The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-04-26
PLACING JEFF DiTIS irons

PLACING JEFF DITIS IN IRONS
How the Confederate Ex-PrcsIdent WAS
Treated by His Humane Cnptors--A Re-
mlnisccnce OF the Antc-Rcconstruction
Period.
(from the Charleston News, June 20, 1861
On the morning of the 23d Of May,
bittcrcr trial was in store for tic
proud spirit-a trial scvcrcr, probably,
than has ever in modern times been
inflicted upon any one who had enjoy
cd such cmincncc. This morning
Jefferson Davis was shackird.
1t was while aIl the sWarming camps
ofthc armies Of the Potomac, the Ten
ncsscc and Gcorgia-ovcr two hui-
drcd thousand bronzcd and laurc!cd
fctcranS-Wcrc preparing for the
Grand Review of the next morning, in
which, passing in endless succession
before tho mansion OF the President,
the .conqucring military power of the
nation was to lay down its arms al
the feet of the ivil auth l. ~, that tie
following scene was enacted At Fort
Monroe:
Captain Jerome +. Titlow, of the Sd
Pennsylvania Artillery, entered the
prisoners cell, followed by the black
smith of the fort and his assistant, the
latter carrying in his hands some
heavy and harshly-rattling shacklcs.
4As they entered, MIR. Davis was re-
clininS on his bed, fcvciish and weary
amer Il SlccplcSs night, the food placed
near him the preceding day still living
untouched OH his tin plate near his
bedside.
"Wcll!" said Mr.. Davis as they cn-
tered, slightly raising his head.
81 have All unpleasant duty to pcr-
form, sir said Captain Titlow; and
US lie spoke, the senior blacksmith took
the shacklcs from his assistant.
Davis lcapcd instantly from his 70.
cumbcnt attitude, Il flush passing over
bis face for moment, and then his
countcnancc growing as liyid and
rigid rs death.
lie gospcd for breath, clutching his
throat with the thin fingers ofhis right
haid, and then recovering himself
slowly, while his wasted figure tower
cd up to its full l.cight--now appearing
to swell with indignation and then to
shrink with terror, rs he glanced from
the captains face to the sl,acklcs-hc
said slowly and with laboriny chest :
"My God! You cannot have been
sent to iron mc?'
"Such arc my orders, sir" replied
the officer, bcckol,ing the blacksmith
TO approach, who stepped forward, un-
locking the paddock and preparing the
letters to do their Office. These tGttcrs
were of heavy iron, probably five
eighths ofan inch in thickness, and
connected together by chain Of like
weight. ] believe they are now in the
possession OF Maior-Gcncral Miles, and
VIII form an interesting relic.
"IhlS Is too monslrouS." groancd
the prisoner, glaring hurricdly round
the room, as if for some weapon, or
means Of scli-dcstruction. q" de-
mand, Captain, that you let me sec the
commanding officer. Can he pretend
that sucE Shacklcs arc required TO
secure the safe custody Of a weak old
man, 50 guarded and in such fort as
this!"
"lt would serve no purpose" re-
Piled Captain Titlow; "his orders are
trom Washington, as mine arc from
him."
But he can Telegraph" intcrposcd
MIR. Davis, eagerly; "thcrc must be
some mistake. No such outrage as
YOU threaten me with, is OF record in
the history of nations. BEG him TO
telegraph, and delay until he answers" )"
only orders are pcrcmtorv." said
the officer, "and admit Of no delay.
For your own sake. let nc advise Won
TO submit with patience. AS q SOL
der, Mr.. Davis, You know mist
execute ortlcrs.'
"Ihcsc arc not orders for soldicr,"
shoutcd the prisoner, losing all con
trol or himself. "Thcy are orders for
a ,lailor--ior a hangman, which no
soldier wearing a sword should accept!
tell you the world will ring with this
disgrace. The war is over; the South
Is conquered; l have no longer any
country but America, and it is for the
hohor OF America, rs for my own
honor and life, that plead against
ms degradation. Kill mel xiii me !"
nc crlcd,. ,passionately, throwing his
arms wide open and exposing his
breast, "ratllcr than inflict on me, and
on my people through me, this insult
worse than DEATH"
"Do your duty, blacksmith" said
the officer, walking toward the en-
brasurc as if not caring to witness Tho
performance: at only gives incrcas-
ca pain on all sides to protract this
at these words the blacksmith adj
yanccd with the shacklos, and seeing
that the prisoner had one foot upon
the chair near his bedside, his right
hand resting on the back of it, tho
Drawny mechanic made an attempt to
sllp one OF the shacklcs over the ankle
SO raised but, as if with the vchc-
mclce and strength which frenzy can
impart, even to the weakest invalid,
Mr. Davis suddenly seized his assail-
aMt an, ana hurled him half way across