Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1869-04-03
From the N. q. Times. s.
A POLICE OFFICERS ADVENTURE

hand in every community, there are man,
whose actual vicissitudes Of fortune neee
no illustration from the nance
OF such a sort is a plain, simple mar
rative which has teen furnished us by al
old soldier of the Mexican war, and
former Chief of Police of this city. The
manuscript alluded to was given US as
the work of some unoccupied hours, and
without the name of the author signed
10 it. As the chapter given below is
deemed of sufficient interest to amuse,
we shall not hesitate to state that The
following story is the contribution of
Capt. John McClellsnd, and is vouched fo'
as being correct.
In 1854, l was living on Orleans street,
opposite the parish prison, in a chambre
garnie, where we could see, on almost any
evening, and until late at night, a dozen
of the ~livelier spirits of that portion CT
the city. The occupants of the house were
young, unmarried, fond Of building cas-
ties in the air, and were altogether a joy
GUS set of fellows. We were little dream
ing of the scourge that would decimate
the South aud that would carry off the
majority of those present at these re-
unions to Che grave. We had a piano,
for which we paid a monthly rent, and
although only one of the party could
play. oil of the rect, in his absence. would
bang On the old out of-tune instrument,
until, q petition was finally sent in to have
the nuisance abated.
The room was a front one and had DO
lock or key, and often entered at all
hours Of the day or night.
Oae night, coming home from the Old,
or French Opera House, about midnight,
l heard, on opening the door, a noise as
if some o had preceded me. To 10
quire, without answer who was there
to strike q match and light a candle
was but the work of a moment. Rapidly
making a survey of the room, the FIRST
thing discovered wat that my armoir was
open and that the drawers were upon the
floor. Immediately instituted q search
through the room. After some examina-
ton, q man was discovered under the
bed, cramped up as small as he could get
himself. His appearance vas p%itiful and
deprecating to the last degree. .
The man crawled out aud stood in my
presence without saying a word. l was
so much taken by surprise as not to know
what to say. Once or twice 1 raised a
stick, which I held in my hand, with the
thought of knocking bin iu the head
His sbject expression and otherwise good.
looking appearance. at length banisbed
such a thought, and, after I had viewed
him for q minute or two, l asked him to
account for bis presence in my room.
There's not much need Of asking" be
said 4" came here to stesl." aiI-.5r]
of a thief"
"a man must do something to live
When you have nothing to eat you must
raise the wind somehow"
The msn was obviously no profession.
al" although be had a touch of the Bow
cry slang.
"Well,"I said, "what have you sue
ceeded 10 taking 2"
=" Not much-a few gold studs, a brok
en- breastpin or so, and a gold pencil"
Here be emptied his pockets and hand.
ed the contents back.
You have made a bad lob of it,n
said to him as l extended nv hand
for my property. As l propose to call
the officer you are for these tribes likely
The man laid his hand upon my Shout
and commenced crying. "For Gods
sake" be said, "do not have me arrested.
!! have been in the city three months, and
have had . rough time to keep from going
under. If you have a mother, as l have,
take pity on me and give me a chance"
l told him be was free, and as he seem.
cd 10 need and expressed . great anxiety
get back home to bis friends, l gave
him small sum Of money aud my bless
ing.
As be was about leaving, be asked me
to give him my name. l picked up an
ACE OF hearts that lay upon the table and
wrote as be requested. Having looked
this for a moment, the man placed it
an old poeket.book. aud left the room.
10 1851 the gay Crescent City was
o~vershadowed more than most others
with the gloon. Of war, .andall Of its for.
mer life aRpeAred to have. forever disap-
pestsd: The stilluess Of death pervaded
the Streets, and the Club des RaAales y
no longer in ;existapce. Those who
bad. not sho6ldered . -musket, or were not
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