Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-11-03
SAVED BY a SHADOW.
How One of Mosby'S Scouts
Once Heard His Own Death
Warrant EnoR

J. ES,eu Cooke in The Phtla. Weekly Times.
The scou, was surrounded. He took
in everything at 4 glance and determin.
Ell to cut his way through and risk the
chances. Bat the ladies' represented to
him that this was certain death. They
could conceal him, and s aSsented.
The Young ladies acted prompted. One
ran 10 the window and asked who was
there, while another closed the back
door that in front being already fssten-
ed. $ was then hurried up the
staircase, one Of the ladies' accompany
ing him % show him his hiding place.
All had taken place IN Jew moments,
and the Federal troops gave sudden
evidence ct their estimates oil y.
They tired FOLEY through the front
door anu the bullets whiStled by the
Young ladies. Then the door WAS burst
IN and the troopers sWarmed into the
house.
$ had been conducted TO garrett
bare OF all furniture, but some pianks
Law upon the sieepers of the ceiling, and
by LAYING uOwu on these man might
conceal himself, 5 mounted quietly
and stretched himself az lull length, and
the yuuus lady retired and returned to
the lower hOor From his perch he
5 then heard all that was said in the
ball beneath.
where is the guerilla exclaimed
the Federal officer commanding the de-
taChment.
What guerilla" asked one of the
ladies'.
The rascal s.
He was here, but ne has gone
That is untrue" the officer said,
and | am not to be tri1ed with. l
stall search this house. But first read
he orders to the men, he added, tIrn-
ing u 4 sergeant.
The sergeant obeyed and S dis
tiuctly overheard the reading OF his
death warrant. They Chronicled his ca
PLOTS, denounced him rs a guerilla and
buShwhacker, and directed that he
should not be taken alive; the men
were expressly ordered 20 Kill him. not
70 take him prisoner. This was not re-
assuring to the scout concealed under
the raftsrs above. 1t was probable that
ne would be discovered, in which case
death would follow. There was but one
thing 10 do-to sell his lie dearly.
Alter ransacSIng every room on the first
and second floors, the Federal troops as
Cended 10 the garnet. The ladies' had
attempted 10 divert their attention from
il, hut one OF them asked:
What room is that up there"
"The garnet, was the reply.
"IIe may be there-shOw the way.
"Hou see the way, returned the
Young lady, IL DO not wish 20 20 up in
the dust: it would soil my dress.
"EOu 20 before, them" said the
trooper 10 a negro girl who had been
made 10 carry about lighted candle,
for night had come now. The girl
laughed and said: There was nobody
up there but at the order went up
stairs 10 the garrett, followed by the
troopers. The decisive moment had
come. $ heard the trampy ieet and
cooked both his pistols. The light
.treamed into the garnet, and looking
over the edge OF his plank ne saw tho
sarrct filled with troopers. All seemed
over and his discovery certain; ne was
about to spIjug down and tire, when the
men gruwted: Hell, there's nothing
/ here" and went down the stairs again.
/ The servant girl had saved him by a
ruse. She had taken her stand directly
beneath the broad plank upon which
$ was extended, and the deep
shadow had concealed him. To this
ruse be doubtless owed his life. An
hour afterwards the Federal detachment
lett tine house in extreme ill.humor, and
before morning. s. was miles away
IRON the dangerous locality where he
mad overheard his sentence oil death.
$ is now one OF the leading clergy
mea in Virginia.