The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-03-10
A STRANGE STORY.
Is Wilkes Booth, the Assassin OF
President LinCOIn, Dead Or
Aiivel.. Remark able Narrative.

Aiivel-. -.Remark able Narrative.
The St. Louis Republican, of the 9th
ult., has the following:
Reeently reporter on the Republi- /
eau learned from Mr.. Henry Maury, of
his city, the particulars of remarka-
bic story. 1t was no less than an al
lodged meeting between Wilkes Booth
and one of his acquaintance, the ac-
count of which he had from the lips of
the man who met the assassin.
pming the month of June Mr.. Maury
had visited Florida, making a tour of
business and pleasure combined visiting
numerous places Of note-Pensacola,
Key West, Dry Tortugas. and about
ths first of July was en- route for New
eEfsais and Memphis on Board of
river steamer. Among the
passengers he noticed one of soldierv
bearing, about forty-five years of age,
and wearing about his dress something
that denoted seafaring man. Mr..
Mauay was thrown into his company,
and soon found that ne was man of
refinement and polished manners.
TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION.
NV name, said the narrator, is Car
rail- Jackson Donelson, and l am blood
relative of Andrew jackson Donelson,
who died recently at Memphis, Ten
nessee Cat the Peabody Hotel), for
which city am en- route to assist in
the settlement of his estate.
During the war between the sections
l was captain in the Eighth Texas Cav
airy. At the close of the struggle /
returned again to the sea, and in 1866
found myself in San Francisco. There
| shipped on board the ship Kate Hoop
er, bound for Shanghai
Reaching Singapore, we took in
cargo OF mahogany, sandalwood, rat
tan and sugar 1t was in the month of
when we sailed from Singa-
pore, passing on the western side of the
PeIew Islands. 1t was in the morning
that we fl st saw the Pelew Island We
had with us seaman named "Curry
Chicken" who had fished and coasted
among these Islands for years. Put
ting couple of casks on board, as we
were short of water, we pulled in for
the island .. >.
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 parley. As they gath
cred around US in their canoes, "Curry
Chicken" talked with them, and learned
that white men were on the island
Leaving guard with the boats, we
took the casks and skirted along the
shore, and ahead of us we discovered
two tents peeping out from among the
foliage. Knowing from the natives that
the occupants of the tents were white
men, we pushed boldly forward.
Five men and one woman made their
appearance from and around the tents
The first one that advanced towards me
and extended his hand was j. Wilkes
Booth. There was no mistake as to his
identlty,as | had been an intimate friend
of his in Montgomery, Alabama, years
before. He directed my men where wa.
ter could be procured, and then enter
ed into a confidential conversation with
me, asking that l should not reveal his
name to my men, nor any one for pc.
riod of one year; besides, said he, the
world would not believe ynu if you were
to say that j. Wilkes Booth lives. /
have lost nay identity among living men.
A great government has killed me, bu
ried me, paid its reward, / live a new
and original existence
His conversation with me was long
and earnest; he stated that but one per-
son in his party knew that he was
Booth, and that was the female who
accompanied him. And she, he said
lis my wife
How he made his escape from the
United States he did not reveal, except
that he did not leave Washington for
thirty days after the assassination. Du.
ring his wanGerings he has been in Mex
leo, South America, Africa, Turkey,
Arabia, Rome and lately in China.
While in Rome he met John Surratt.
In China he entered the emperial SER
vice under Ward the American Irish
man, who commanded the Emperor's
forces against The rebels of the Tartar
breed, the latter being under the com
mand of an American from New Or
leans. of the sorbriquet of Peacock ,
While under Ward he was engaged in
many battles, and fast gained the EN-
peror's favor, when an incident served
to cause him to leave the country hur-
riedly by command of Ward
While in Shanghai, which has three
divisions OF settlements Of foreigners
Americans, French and English-his
old passion for the stage returning, he
and several English and American naval
officers and residents, with the counte-
nance of Ward, organized dramatic
club, and Booth being the leading spirit,
was cast in the character of Richard in
the play of Richard III All were as
tonished at the grace and bearing OF the
youthful actor throughout the perform.
ance, until the scene 'where Richard and
Richmond fight with such terrific en-
erey, when astonishment gave way to a
| wind storm of applause, and high over
all the storm come the ominous words,
Booth! Boothr meaning, very likely.
the elder Booth. The name, the situa
ton, and the startling words, so pierre
inely distinct, caused HIM to he forget.
ful of where lie was The excitement
proved too much for him, and the cur
tain fell upon an unfinished play with a
living Richard
HE Is STARTED ADRIFr AGAIN.
Ward waited upon Booth the next
day, and informed him that lurcher
and crew awaited him. No eXplana-
tions were given, and he set sail for the
Carolina islands as temporary place
of abode; but hard winds and bad
weather caused him to put into the Pc
lew islands, where I found him. On
leaving Booth he gave me token which
he said his brother Edwin would recog-
nize.
The token spoken of by Done1son
was produced for Maury's inspection,
and was heavy gold medal, heavier
| than Mexican silver dollar. bearino