Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-07-01
BUFoRD AND THE MOB.
The Exciting Experience Which
the Great Turfman Had in
Springfield, ILL.,, at the
Close Of the war.
Chicago News,

-
Chicago News.
The tragic death Of Gen. Abe Bu-
ford, of Kentucky, recalls Il story he
told during his last visit to Chicago.
81 have passed through many trying
and pcrilous scenes" he said to par
ty of friends, but never felt so near
deaths door as at Springfield. III.
just after the war TO begin with, ]
had Il narrow escape during our fight
ing III Georgia. Our forces were en-
camped, with the Union troops in our
front. The sentry lines were thrown
out rs usual. One day passed
through the lines to make some OBJ
scrvation at a distant point. was
unattended, but mounted upon a
powerful horse. During my all.
sence the Union force drove back our
lines and occupied the same ground
with their own pickcts. This was
unknown to me, and | was surprised
aud alarmed On my return to be
halted by Union soldier. attempt
ed to ride on. The soldier tried to
stop my horse with his bay one .
Drawing my revolver, fired at him.
and rode ON to the camp without
waiting to see the OBJECT Of the shot
rhc war went on and finally ended.
We surrendered to the superior lOrc,.
Oh the Onion side, and went home.
soon attcrward | went TO Springfield
tn get some horses which | had left
in charge of willis ltcnirow. On Il e
day OF my arrival Il number of Tn.
| ion soldiers were mustered out of the
service. They literally swarlncd in o
the hotel where stopped. Pretty soon
| discovered they were cycling me-
very closely. The more they did 81
the more excited they became. Their
excitement made me nervous and
not q little lrighicnh | when | reflect
rd that was alone, witiOat frirIGs,
and in thr midst Of soldiers ju,t from
the scenes Of conflict that had aroused
Ill their bitterness toward the South.
As an officer in the Confederate army.
| felt that | would bear no small
share of their hatred. This thought
frightened me beyond measure. For
the first lime in my life was really
afraid, because believed tha. il the
soldiers became aroused there would
be no escape for luc. The landlord
came over and urged me 10 conceal
myself before an outbreak occurred.
Although terribly scared, | hal no
thOughtOf showing the white frath.
er. merely went to my room, Sc
cured my revolver, and came back 10
my scat, watching the crowd over
the paper pretended to read. After
awhile Il man wearing a Clrporal' :
uniform came in. Several soldiers
ran To him in an excited manner.
could not hear what was said, but |
knew | was the subject of the talk,
The corporal went TO the hotel regis
ter, looked at my name, and then
came toward me. Behind him were
vUrLl of the men. A score of them
were eagerly watching the scene
from the other side of the room. The
landlord, with blanchcd face, stood
behind the counter, and could sec
he was frozen with terror. AS the
corporal and his comrades came to-
ward me my hair literally stood on
ond could feel the blood leave my
face. With all my power of sclf-con-
troll | could not conceal my agitation.
| felt that after going through the
pcrils of war was TO die at the hands
of a mob. No man can portray his
feeling at such time. Though
great stcngth was demanded. | was
so welk | could hardly stand. When
the corporal approached me he asked
if was General Buforl. With a fc-
bic voice | told him / was.
ado you remember the Union SOL
dier You shot when breaking throu gh
the Union lines in Georgian he
asked.
81 do" was my reply. # .
IL am the man. said the soldier,
and | want to thank you for merely
wouhding my arm The man held
out his hand. / never was so glad to
shake a hand in my life. The peril
had supposed ! was in had caused
great beads ofswcet to cover my face
AS l shook his hand sank exhaust
ed in a chair looked upon the cor
poral as my savior, When he grasped
my hand / felt that had gone from
hell to heaven. Tho other soldier
crowded around. II seems they were
only excited because a great enemy
was there. Before | left we all drank
to the success of our common coun-
try and agreed to forget we been en-
emier. | think that this is had the