,
grson CAPTAIN Joseph III. Parker, and