Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-02-18

other soldiers. They were sent below
and the matches put down. The passen-
gers were assured that they should not
be molested. The stars and bars were
run up, with the announcement: "This
flag is a guarantee of protection to wo-
men and children" This assurance
was sacredly kept, although it cost some
effort. The regular Confederate sol
diers were perfect gentlemen, but some
of those hired from Philadelphia, New
York, and other cities were not. 1t was
necessary to put some of them over
board to make good the promise given
when the Confederate flag was hoisted
About 1890 the Parsons caught the
Island Queen unloading freight at Put
in-Bay Island. She carried a large
number of passengers, among them 800
unarmed soldiers going to Cleveland TO
get mustered out. The Parsons ran
alongside of her, made fast, and cap
tured her. The two steamers then went
to Fighting Island, where the passen-
gers were put ashore. There was no
possible danger that they would give
warning. The steamers then ran toward
the Michigan, which lay in sight.
Cole left the Parsons in q small boat
ana rowed directly to the Michigan.
| His plan was to capture the ship by
strategy. Before going to Detroit he
had arranged to give the officers an en-
! tertainment on board that evening at )
o'clock, and had sent the wine and other
requisites to the vessel before he left
Sandusky. Therefore his coming on
board that day excited no suspicion.
| - 4l,. k,,,.n
were to come out from the shore in
small boats. ostensibly fishing, and sur
round the Michigan. When Cole went
aboard they were to draw nearer to the
/ ship. At a given signal from him they
were to board her, put down the matches,
and the vessel would be won without
firing gun. Everything worked like
/ q charm. On the verge of success Cole
delayed giving the signal a moment too
long. He was himself captured instead
OF capturing the Michigan. He was in
the wardroom drinking wine with the
officers, and was Just making an excuse
to 60 on deck to give the signal when
an officer from Johnson's Island ap-
preached him, saying Capt. Cole,
you are my prisoner.
Captain of what?" he asked with a
laugh. Certainly no man will accuse
me of being a soldier. "
mo" replied the officer, "but here
is a telegram saying you are Confed-
crate spy, and are in conspiracy to
capture Johnson's Island. 1t orders
your arrest. We must at least take you
into custody"
"Oh, that's all right, Cole answered,
although he felt that it was all up with
him.
Sergeant, search him r ordered the
officer.
The Sergeant began his work, and al
most the first thing he found was a COM
mission from the Confederate Govern
ment. That was enough. Cole was
put under arrest and closely guarded.
A Col. Johnson of Kentucky had be-
trayed him. He dropped a paper con-
aiming the information of his purposes
upon the wharf just as they We're leav-
ing Maiden on the NOR ing of the 10Th
Of September. 1t was picked up and
the facts communicated to the Provost
Marshall at Detroit. He telegraphed
to the officers of the steamer Michigan,
but the dispatch was by accident de-
livered to the commanding officer on
Johnson's Island. 1t was merely by
chance that the message reached the
boat in time to save her from capture
and upset Coles plans.
On his arrest Cole was asked who
were his accomplices. There they were
all around the vessel and still unknown.
Quick as a flash he devised plan to
save them He named twelve OF the
most prominent citizens of Sandusky as
his co conspirators, knowing that they
would be at once arrested. He felt as
sured that his female accomplice in the
city, who was watching the bay for the
signal of his success, would be warned
of his capture, and alarm the men
in the boats. He was not mistaken.
The first man arrested was Mr. West,
who kept the hotel where he stopped.
Annie Davis knew he had failed the
moment it occurred. Quickly slipping
from the hotel, she took small boat,
rowed out and gave the alarm to the men
in the fishing boats, and they to Par
sons and Queen. Beale scuttled the
Queen and sunk her in sight of the
Michigan, and running the Parsons
over 10 Tue Odudtlt uSt. tOO
Every man but Cole escaped. Annie
Davis also got away, but she was cap
tured a day or two after, when she came
back to bring notice from the Confed
crate Government that they would hold
two officers as ransom for Cole, and
would execute them if he was dealt with
in any other way than as Confederate
engaged in legitimate warfare.
Johnson cut his throat at the barracks
i'll Cincinnati while being held as wit
ness for the Federal Government against
Cole.
After Coles arrest he was confined on
the Michigan until after Gems. Dix,
Heinizelman and Hitchcock visited the
vessel to make an investigation. They
came on board on a bright Septem Der
day. It was thought that the Knights
of the Golden Circle We're i'll the plot,
and they were in search of evidence
They asked tor Cole.
Cole says that ho was quietly smoking
cigar when the officer came below to
escort him on deck III oiLg forward
he knew that he had t. pass directly
over the magazine H. pulled yigor
ously at his ciQar to get it we'll lighted,
then taking it from his mouth he held ii
by his side, and IN passing dropped Il
into the little air-hole which opened
J into the magazine. He therefore reached