Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-05-07
@TRANsIRNT BILLs-oAsH
cavalry regiment, with whom I had Sigh.


acauaintance. We were both in uniform.-.
We agreed that something ought to be done
to restore order and stop the robbery. At
his suggestion We stationed ourselves at the
door of store already overrun. In few
seconds virago tried to pass rs. can sea
her now. HeW checks and lips were red,
but she had n pinched, starved look, and an
eve like a hawk. She carried in her arms q
half dozen bars of yellow soap, s piece of
dress silk, long box or stockings, aud some
rsisins and herring. 1 said
"'Madam, beg your pardon but you
are forgetting yourself. These goods arc not
yours. You have not paid for them, and you
viii not be permitted to leave ihis store with
them" sa1e -".---' t
sr..shs looked at me-" said the Major, "ia a
wild way, rs though endeavoring to eonprs-
hend what had said, and then went 20 the
counter aud threw, down the goods. AS she
came back she deliberately took me by the
arm and suug me from her with such force
that went spinning around like a top, and
struck the front of the building SO hard that
it took the breath out of me. Sho then
quietly gathered mp her load from the coun-
ter and walked out. The Alabama Captain
looked at me aud laughed, but kept his hands
in his pockets aud said nothing. told him
l thought We were out Of place, and he
nodded. We concluded after that to remain
simple spectators.
Meanwhile the women were approaching
the Jews quarter. The Hebrews were cred>
tied with great wealth. II was said that they
had made barrels of money out of the contod-
eracy, and tho female communists went at
them without qualm of conscience. Moses
and Isaac, however,, had heard what was
going on above, and tried to protect thom-
aa1y fbasr ahnff h.rr
caded their doors, ran up stairs, and watched
the proceedings from the second-story wins
dows. But the women were not dismayed.
While some of them ran for axes, others
found a long piece of scantling and used ID
as a battering ram. The first door flew open
amid tho cheers of the outsiders, followed by
q wall of sorrow from the Jews. "Oh, ming
Kott mine Kott ish ruiped ~ was the
cry. But they made no further Defence
Indeed, it would have been dangerous for
them to attempt it, for if one OF the female
robbers had been hurt the crowd of husbands
and brothers would surely have avenged is.
"And So" said the Major, "the spoliation
continued. At last a rumor ran through the
stroet, the Governor is coming 10 proved
true. Down the hill came Governor Letcher,.
accompanied by his staff aud few friends.
IL ascendcd a cart, and made speech,
usually do have. Tho mob Of women kept
steadily at work, and the Governor pumped
himself dry without producing the least Of,
feet. The crowd on the outskirts opened
respectfully for him to pass out, and tho
jews moaned moro pitiful than ever. Tho
women pitched in with renewed vigor, and
shawls, sugar, popIins, bottles of pickles.
ribbons, washing coda, muslins and bags of
| hominy were pitched in tho wagons at tho
doors Then n second rumor spread over
tho crowd. Tho President was coming.
This also proved true. President Davis rodo
down from the Capitol, followed by Capt.
Gay, with hundred of the guards. .Ho
mounted q wagon, and everybody was silent.
l had seen him several times, but had never
heard him speak. So forced my way with
in ten feet of him and stood spellbound. I,
was the most eloquent speech 1 ever heard.
Tall and slender, he swsyed with emotion
like the willow in the wind. His Words
were carefully chosen. He spoke Of his e1-
perience in the Mexican war. and, while ex-
pressing his deepest sympathy with the sor>
rows and sufferings of the children Of tho
Confederacy, sternly maintained the neoessi-
ty OF law and order"
The Mojor heard that many of the women
stopped piIIaging, and gathered at distance
listening to the words that they could catch.
At the close OF the speech the President
took out his watch and gazed at il long and
earnestly.
}" 'CaTt,in Gay said he order your men
10 load with ball cartridges" r-i
The order was obeyed, and the ringing Of
ramrods was heard. The crowd began TO-
give way.
e"'CAp plain Cay said the President, still
looking at his watch, 'if this eireet is NOS
cleared within Eve minutes, order Jour men
to FIRE down Main street until it is cleafe5'"
"Mr. Davis rodo away. Within thres
minutes there was not soul in sight but the
guards. The mob fenneled itself into tho
side streets Those nearest the President
gave the information to those in front, and
rushed against them with the force of a wave.
They are going to FIRE The words were
heard by the pilferers in the stores. They
knew the character Of Jefferson Davis, and
they knew the reputation of old Capt. Gay.
Where Davis would not finch from giving
an order, Gay would not finch from obeying
it. The women dispersed as suddenly as
they came, and that was the end of the fe-
male commune. They never held another
meeting"
GETTING NAMES FOR BAD PrRPosEs.-