The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-04-07
THOSE SPOONS.

The True Story Of fhe SiIpessUas'e
Witch Gen. Butler scas Accsssed
OF Stealing.
Washington Correspondence.
1 heard a story unfolding Benjamin
F. Butler, a few days ago, with
Gen. Garfield as a voucher, which
goes to show that the darkest cloud
has ray of silver nothing personal
intendeO somewhere. 1 repeat for
the benefit of a much.endured public:
A lady anne to Gen. Garfield not
many months ago, introducing her.
self as the daughter of Gen. Twiggs.
of confederate exploit renown. She
said her mission was to obtain the
two swords of her fathers, captured
while Gen. Butler held the balance
of power in New Orleans. One
sword was voted her father by con-
gress in recognition of his valuable
services in the Mexican war, the
other was his confederate weapon,
which she priced even more highly
than the first named Damascus
blade" Gen. Garfield informed the
lady that the best authority as to
their whereabouts would be General
Butler, but she replied that she
would sooner "beard a lion in his
den, Douglas in his hall" Upon
further assurances that he was not as
formidable as depicted, the lady con.
sented to advise with the terrible
monster" with Gen. Garfield as adj.
vance guard. Upon stating the SUBJ
ject of her visit, after surprisingly
polite reception, Gen. Butler told her
the history of the two swords. "Af-
ter their capture I sent them to
Washington, with the suggestion
that one of them be donated to An
napolis academy and the other to
West Point, as exemplars of what
base uses may be made of honorary
weapons sometimes" said Benjamin,
unmindful of the lady's slight with.
ing upon this application of the
thumbscrew. "But my advice was
not taken. They were subsequently
locked up in one of the treasury vaults
for safe keeping, and one of the du.
plicate keys handed over to me"
With few more words as to how
they might be regained, Mr.. Butler
added: "But, my dear madam, you
have never asked me about your fam.
lily plate, which whose gorgeousness
1 have been supposed to decorate my
festive board, and through the agency
of which, various rather uncompll-
mentary sobriquets have been be.
slowed upon me. Now madam, al.
most Immediately upon the evacua.
ton Of your fathers premises, and
my occupation thereof, one Of your
family servants came to me with a
load of silver, saying: "Ole massa
thought he done hide this from de
Yankees, but desc ole eyes can see a
ting or two yit, and dey marked de
spot whar de siber was buried and
hyar it as is sure 'nuff.' ! used that
plate while I occupied your fathers
house as headquarters. ibut eventu.
ally turned every piece, forks, dishes.
and spoons" there the Gen. paused
amphatically), "to the headquarters
department, land here are the vouchers
for every article brought to me"
SAID the Mas sachusetts statesman.
lifting the lid of his desk and laying
his hand on an orderly pile Of papers.
And sure enough tn re were the
vouchers, all properly signed and
credited, and Benjamin never kept
those spoons after all. "Where they
subsequently disappeared" continued
the general, 81 have no means of
knowing, but years ago they were
turned over to the government.
Astute Ben. He has been waiting
all these years quietly, patiently, SO.
renely, knowing the time would come
when he would be questioned as To
the deeds done in New Orleans, and
everything was discovered done de.
Gently and in order. Gen. Butler Ii
the most methodical Of men, and his
official papers are models Of neatness
and ready reference. Upon the back
of each epistle is briefied in short
hand its contents, and reply thereto
AS the general understands phonog
raphy, perfectly, he has but to glance