The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-10-15
The Story Of the Life Of Belle Boyd,
the Confederate Spy.

CHICAGO, October "a woman who
can relate remarkable life history ap.
peared before the Chicago public yester.
day as complainant in libel suit against
the Tribune. On September 80 that
paper published a dispatch from st.
Louis stating that Belle Boyd, the ex-
Confederate spy, had put up at Hurst's
Hotel, but had gone from there to the
St. James, leaving her trunk at the for
mer place. The article did not state that
she had eluded board bill, but left that
to be inferred, and facetiously described
the contents of the trunk, which was
opened by the people at the Hurst House.
The mention Of o pair of old corsets, a
slipper, plug Of tobacco and "God
Bless Our Home" motto as the only con.
tents of the trunk incensed the lady, and
she sued for $1,000 damages.
Belle Boyd, or Mrs. Hammond-for
that is the name under which she brings
the suit-was seen this morning at the
Reverse House by a reporter. She is a
woman of tall and graceful form and a
face in which still fingers much of the
beauty which it possessed when its owner
became famous during the war.
"I am opposed" she said, 'to the
newspapers publishing my private affairs
with the object of making me ridiculous.
Not only has that story, which was en-.
tirely false, wounded my pride, but it has
done me great injury here and elsewhere.
IF am poor" and the lady's blue eyes
filled with tears, sit is not my fault. II
was matter between the hotel people
and myself"
Of her career, which made the name
of Belle Boyd famous the world over.
she said:
"When the war began I was a girl Of
fifteen, just out of school and enthusi.
astic in my love for my country-the
South. What I did for the cause was
not done in the consciousness that was q
spy. I only wanted to help my people.
I was exchanged for a Union colonel,
and when I got back to the Southern
army 1 received an enthusiastic recep.
ton. In 1864 l was sent to England
with dispatches from the Confederate
Government, and ran the blockade in the
steamer Greyhound. 1 was captured at
sea, with my dispatches, the Greyhound
having been run down by the Connecticut,
under command of Lieut.. Harding.
"The lieutenant fell in love with me
and permitted the captain of the Grey.
hound to escape. I was brought TO
Washington again a prisoner, but was
banished to Canada, to be shot the next
time l was caught. Lieut.. Harding was
Court martialled and dismissed from the
service. he went to England, and the
s,ne Summer (1864) we were married in
London. / received the most distin-
guished attention there.
"a fter was left widow in England
/ went on the stage. In 1867 made my
first appearance on the stage in America
with Ben de Bar, and after that | starred
two seasons. Then married Col. Ham.
mond, at New Orleans, and lived quietly
in Texas until little over a year ago.
Col. Hammond is now afflicted with
softening of the brain, and I am com.
PEELED to support myself and three chill.
dren. I intend to return to the stage
and make name for myself yet"
Miss Boyd has All engagement with a
Professor" company to play Miss Elliott,
and is waiting to join the company.