The National tribune., 1884-03-20

last decided 10 make The visit one OF pleasure
also. And SO the young ladies and Major
Dabuy had been invited TO 90 with them
tent. provisions for camp and other con-
veniences had already been sent forward. and
on Tuesday morning the doctor with his ap
piiances- microscope, hammer, &e--and the
young ladies-inciudiug AInie-wlth sketch
ing materials blank books for pressing and
rresereinc botanical specimens, held-giass, &c,
&c.-nel Captain Adams and the major at
the train, and all were of Tor a three days
excursion.
Every mile Of the route was interesting to
the voung ladies, who had never been down
the Iron Mountain road. They admired the
well-kept grounds at jefferson Barracks but
tbOurht they looked anything bat warllke.
As tie train passed straight through the
GROUNDS al5ain Adams told the story OF the
.rescue of United States arms from the ST Louis
arsenal az the beginning Of the war lie be-
came enthusiastic over the success Of Captain
Stokes IL getting possession OF the arms and
removing them TO Alton.
"Ana just how that thing managed,
Captaiul Inquired the MAJOR. know ii
was done right under the noses OF our people;
but I never knew just how.
Well, this is just bow, replied the captain,
unable to restrain some manifestation Of pride
over the matter. Captain Stokes at the in
stance OF Governor Yates. of Illinois, went to
the arsenal"
"Mho was Captain Stokes?"
"Captain James IL. Stokes was a Chicago
man Ile conferred with Captain Lyon at the
arsenal and showed him that the arms must
be removed at al hazards. But thousand
spies then surrounded The arsenal, adj on the
watch, and every movement was at once re-
ported 10 the headquarters OF The secesslORlsts,
who aFere ready al amy moment 10 oyerwheim
the small hand 1T the arsenal. But Stokes
understood himself lie ordered the steamer
~. 4it.1n at
midnight Then he set men 10 getting the
boxes Of arms ali ready for shipment. BE then
took five hundred Old 1int-iock muskots and
sent them 10 be put On 2 steamer az the city
landing 90 lnisieaG the enemy, and succeeded.
The seclss 0aists seized these old guns and
raised a STOUT Of JOY which brought from the
arsenal nearly all their 0wn friends: and the
few Who EYcre left we're taeH Suddenly arrested
and confined whiie the arms were placed on
board flle boat alongside. There were 20,090
muskets, 5l9 revolvers, with cannon, cartridge
and Iliscei ianeous accoatermcnts
'Nen son don't say that be got away with
italle"
"Clean away l-past the city, and past a
battery on the shore and straight 10 Alton,
twenty miles above
Why didn't our folks FIRE upoB the boat !"
Ne1l-thcy did not: ] don't know why.
Probably they did not know what vas on
board. Neen all was ready, Captain Mitchell,
which Nay he was to eog
.stsa--ht to Alton, in the regular channel
replied 5tllz4s
What we're attacked?'
e. ghca. Re must fight
Mha- Il ge are overp0wered2'
Then run the boat to the deepest water and
sink her. said Stokes.
...IN do Il replied Mitchell And away
went the steamer past the city wharyes and
past The secession battery aHd straight 10 Alton,
where They arrived al . OF clock ii the morning.
But Stokes proposed to make a sure thing Of il
against all pursuit He rang the IRE bells,
called Up the whole CITY, and soon had them
loading the arms into The cars, and OF loT
Springfield"
Dalny laughed heartily and declared thai
the whole thing had been accomplished IN
splend- So style.
After while the train reached the tunnel
where General JET Thompson had his fight
with 3 sompany of the 33d Illinois, after
which be burned the bridge over Big River .
break the railroad connection.
.'An5 our side was successful that time
remarkea i IS Waterbury
. Yes replied Annie with 2 twinkle in her
ere: General Thompson with his two
thousand beat Captain Eliot and his ninety
men. Bal We turned the tables on him soon
afTeFwara 1T Fredericktowil."
~And fer precisely the same reason" inter
passed the docsor, who looked upon the struggl,
as a ronisst between equals When Greek
meets Greek the result depends upon tht
leasiesf .irades"
Pilot Rs,ss and the pretty town Of Irontol
were reasc u in time ior late dinner and Al
the latter see the party dined At the hotel
where Charlie the coiOrcd Jaan who had been
sent Oh bssgEe, reported for Instructions. Char
lie told the captain Iin whose service be was
that DC teat was already pitched tndder sid'
de creek A1ar ven could sse al creation.
'nfffisr zfdn ne rF1ga- p meant. f4eyNnr
pretty stream to the sOuthward. near the Vii
lsge Of Arcadia. II was nearly mile away
bur JhitBer al OF the party went on foot. The!
found tbe tent pitched in a rocky, well-shadet
nook easl 0f the high ground Oh which has
stood cd Fort Heyey with a magniGcen
view CO.. 3aies eastward Bith Pilot Knob on Tn
let aHd s.epherds Mountain of 10 the righ
and behind
The parry had hardly cot seafed on camp
stools for tlleiF frs view Of the EictHEesqu
scenery about them When little old weezeu
faced mao butternat clothing 5nd 0la stEaI
hat came u and hid Eiem HowGg."
Major Dabhy took the mans measure in
Inoaeut. and replied Tor the company:
IAsnkg purity well. DO you live roun
heree"
Charlie, the colorea man. took the visitor
measure. also. and turned away with grin
4 HFe down the run tlsar. You peopl
fruaa tae Aorthf inquired the stranger.
81 lsog.s" replied the major.
AeVsr li'Fer betGfl"
Yes; J aaas here whiie the old fort was built
ing replied r5e major.
"on iIe leii sides
$40. Z was a rebel spy
Tie Inan grinned az ii hc had found con
genial company:
. But Was hare 10 inspect the fort, or Il
loEal sGe." said tlle captain.
The man looked from the captain to Il
major and from the major 10 tbe captain. IS
be aid n0i eafte understand this miHgiing
"ioil and disiO.i7
4" You Go Rot understand rs, ] see" here r
ZnEri-e6 Doctor Chartergale. =" We are satisfi'
that the war is over. and We friends from bo
sides baVe come 10 look over the ground. AS
are boi s.iil lighting down this way?"
snH no -." Then casting his eyes towar
Charlie, the old man added: 1t was nigh
rongh ca rs b lose all our niggesI"
Charlie went q little 10 one side, turns
away. and bowling himself almost doubl
laughed 10 himself moderately, shaking
over
How many uiggers did you iOse?"
ou.Tca the major, very seriously.
] didn't lose nary one"
Charlie Nas laughing again. turning his he
half round 10 get glimpse Of the strang'
while his big eyes had rim 0f white all r0un
Then you didn't lose much by the war
continued lhe major.
Wen, not very much. Squire Townse
oui West D yer ten miles lost twenty nigger