The National tribune., 1885-11-19

! ShOuSSH hHSu L My IoirS, however,
are very much increased, as 1 see that there
were many of these conspirators in favor of
| taking the proposition to assassnate instead of
| capture. That can be done in spite of guards,
| by reckless men who will take desperate
| Chances. This is what we must look out for as
soon as they find they are thwarted in the
other. / see that they are to take orders from
Jacob ThomlinsOn, who is a most reckless man,
without any of the instincts of humanity, and
utterly without regard for any of the rules of
civilized warfare. He is very dangerous man
II he has about him those who will do his bid
ding. So look out, Mr.. President; my iudg-
ment is that you will be in imminent peril"
Yes said the President; Gen. Silent, DO
you remember the dream l told you when you
came to Washington?'
oh, yes said Gen. Silent, perfectly; and
in that dream was to be murdered as soon as
the rebellion should be ended But L do not
feel alarmed about myself; dreams you know,
Mr.. President, go by contraries.'
Yes said the President, 4 must not say
tnat L belleye IN dreams or ANYTHING of the
sort; yet, they make an impression Oh my mind
Gen. Silent said no more on the subject and
the conversation on that topic was dropped
" was asked if l would send Henry back to
Canada to watch further DEVELOPMENTS. as
sented. They all thought that perhaps in this
way we would be able to head off any further
scheme as the one presented had been.
L
Owen House, and suggested a close watch on
this man Aston. The President took up the
report, and finding the name, thought there
might be something in my suggestion. They
sent for the detective that L had placed to
watch him, and he informed us that this man
drank pretty freely, and had disclosed to him
while in his cups the night before that he was
from st. Catharines. Canada; that he had plenty
OF money in gold, and was desirous of finding
some five or six good, active, bold and daring
young men who would be likely to be fond of
adventure. The detective was sent back at
once and instructed to arrest this man and have
him taken to Old Capitol Prison. If any ques-
tlons should be asked he was to answer that
the Secretary of War had directed it. The next
morning it was telegraphed all over the coun-
try that Mr.. Aston was arrested in WASH
ington for attempting to hire men to kidnap
the President; and so the scheme was exploded.
"The next day babe the President and the
Secretary good-by, at the same time warning
the President of his great danger. He could
not thank me enough, he said, for my interest
Silent had left for the army. Just as / was
leaving the President said to me in whisper:
Look out for great battle soon, and with
1t you will hear of the fall of Richmond
thanked him for his confidence in me and
left. On arriving at home found all well and
very anxious to see me, as this had been my
hrst absence since the death of my wife and
Peter. Henry had seen the notice of Alston's
arrest, and when / described him he said he
was the right man. l wrote to the President
what Henry said, and Aston remained in
prison.
In day or so heard from Gen. Anderson
lie was willing to go east. / telegraphed Gen.
Silent and he ordered him to report at once
He came home on his way and remained over |
two days. Lieut.. Whiteomb was with him. |
w hlle there related all that had taken place. |
He thought Henry should return at once to |
Canada, leaving Seraine with US. He thought |
1t would be dangerous since Alston's arrest to |
risk writing, so Henry would have to come to |
my house with any information that he might |
have. Henry left at once and the General left !
the next day.
I'VE were alone again. The women and |
children were weeping over the departure of |
Henry and the General. Aunt Martha came in |
and said:
"' Bress de good Laud, chil'n, what is you |
cryIn' bout? De Gen'l all right; dars no dan |
ger bout him; he am safe. De Laud protect |
him. He dun sabe him all dis time for good. |
Don't you see de Sesh git whip whareber he |
goes? Dey all done killed down whar he bin, |
and now dey jes' take him ober by whar Marsa |
Llnkum am, and de Sesh all git smash up ober |
lar de same way as what dey is down whar he |
bin afore'
cold Ham chimed in: 'Yas, Maria, dat am |
lie fac. You see, when goes wild Marsa Gen'l, |
1e gifts shOtted nearly cherry time. / not un- |
ierstand dis, but he not git any time hurt |
when rs away. How is dat, Maria? Guess /
t best for me not be wild him. 1 tell you / /
5uess see it all now; de Laud want me to stay |
lere wild desc womens and desc chil'ns and |
darsa Gen'l he not t'ink OBJ dat, so de Laud
es let him git hurted, so he hab to come and |
tay wild de folks? Is dat it, Marfa?'
Yes, dat am de case; and | spec you is glad,
lase you is powerful coward, Ham; you
Knows you is
Maria, you neber see me fightin' dem Sesh.
Else you not say dem hard words bout Ham.
No, indeed, you not know bout me-
80 specs dats so, Ham. How many of de
'eSh does you specs you is killed?'
go Dom know, don know. neber counted
m; war too busy, Maria
This was getting Ham into a close place,
nd he retired
" In few days Henry returned and reported
hat the arrest of Aston had alarmed the con-
pirators i'll Canada very greatly. Carey and
'age were still in Richmond. Wilkes had re-
urned to Canada and had been at Montreal
With ThOmlinson, but could get nothing out of
lin, as ThOmlinson thought it best not to have
ny one know what was to be attempted unless
hey could aid in carrying it out; but he said
he country would be startled very sooa
lenry surmised what he meant, and as soon
s he could get away from Wintergreen left for
Ome.
" | sent him to the President with this infor-
nation, with letter calling the Presidents
ttention to his great danger, and the danger
he country would be in in the event anything
hOuld occur that would put the Vice Presi-
ent in power. This was the last communica-
ion / ever had with the best of all Presi-
ents."
Conclusion merit peek
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