The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-01-30
JEFF DAVIS IN IRONS.
An Indignity Offered the South
ern Leader While In Fortress
Monroe.

"Was JEFF Davis ever manacled?''
asks q constant reader of the Rem
in~iScences." He was, at Fortress
Monroe, on the ground that he had
refused to eat some of the food pre-
pared for him, and had SHE'D q tin
plate at the head of the soldier who
served him. This was revolt, strictly
speaking, but there was nothing to
fear from the angry acts Of an old
man who was impTisoned In the
inner apartment Of a casemate, with
q guard in the outer apartment and
seDtries posted on the outside, at the
port hole, and atthe door. But o-ders
had undoubtedly been sent by Secre-
tary Stanton to put the fallen chief
of the Confederacy in chains if he
gave any provOcation, and he gave
it.
Capt. Titlow, who was especially
charged with the custody of Mr.. Da
Wis, and who is authority for this
statement, was accordingly ordered
by the cOmmsndant of the fort to
place his prisoner In irons. Summon
ing q blacksmith who was in the
habit OF riveting irons on soldiers
sentenced ny cO~urts-lnartial to wear
them, the captain went to the case
mate, accompanied by the blacksmith
carrying the letters and his tools.
They found Mr.. Davis seated on his
cot, there being no other furniture
but a stool and a few articles of tin
ware. When he glanced at the tools
and cOmprehended the situation he
exclaimed: my God! this indignity
to be put upon me? not while I have
life!" At first he pleaded for an OBJ
p0rtunity to inquire of Secretary
Stanton. Then his excitement rose
to fury as he walked the cell. venting
Itself in almost incoherent rawlings.
The captain then calmly reminded
him that, as q soldier, he must be
aware that, however d~isagreeable
the duty assigned, it must be per-
formed, and that, as in duty bound,
he should perform it.
None but a dog would obey such
ORDERS" replied MI. Davis, empha-
sizing his determination never to be
manacled alive by grasping the stool
and aiming q very vicious blow. The
sentries rushed forward to disarm
him. but were ordered back to their
places. Captain Titlow explained
that such demonstrations of self de-
Tense were useless and foolish, and
that 1t would be much better for Mr..
Davis to submit to the inevitable
necessity. But while receiving this
advice, he took the opportunity of
grasping the musket OF one of The
sentries, and in the furious endeavor
to wrest it from him quite a scufle
ensued.
That ended, the captain took the
precaution of clapping bis hand on
bis sword-hilt, az he perceived Mr..
Davis eye was on it, and at once
ordered the corporal of the guard to
send into the casemate four of bis
strongest wen without side arms, as
ne feared they might get into the
wrong possession and cause damage.
They were ordered to take the
prisoner as gently as possible, using
no unnecessary force, and Law him
upon the cot and there hold him
down. 1t proved about as much as
four men could do, the writings and
upheavings of the Infatuated MAI
developing the strength of q maniac,
until it illuminated in sheer exhaus-
ton. When the unhappy task was
finished, MI Davis, after lying still
awhile, raisad himself and sat On the
side Of the bed.
As his feet touched the floor and
the chain clanked. he was utterly
overcome; the tears burst out in a
Hood. When he became calm. he
apologized In q manly way to the
captain for the needless trouble he
had caused him, and they afterward
maintained mutual relations of per
sonal esteem and friendliness. The
indignity had, however, such an
effect upon Mr.. Davis that the phy-
sician called in insisted chat the irons
be removed. Permission to do this
was reluctantly obtained from Wash.
ington, and the same man who had
put on the letters took them of.
This act did much to restore the.de
posed leader of the rebellion to the
foremost place, which he had forfeit
cd, IN the hearts of those who had
rebelled.- Boston Budget.