The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-09-09
Federal Spy in Richmond.
I rom Pollard's Life of JEFF Davis. ]

rOm OlidrQ ) Lille Vi JeU pafiS-
About the close of the year 1864,
stranger appeared in Richmond, of elegant
address and manners, speaking both Eng
lish aud Italian, and whose dark and pecu-
liar features supported the statement that
he was native of Italy. He made him
self exceedingly agreeable to the company
at the Exchange Hotel, although practic
ing something of the reserve of the noble
man; and he was observed with not little
curiosity, until gossip settled on the dlscoy-
cry that he had been seen to visit the State
Department, and that therefore, considering
too, his diSttagae appearance, he must be
charged with mission OF importance.
During one day at the hotel, he took ad
vantage OF casual remark to draw into
conversation Mr. Boteler, a member of
Com ress from Virginia, gentleman who
was supposed to have a great deal of taste
Tor 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 source; chemistry, acoustics and
other branches of science were discussed
great ly to Mr. Boteler' relish and at last
the Italian gracefully insisted that the
Congressman should accompany him to his
ments In which he was then engaged The
experiments were shown; Mr.. Boteler
saw at once that their adjustments were
| those OF y scientific man, and for an hour
roamed with his strange acquaintance over
the fields OF science, literature and art,
wondering at his various accom- plishments
and fascinated by the charm Of his manners
As MIR. Boteler rose to depart, the st anger
hn or Of
important confidence Il have something
perienced IN your company, and the posi-
ton | know you to occupy in your govern
ment, encourage me TO make communlca-
ton that will interest you | have mis-
sion to Richmond, and | have already
partially discharged it, and am nov Only
waiting on your government for sum Of
money that is necessary. | belong TO the
society OF Carbonart 1t sympathizes with
the Southern Coniederacy and it is the
only power In Europe that can compel It's
recognition, for Napoleon III, is secretly a
member ct the society, and darcs not diso>
hey its mandates. More than this, and
his brow daIkened, 81 hold ii my hand the
! lite of Abraham Lincoln the victim whom
| the Carbonli designate cannot elude them. !"
What impression this important and
| terrible disclosure made upon Mr. Boteler
| is not known; but be has never denied
that he believed what the man told him.
| Tie even went to the extent of appointing
day to accompany the strange diplomat
to the State Department, and actually en-
gagged to add his influence to the Impress
| ions which the latter already reported be
had made upon Secretary Benjamin, but to
what extent OF aiding the mission he did
not mention. The day came; Mr. Botelcr
attended at the hotel The Italian was
not TO be found he had left the hotel hur
| rlediy that morning. Suspicious were
aroused at the State Department. Pursuit
was ordered on all the roads leading out
from Richmond, and fortunately the man,
| disguised a. peddler, was Oyertaken and
arrested few miles from the city. He
| resisted the officers Stouty and with inSO-
ence; for a.une the search to which he was
subjected revealed nothing contra band or
suspicious; he was about to be dismissed
with apologies, when one Of the officers
examining his boots, discovered that the
! heels might be screwed off, and found snug
ly ems consod therein several sheets Of tissue
paper, inscribed with plans of all the forti
tications of Richmond, and with CORES
pondence giving all the details Of its defen-
ces The man was carried back to Rich,
mond as spy. But he was never tried,
never punished, aud we do not know what
became OF him-the government being I'M
willing to give publicity 20 the incident,
and anxious to hush up an affair in which
It's credulity had been so ridiculou,Iy prac,
ticed upon by an adventurer, who, at best,
was nothing more than charlatan
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