The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-04
HIS PR0DIGAL GENEROSITY.
TOUCHING SELF-SA CRITICIZE REPORTED
or A NOBLE pIRGINI1N
The Fall OF chmond-Extraordinary ACTIVE
ity Of I" Extra Biiy" smith-He Goes TO
the Bottom of the james River Canal.

The FAN OF Richno Extraordinary Activ.
ity of Extra Biiiy" smith-He Goes to
the Bottom of the james River Canal
LyNouBURG, Va, Jan. 21-One OF the
most prominent survivors OF tho old Virginia
stock Of public men is the Hon. William Smith.
better known throughout tho Union rs Extra
Billy" He was in Congress forty years ago
with old Con. Spinner OF New York. and
threshed himself on the floor Of the House until
he attained considerable celebrity. He has
come down to us from former political gene
ration. and is Justly regarded by all virginians
with love and generation. There Is u story
aHoat so illustrative Of his exalted patriotism
and extraordinary generosity that do not think
the world at large can afford to lose IT,
II your readers remember Extra Billy was
a cautious but rampant rebel. Once on the
track. no fairly famed with patriotic FIRE. and
took such an active part in the Confederate Con-
eress that toward the close OF the war he was
elected Governor OF Virginia. His love for his
native State and her manly defenders seemed
passionate md enduring. and no crippled hero
ever passed. him without receiving an encour-
aging word. Thus 4 was that he happened TO
lines ut Petersburg had been broken and tho
Union hosts were rolling toward the Confed.
tho religious dcvotions of the Hon. Jefferson
Davis, and he gave orders FOR the evacuation OF
quicker than Extra Billy. His duty to him
eelf IA we'll AS to his country was fully realized
| The whole city was in AN uproar and CONFUSION
| forget that there was t2l 900 in gold in the
vaults OF the Exchange Bank OF Virginia 1t
| had hecn deposited to the credit Of the contin-
| gent fund II the Old Dominion. and was the re-
suit of forced loan from the State banks under
| recent statute.
Extra Billy was determined that this gold
| should not fall into the hands OF the Yankees.
| He drew his warrant on the SUITE Auditor. and
| LFt.fF fh.sI aV.fNg l Tl.
Governors warrant was drawn on the ground
| that IT WAS necessary to have this sum 10 pay
salaries duo aud hereafter To become due. The
| ground was patriotically taken; Tor the state
| then owed him personally Tor salary nearly $40
| gold. or one month : pay ut tho annual rate Of
| t2OOOO Confederate currency. His salary
| hereafter To- become due, provided he served
| The remnnder Of his term. would amount 10
$3.50 gold. Through love for his country or q
mistake in his arithmctica calculations. the old
patriot took only $1,000 OF the specie. TWAS all
aa%1 nee i9pS SsE HpSdn h. his be5 ou
| his waist and started for this city via the james
River, and kanawha Canal. His stafr arcompa-
personal interests 10 stick by the Governor and
The part he had OF the gold.
| y the canal they sailed. The duh booming
Of Yankee cannon gradually died away. II wns
| not exactly "a loyous trip but II IL said To have
been cnlivenri 10y a funny incident ,biily's bolt
| WAS SO heavy that he wudllrd around with con
siderable diM uiy Al last tn" burly patriot
made q mis-t"p and iumblcd overheard in five
| feet OF water: He went under head first and
! lay street oui on the bottom Ike n pig Of
| lead. som" Confederate soldiers SAW the acci-
! dent and fishcd him ont amid unnntriotic re-
marks con -rning his weight. One Of them
SAID " IL WIS damned singular that he didn't
wade ashore The Governor Il 's'endcd TO the
cabin. and WAS furnished with dry clothes. Tut
tn" true seer oi ms uIishap, too good tu be kept
| onz"d from tue members 81 hs staff II spread
among the soldiers. and when fairly ON its feet
! leit the boat and ran along III" canal up "a this
city. then filed with impccuulous rebel OH 'crs
| These brave fellows W"r" coming IN rom an
| quarters IN their efforts to avoid the falling phi
lars 81 tho COuf"irrgry. They re- loaded to
| the muzzlr " m Confederate money. hnt $4,000
| 81 II wouldn't buy ~ sandwich. Hungry wound
| ed. stitute. and iornrn. they kept up stout
| hcart- and Confidently awaited huppicr times
| Their Hrinl'ss Sie.VcS ono legged uantalOons
| and scHrrod faces spoke uf Getty shurg. Sharps-
! burg. Spots yaniH. and score Of battle nrlts.
| But tn country mai been siinn.d Tinro was
| but l.iile lc.t. ana that lulc demanded specie.
| Under such circumstances YOU can imagin"
with what 10y these tried veterans hoard that
/ IN" patriotic Governor of the Mother 81
States was coming up the valley laden with
| gold. The gallant trrn. John l.. krnpcr. our
| late Governor. WAS the FIRST 10 receive the gori-
Gus Intelligence. Generous to "A fault, for him
! self ne cared nothing. All his svmpathes were
awakened boy tn" Nee s-ities Of his brother M
| means. FNtrr Billy was his friend and u"
saw m opportunity a. relieve their wants. H.
! impaired MS Information On. and their faces
A. the pntriotia Goyernor entered tho city he
saw Gen. kemper. and took him aside for pri-
waite conversation he tod ia" G-nernl that he
WIS aware 81 his -sltips and those II his
comrndos. From the bottom OF his heart he
self ana friends cipcrsd before the General
eyes. The Governor. IN touching tones, con-
Gen Kempcr. YOU are gallant soldier and
a true Nirsintan. Your course has commanded
| my adm rat on. luu arc an honor 10 Virginia,
and. sir, Virsinia viii vet reward YOU. | have
| hoard IL uUr necessities and thos" Of your
to relieve them. | know nj what the future
! nav hav ia ~tnr' for me. The brutality Of the
Northern invader may sonl me- 10 exile or thu
] Whatever happens. | rely upon your promise.