The Dawson journal., 1883-09-27
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
The Life and Death of a Most
Remarkable Character.
A TRUE STORY WHICH is STRANGER
THAN FICTION.

Howell Rose lived and died nea
Wetumpka, Alabama. II yo,
wish a thrilling and well told de
tail OF the personal characteristics
OF this most remarkable man, cal
on the present member from tina
district in congress. Howell
Hose was uneducated, but nature
was to him exceeding lavish il
mental and moral gifts. Before
the war, and to the day of his
death, which was shortly after the
war, he was an Old Line Wing
and opposed secession with that
betterness and determination which
made him very unpopular with
his neighbors during thateventful
period. He was member of the
legislature Of his state several
years before the war, and, though
a married man, was without chill
dren. He was, nevertheless, the
fatler of short speech which has
been attributed to quite a variety
OF paternity. At one time, while
a legislator, he opposed what he
conceived to be an untimely ad-
lournment, and was twitted by a
brother member with the sugges-
ton that he had no children at
home to trot upon his knee, and
hence found no fascinati0ns canal
to taose which Montgomery offer
ed. "It is true" he replied, chat
no babes await me at home. Nv
friend has a numerous progeny;
but why should he twit me in res
pect of that wherein the jackass
even, is his equal, and the billy
goat his great superior?''
His independence of character
was known far and near. In the
early months Of 1861, after the
secession of Alabama measure
which he opposed with all the en-
ergy of truly heroic characBer-
he was called upon by some of the
soldiers for a contribution to equip
q company.
"To the devil with you and your
internal company too," rallied the
old man; IF you will start a sub
scription to buy every devil Of you
secessionists a shroud and coffin,
| will give you every dollar | can
raise"
OF course these views kept him
during the war in continual hot
water with the neighbors; yet,
though growing old and infrm, he
fought his battle bravely and
alone.
But notwithstanding his Union
sentiments, he became at last the
victim of oneof the most diaboli-
cal outrages on the part of some
Federal soldiers ever perpetrated.
being economical, and very
wealthy, he had laid away quite a
little fortune $4,000 or 100000
which he had converted into gold
and silver. In the imagination Of
those who knew him, this amount
grew to fabulous proportions, and
became known to the Federal SOL
diers, six Of whom immediately
after the close Of the war, passed
through his neighborhood, and
their cupidity being excited beyond
control, they determined to bull
dose the old gentleman into lib
eral shell-out for their benefit
They were ON their way North
through the country, and one day
in the early spring Of 1865, called
at Mr.. Roses, told him that they
knew of the amount of money he
had hid away somewhere, and
were determined to have it, or his
life would pay the forfeit.
"Y0u Internal towards, thieves
and robbers" roaIed the indignant
Rose, you are right have mon
ey and a great deal of it. ] am
the only person on earth who
knows where that money is. /
have but a few years longer to live
at the most and [ will see you
every one in h-ll before you shall
have a copper of it."
"We shall see" retorted the
leader Of the robber band.
In front Of Mr.. Roses residence
was a great oak with spreading
branches. Procuring rope, they
dragged him from his room, and
making one end of the rope fast
about his neck, threw the other
over one of the limbs of the tree
and hauled him up. After his
face grew black and blue, and his
fingers began to twitch, they lei
him down.
"Will you tell us where to fine
the gold and silver?" asked the
ring-leader. "Neyer, neverr
shouted the victim, defantly. g
viii die and go to hi before yol
shall ever know it. Youmay talk
my life, but you shall be none th'
; better for it-so help me God!"
Again, and again, and again h
was drawn up until the rope Gu
deep into the flesh, and his tongu
dropped down upon his CHR
Just before the last diabolica
swing, he remarked to the soldie
who seemed to be the master c
ceremonies:
! You internal villain and COW
f ard, [ want this to be the last tim
a you let me down. / want you to fiji