Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-10-02

TIE MYSTERIOUS PRISONER VINO WA

THE MYSTERIOUS PRISONER VINO WAS
MISTAKEN FOR One OF THE CoNsPIRA-
TORS AGAINST PRESIDENT LINCoLN's
LIFE.
Colonel John G. Ryan, a brother of
General Ryan of Virginius fame, was
arrested at the close of the war as John
II. Surratt, and after being in Jail for
FIVE months was released on the ground
of mistaken identity. The following
story of his arrest and Imprisonment is
told by him:
1t was in July, 1865, just after the
late unpleasantness, was standing in
the rotunda OF the Gayoso House at
Memphis, one evening, chatting with
an old friend, Colenel Cockerill, when
gentleman approached me and politely
asked if my name was Ryan. l replied
that it was. "Colonel Ryan of Arkan-
sas 2" he asked. "The same" / respon-
ded. Thinking it must be some friend
whose name had escaped me, l extend
ed my hand to shake his, when, to my
astonisbment, as you can well imagine,
he turned back his coat, exposing an
official star, and remarked that my
presence was desired at the provost mar
shal's office. | could conceive of no
offense that had committed, and sup
posed that he had made some mistake;
so carelessly tossed parcel in my
hands to the clerk of the hotel to put
in my key box, and, remarking that l
would 0e back in half an hour, set out
upon a Journey that was destined to be
a most remarkable one, to me at least.
When we arrived at the provost office
l sought information concerning my
strange arrest, but could get no salts
faction. / was searched carefully, and
everything, save the rags which cover
ed, was seized. A careful descriptive
list was then taken, showing my heigth
apparent age, the color Of my eyes, and
hair, etc. | concluded from this that it
was no joke, nor any trifiipg matter,
and when to every question / asked
was returned but silent shake of the
head, it is not strange that became
badly frightened, and prepared for the
worst After little delay, was con-
Quoted to the top ofthe Irving block,
which was used as a Jail. was taken
into a room and grufily asked to pick
out place for myself, and then heavy
manacles were placed on my wrists,
heavy bands were welded on to my an
kles, huge staple was driven into the
floor, and | was chained fast. / could
not move more than three feet from the
staple, and, in the feeble condition in
which four years of privation and sick
ness in the field had left me, it was as
much as l could do to lift my heavily
weighted hands to my mouth in eating.
The physical torture was terrible, but
the mental agony was indescribable.
have since learned that some friends
heard of-my arrest, and called upon the
general commanding for an explana-
ton, but were treasured by the state
ments, no doubt honestly made, that it
was not Col. Ryan who was in Jail, but
very important State prisoner who
had assumed Col. Ryan's name.
After had been there for some days,
l was suddenly unshackled and con-
Quoted to another floor. My heart
leaped at the thought OF freedom, but
all hope was soon dispelled by the ap-
pearace of blacksmith with fresh man
acles. Instead of chains and staple, it
was now chain and ball. Attached to
each ankle was chain carrying sixty
four pound ball, and from my handcutfed
hands ran light chain to the single
manacled arm of a guard.
/ was placed i'll close carriage with
armed guards all about me(wo of them
holding revolvers on their laps as We
rode), and driven to the cars. In a spe-
cial car, under Capt Smith, with an
Illinois guard, we rode TO Cairo, and
thence to Baltimore, Md,
AT Baltimore a large crowd had
gathered at the Depot to await my arri-
val. 1t seems that the papers had been
publishing sensational reports of ''the
mysterious prisoner the ''man with
the iron mask, etc, then en- route for
Washington, and the populace was so
excited that they prosposed lynching
me. We had to change cars, and the
people jammed up against me with all
manner of threats. Many Of them dis
PLAYED arms, and for time it looked as
if a general engagement between them
and my guards was certain. One bully
succeeded in getting close to me, and
encouraged me with threat to cut my
heart out. 1t was more than l could
bear, and l struck him full in the face.
Wild commotion followed, and was
pretty roughly handled, and, when we
gained new car, was very thankful for
having escaped alive.
When we reached Washington was
taken at once to the old capitol prison
and locked in cell, with a silent guard
before the door. One day / heard
noise below me, and thought that there
might be a fellow prisoner there who
could serve me. So | happened to have
a piece ot twine in my pocket, and ]
found a scrap Of writing paper In a