National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-08-06
GEN. "wAcn RYAy,s BRoEHEa.


as,mbled at the two previous services. "A prayer
meeting followed the preaching, and thus enaed
the second day Of camp. L.
GEN. "wAc, BYAys BRoTHEs.
singular Story ofArrest and cruel Treatment
by Col. Baker for John Il. surratt.
The Chicago Courier is responsible for the
following marvellous story:
HDo you remember the mysterious prisoner who
created such sensation at the close OF the war
the man who was arrested as John II. Surratt,
and after being kept in jail for i've months was
released on the ground Of mistaken identity 9''
asked Q gentleman as he sat lunching at lbach's
last evening. 1t was Col John g. Ryan,
eldest brother of-Genersf Ryan, of Of VIr-
gfnius fame, o soldierly gentleman, who has been
stopping in Chicago for some time, attending to
his dead brothers estate.
HCertainly," responded the Courier man, to
whom the question was addressed.
well, Sir, +" continued Col Ryan, ~ am that
Individual. IfyOu would like, will tell you the
story, which may be interesting, and 1t has never
yet been published"
"By all means," echoed the reporter, and he
dropped his fork and bent, all attention, while
the Colonel related the following story:
THE AR REST AT MEMPHIS.
ut was in July, 1855. The unpleasantness had
Just been broughtto close by Lee's.surrender
and /, in common with many other Southern OH.
GERS, began to put about for some peaceable occu-
patton. had gone into the Confederate service
from Arkansas, and naturally enough drifted
back to that State after the surrender. / had
reached Memphis on my way from Mississippi,
as forlorn Q looking object as you would care to
see. had my side-arms, which, under the terms
Of the surrender, was still permitted to wear,
and to cover my seedy uniform had bought or
borrowed q light but capacious buster. had
some friends in Memphis and halted o day or
two to see them. I put up at the Gsyoso House,
ing with an old friend, Colonel Cockerill, when q
gentleman approached me and politely asked II
my name was Ryan. replied that it was. Col.
responded. Thinking IL must be some friend
whose name had escaped me extended my hand
'haEs mis- linen he 70 my n az
posing an official star, and remarked that my
presence was desired at the provost msrshaIfs
committed, and supposed that he had made some
mistake, so / carelessly tossed q parcel In my
hands to the clerk Of the hotel 70 put In my key
an hour, set out upon journey that was destined
to be q most remarkable one, to me at least"
SHOCKED WITH DUMB GUARDS.
"When we arrived at the provost office sought
information Ia concerning my strange arrest but
cred me, was seized. A careful descriptive list
age, the color Of my eyes and hair, Sc concluded
from this that It was not joke nor any trifling
matter, and when TO every question asked was
strange that became badly frightened and pre-
pared for the worst. After q little delay was
conducted to the top Of the Irving ing block which
gruftiy asked TO pick out . place for myself and
then heavy manacles were placed on my wrists,
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
had left me, II was as much as could do to Lift
my heavily weighted hands to my mouth In eat
ing. The physical torture was terrible, but the
the heart Of Memphis, where 1 had thousands Of
friends, but as isolated was ever Robinson Cru
the law, but unable to even catch hint Of the
accusations against me, II will take powerful
effort of your Imagination to res BE my situation.
my arrest and called upon the general command.
ing for an explanation, but were treasured by the
statements, NO doubt honestly made, that Il was
not Colonel Ryan who was in Jail, but very i'm
portant state prisoner who had assumed Colonel
Ryan's name. But perhaps am wearying YOUR
"Not at all; am all ears"
TAKEN TO WASHINGTON.
swell, after had been there for some days, I
was suddenly unshackled and conducted to an
other floor. MY heart lesped at the thought Of
freedom, bat all hope was soon dispelled by the
appearance of q blacksmith with fresh manacles.
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
handcuffed hands ran o light chain to the single
manacled arm Of guard. was thus clothed for
Q new journey, whittier knew not; for what pur-
II was placed in q close carriage, with armed
guards al about me, 1.-TWO Of them holding revolv-
ers on their laps as We rods,) and driven to the
an Illinois guard, who, BY the way, were very
kind and attentive, except that they never would
converse with me upon the subject Of my arrest
mol ma 0ha f0D aIr and
thence to Baltimore, Md.
ATTACKED BY MOE.
AT Baltimore . large crowd had gathered at
the depot to await my arrival. It seems that the
and
then en- route for washington, and the populscs
hsa 70 change As shd he psSps
up against me with all manner OF threats. Many
ofthem displayed arms, and for. time IL looked
as II q general engagement between them and my
guards was certain. One bully succeeded in get
ting close TO me and encouraged me with threat
e IN ts o %S
commotion followed and was pretty roughly
handled, and when we gained = new car was very
thankful for having escaped alive.
IN THE OLD CAPITOL PRISON.
"when we reached Washington was taken at
once 10 The old Capitol prison and locked In CELL
with silent guard before the door. could look
ISertV % he csptOI DOME no one IN %y stu a.
tion, imprisoned while innocent, It seemed q wild
trayestY on genuine freedom. Gould you blame
heard noise below me and thought there might
be fellow prisoner there who could serve me. So
Ihsppenedto have piece Of tWine in my pocket
the cell wall rubbed my assr IN the ron
rust on the crate bars and wrote request for
Psy sOon NIL. sn1 little s
loud whisper, 'haul away and hauled away,
and found copy Of the Washington Chronicle on
my hook. 20 =
AN ODD INCIDENT.
uThe first article that hit upon wasan account OF
the capture and Incarceration OF the mysterious
prisoner who was supposed BY Baker, chief Of
the detective corps, to be no other than John II.
life. but Who, the chronteie editor thouEbs. was
one Fuller, g fellow who had been floating about
Warrington. and who looked not unlike Surratt
paper found written: sThe compliments Of Nv.
Fuller, your fellov-prisoner-the very man the
chronieie supposed to be me.
al then, for the first time, discovered my iden-
tity. Twas John II. Surratt Delightful visions
OF speedy punishment and . nervous sensation
was there, came over me. PoHsris:s to defend Si
myself, because unable to communicate with any
one,
GAVE uP IN DESPAIR
and fell down on the stone floor Of my damp eel
ton sbsoluteiy psrsiyzed ma. ms guard noticed
me as lay there, and when recovered myself
noticed him gazing upon me intently. Finally,
ont: is not your name Ryan, yes, sir / an
swered, In great surprise At finding one who
mand in Mississippir he continued. Yea 80,
you remember on such day saving Q young
prisoners life at such place, In such manner
When he told me thsstory recalled the incident
family, and our recognition was complete. After.
that he could not serve me too often, and was con-
SANITY pressing me to call upon him for favor.
Very soon borrowed his Notebook and pencil,
and scrubbed
LINE TO SIR YRRDERIcK BRUCE,
the British minister. An uncle Of mine had
served with IN a Indis, . fact 20 yhich called
asked him TO aid me. made one most unfor-
tunate mistake; + forgot 70 mehtion hat my
guard had smuggled the letter to % destination.
M rasr,lt rraa Eat M raf A.