National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-19

if at all, by way of the Aqueduct or Long Bridge
gave the subject no further thought.
The next evening Lieutenant G.'s regiment re-
/ turned to camp, and he Immediately sought me
out q was still on duty at the ferry; and upon
learning that his brother yet in the city, I'M
mediately crossed over
In about two hours he returned in high state
\ of excitement, with the information that his
| brother had left for camp the morning previous,
| and had not since been seen by any of his acquaint
| anees.
| He questioned myself and the men closely, and
! then went to the post the AQueduct, thence to
Long Bridge and about three m. returned to me,
looking so haggard and broken down that scarcely
recognized him.
About nine a. m. 1 was relieved from duty, and,
through the agency of the Lieutenant, secured a
pass to the city for forty eight hours.
We Immediately crossed by way of the Aqueduct'
and, beginning in Georgetown, entered upon
most exhaustive search for the missing one. we
visited every known place of resort, inquired at
the provost marshals Office, of the guards sta-
toned throughout the two cities, of every soldier
we met, and of citizens most likely to nave op-
| served the young man, but no trace could we oo-
tain of him after he left the hotel where ne had
temporarily put up.
On my way back we began at the Arsenal ana
followed along the wbarves, making inquiries at
every STEP but without avail, until we had nearly
reached the foot of Twenty sixth street. We had
Just passed the Naval Observatory when we en-
countered a contraband, who, in answer to our
questioning informed US that the evening before
he had seen small boat, containing three men
and boy, put off from the grounds south of the
Observatory toward the Virginia shore. His de-
scription of the boy tailed exactly with that of
the missing party.
Our informant was evidently concealing some
~. ~, all hal thQ
lieutenant threatened to put him under arrest and
take him to the provost marshal a suspicious
character Thereupon he admitted having oc-
casionally done little business with the soldiers
on the sly by taking over whisky and other good
things in his boat; that the evening previous,
when it was quite dark, two men had come to him
and offered FIVE dollars for the of his boat an
hour This he refused, unless he could so with 1T.
Then they offered ten, and as the boat was an old
at the best he let them have it, himself taking
it down opposite the Observatory, where he found
the two who had hired it with the two others in
dictated. Neither the men nor boat had returned.
One of the men Lit his pipe before starting, and
by light of the match he was enabled TO gather
the description which he had given us of the
Lieutenants brother, as we were now convinced
the boy was. But why was he in such company?
After these details we FASTENED to the ferry and
embarked without delay. When about half way
across caught CLEAN of light, which seemed to
come from the basement of the old Mason House,
and called my companions attention to it. At first
he thOughtit might be lantern, but as we had sue
cesSve glimpses Of it through gaps in the foliage of
the trees and shrubbery we finally convinced our
selves that my first conclusion was right.
Upon landing proposed thatwe investigate the
matter My familiarity with the habits of those
whose duties took them into that neighborhood,
a66 nd m tha fact hot SIR
against trespassing upon the property, led me to
believe all was not as it should be.
At first the Lieutenant demurred but, finally ac-
ceding to my wish, we passed down the carriage
drive underneath the overhanging trees, and,
making our way up 10 the building with the ut
most caution, found that the light came from a
small window on the side nearest the river, and
which opened into one of the largest of the dun
geon-like apartments in the cellar.
From the interior came the murmur of voices.
Falling upon our hands and knees, we crept up
until We could look through the cracks between
the boards partially covering the window, and
gazed within.
Had it not been for my hand placed hastily, and
fear rather heavily, over my companions mouth
he would have cried aloud, and l must confess
that required all of my self control to keep from
uttering an exclamation of horror at what we saw.
In the further corner of the dungeon partly re-
Ginning upon pile of army blankets, lay the one
for whom all Washington had been searched
through and through. His hands were bound
fast, and short piece of wood, wrapped with can
vas, was held firmly between his distended jaws by
cords, preventing any successful attempt at Outcry
There was wild, pleading look in his eyes,
coupled with settled expression of horror, which
it seemed tome must have moved the heart of even
the most relentless savage. His face pale the
face of corpse, and there were marks of violence
visible upon it, giving fearful evidence of most
brutal treatment.
In front of him, at about the centre of the cell,
around box, upon which burned two tallow dips
were seated four men, or beings having the forms
of men, playing cards. A black bottle stood near
at hand, from which each in turn helped himself.
I heard the click of the lock as the Lieutenant
cooked his revolver, and was just in time to pre-
vent him from shooting the miscreants, or one of
them at least. My next step was to withdraw him,
almost by main force, from the scene. When we
had retired short distance hurried consulta-
ton was held, and it was decided that an effort
should be made to capture the gang.
1 went to the guard house and easily procured
the services of the off duty, and led them back
to the mansion, posting sentinel wherever there
necessity for so doing, in order to prevent an
escape.
The Lieutenant, with the remainder of our force,
passed around to the rear, where there was an out
side entrance to the cellar prepared to arrest any
who might attempt to flee by that route; or, if
necessary, to break in the door and gain admis-
sion 10 the interior. 1 resumed my station at the
window, and, when satisfied every arrangement
had been made, called out: "You are sur
rounded; yield yourselves prisoners or you will
be fired upon"E In an instant the lights were ex-
tinguished, and the next moment heard deep
groan and gurgling, half-suppressed cry of NOR
tai agony.
There was confused rush toward the back of
the house. succeeded by few heavy blows, a
short, sharp struggle, curses groans thud fall,
and when reached the Lieutenant he was bend
ing over the PROSTATE body of one of the villains
clutching his throat with what would have proved
a death grip had not interposed.
All four of the rascals were now securely fast
ened lone of them had been bayOneted through
the body in his endeayor to escape and died in
few minutes, and our next thought was of their
victim.
Cropping my way inside, I struck match and
reit one of the candles As did SO the Lieutenant,
who was close beside me, gave one bound to the
side of his brother, who was lying back upon the
blankets and took him in his arms. Then he be-
came senseless. l fastened to his side and IN
locked his arms from the slender form, and as
did so saw for the first time what appeared to be
an ugly knife wound in the youths left breast
Hastily tearing open the garments to discover
the extent of the injury, made another discovery,
which sent thrill through every fibre of my
being. The Licutenant's supposed brother was
woman. But the cruel knife had too well done its
work. She was dead.
Gathering the bloody clothing over the pulseless
heart, laid the unfortunate creature down, and,
calling in one Of the men to help, bore the Lieu
tenant outside where he soon revived
Lulu Lulu! Oh, God - he moaned. Dead
dead ~ He seemed for several minutes completely
overcome by his great grief and with no more
strength than child.
Suddenly he aroused and sprang to his feet with !
the leap of panther Walking to the side of one |