Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-09-14

making an entry of our discovery upon the
log Of the ship, we pulled in for the island,
end headed for small bay about two
points on our star-board bow, the water be-
ing as smooth as glass and clear as crystal.
the bottom, which was plainly visible, re-
ssmbling black and red coral. When one
mile and half from shore we laid on our
oars, as the natives were too numerous for
US to venture among them without q par
ley. As they gathered around us in their
canoes, sCurry Chicken" talked VITA them
and learned that white men were on the is
land. Slowly we made our way up cove
that presented itself, and soon ran afoul of
lurcher, vessel one-haf Eur JpeaD, and
and the other half junk-model European;
rigging Chinese. Leaving guard with the
boat, we took the casks and skirted along
the shore of the cove in search OF the en-
campment of the owners Of the lurcher, and
ahead of Us, ab-ut three hundred yards, we
discovered two tents peeping out among the
foliage. Knowing from the natives that
the occupants of the tents were white men,
we pushed boldly forward, and came upon
the encampment unawares to its occu-
pants. " E4sa
HE MEETS BOOTH.
Five men and enc woman made their ap-
pearence from and around the tents. The
| first one that advanced toward me and ex-
tended his hand was j. Wilkes Booth.
| There was no mistake as to his identity, as
| / had been an intimate friend of his 10
Montgomery, Alabama, years before. He
directed my men where water could be pro-
| cured, and then entered into q confidential
conversation with me, asking that should
not reveal bis name 10 my men, nor to any
one for period Of one year, besides, said
| be, s'the world would not believe you fyou
were to say thai ]. Wilkes Booth lives. /
have lostmy identity among living men. A
great government has killed me, buried
me, paid its reward, and live new and
original existence" Tf --Frs e=zT...
His conversation with me was long end
earnest, he stating that but one person in
his party knew that he was Booth, and that
was toe female who accompanied him.
"Apd she,p he said, sis my wife"
How he made bis escape from the United
States be did not reveal, except that be did
not leave Washington City for thirty days
after the ass ssination. During bis wan
deriDes he had been in Mexico. South Amer
lea. Africa, Turkey, Arabia, Rome, and lat
terly in china While in Rome he met
John Surrdtt. In China he entered the i'm
perial service under Ward, the American
IrishmaG who commanded the emperor's
forces against the rebels of theTartar breed,
the latter being under the command Of an
American from New Orleans of the sobri-
quet of "Peacock." While under Ward be
was engaged in many battles, and fast gain.
ed the emperor's favor, when an accident
served to cause him to leave the country
hurriedlv hy command Of Ward
A MOST ROMANTIC STORY.
While in Shanghai, which has three d.
visions or settlements of foreigners-Amer-
leans, French and English-his old passion
for the stage returning, he and several EGG
lish and American naval officers and resi-
dents, with the c0untenance of Ward, or
gained dramatic club, and Booth being |
the leading spirit, was cast in the character
of Richard, in the play ofRlchSrd LII. All
were sstonished at the grace and bearing of |
the youthful actor throughout the perform |
ance, until the last scene where Richard |
and Richmond fight with such terrific ener- |
gy, VIXEN sstonishment gave way to a wild |
storm of applause, and high over all the tu- |
mutt came the ominous words, "Beoth! |
BOOTH" meaning very likely, the elder |
Booth. The name, the situation, and the |
startling words, SO pierciDgly distinct, |
caused him to become forgetful where be |
was. Perhaps the recollection of the burn |
ing hate with which his name was heralded |
throughout the world, caused him to poise |
bis sword and glare like tiger at the audi |
ence. The excitement proved too much for |
him, and the curtain fellupon an unfinished |
play with living Richard.
HE IS STARTED ADRIFT AGAIN.
Ward waited upon Booth the next day |
and informed him that lurcher and ere n |
awaited him. No explanations were given, !
and he set sail for the Carolina islands, as a |
temporary place of abode; but hard winds |
and bad weather caused him to PIT into the |
Pelew islands, where found him. On |
leaving Booth, be gave me token which |
he said his brother Edwin would recognize
My departure from Booth was hurried by |
,she booming of 3 gun from our ship, warn
ing us that breeze had sprung up.
did not reveal the secret of having met |
b m until the expiration Of the year, and |
when it was told IL gained no credence and |
was treated as the trivial fiction of sea
fariOg man. After the event on the Pelew |
islands, while on the coast of New Guinea, |
| learned from Americans that the lurcher |
described had been sighted on that coast
This is the last heard of Booth.
The token spoken of by Doneldson was |
produced for Maury's inspection and was a |
heavy gold medal, heavier than the Mexi- |
can silver dollar, bearing appropriate in |
scriptions, having been presented by the |
citizens of New Yord to Booths father |
years before the famous actors deaib, and
while he was at the apex of bis histrionic |
grea ness. Mr.. Msury remarks that he
knows that, while many people are of the
opinion tbst J. Wilkes Booth still lives, the
majority, taking the accounts Of his capture
snd fiual death as conclusive evidence, be-
leve that he was killed on CARROTS farm
by Boston Corbett. Nevertheless, be says,
when evidence of this character and weight
is brought to light, and from a source SO
respectable, il is sufficient to destroy almost
the frmest believers opinion that Booths
body fills q dishonored grave. The story
is before the readers of the Republican, and
they mayjudge of lis claims for themselves.