The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1869-10-01
A Federal Spy ~ Richmond.
Uou Near He Game to Accomplishing Iii
kissi0n.
From Po,lard's lie Of JET. Davis

Prom Pollasd's lie Of JET. Davis.
About the close Of the year 1884, . s,ran.
ger appeared in Richmond, of elegant I'd.
dress and manners, speaking both English
and Latin, and whose dark and peculiar fca-
lures supported the statement that he was a
native Of Italy lie made himself exceed
ingly agreeable tn the company ut the Elk
change Hotel, although practicing something
Of the reserves Of noblcman; and he was
observed with not . little curiosity, until
gossip settled on the discovery that he had
been seen to visit the State department, and
that. therefore, considering, too, his d;stingu<
appearance he mus: DC charged with ''mis
sion Of importance. During one day st
the Hotel, he took advantage Of . casual re-
mark 10 draw into conversation Mr. Botclcr,
member of Congress from Virginia, gen.
tleman who was supposed to have u great
taste for learning. The latter had noticed
the sound escaping from gas jet over the
table. The conversation turned upon the
possibility Of producing musical notes from
such a source; chemistry, acoustics and other
branches of science were discussed, greatly
to Mr.: Botclcr's relish and ut last the Italian
gracefully insisted that the Congressman
should accompany him to his room to wit
ness some scientific experiments in which he
was then engaged. The experiments were
adjustments were those of a scientific man,
and for On hour he roamcd with his strange
acquaintance over the fields of science, lit
erature and art, wondering at his various
accomplishments and fascinated by the
charm of his manners. As Mr.. Botelcr rose
to depart, the stranger said, with an air OF
communicating an important confidence:
II have something to say to you. The
pleasure have experienced In your com.
pany, and the position know you occupy
in your government. encourage me to make
communication that will interest you.
have mission to Richmond, and have a.
ready partially discharged it, aud am now
only waiting on your government for \ sun,
of money that Is necessary. ! belong to the
society Of CarbinarV II sympathiscs with
the Southern confcderacy, and It Is the only
power that can compel its recognition, for
Napoleon III is secretly member of the
society. and dares not disobcy it, mantlates
Moro than this, and his brow darkcncd, Il
hold in my hand the life of Abraham Liza.
coin the victim whom the Car6onarjdesig.
nate cannot clude them"
What impression this important and ter.
rifle disclosure made upon Mr.. Boteler II not
known; but he has never denied that he be-
licved what the man told him. lie even
went to the extent of appointing day to
accompany the strange diplomat 10 the State
Department. and actually engaged to add
his influence to the impressions which the
latter already reported he had made upon
Secretary Der; anin, but TO what extent of
aiding the mission, he did not mention. The
day came; Mr.. Boteler attended at the hotel
The Italian was not to be found; he had left
the hotel hurricdly that morning. Suspic.
ions were aroused ut the State Department
Pursuit was ordered on oil the roads leading
out from Richmond, and fortunately the
man, disguised ~ peddler, was Overtakon
and arrested few miles from the city. He
resisted tho officers stoutly, and with great
insolcace; for some time the search to which
he was subjected revealed nothing contra
band or suspicious; he was about to bc dis
missed with apologies. when one of the OH.
GERS, examining his boots, discovered that
the heels might be screwed of. aud found
neatly esconccd therein several sheets of It's
sue paper, inscribed with plans Of oil the
Notifications ut Richmond, and with cor.
respondence giving all the details of its de-
fences The man was carried back to Rich.
mond - q spy. But he was never tried,
never punished, and we do not know what
became of him. the Government being un.
willing 10 give publicity to the incident, and
anxious to hush up ~ affair in which its
credulity had been 70 ridiculously practiced
upon BY IN adventurcr, who, at best, was
nothing more than ckorlstoS. .z.@.#r