The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-07-28
CATCHING A SPY.
SCENES IN ATLANTA IN THE
TURBULENT DAYS OF 81.
How Abolitionists We're Detected
Story of a Virsinian Who
Was Regarded With
Suspicion.

the war was right here in Atlanta, says
the Constitution, OF that city. There was
no battle, not even q riot, but it was a
very serious affair at the time. Patriot
ism was at the bottom Of it-patriotism
and apples.
1t was in the early part of '61 just be-
fore the State seeded CT little latter.
We were in regular stew in those days.
So many startling lunors were atloat that
even the most conservative of our citi-
zens felt it their duty to keep sharp
watch ON suspicious-looking strangers.
Atlanta was then about one-third its
present size. People knew each other,
and it was an easy matter to spot a
stranger. Visitors who were here for q
day or two were in the habit of spending
much of their time in a reading room
annexed to a publishing house on Ala
bama street. The reading-room was on
the second floor, and was turni>hed with
desks running around the apartment.
There we're no chairs, and the readers
had to stand up. At this place several
abolitionists were spotted while the Sc
cesson excitement was at its height.
| Their appearance drew attention, and pa
triotic citizens were readily found who
made it point to lounge about the room
while the suspects were present. In every
instance the simple abolit:onists gave
themselves away. They eagerly devoured
the southern papers, especially those
from South Carolina, and from time to
time copied in their note books such
choice extracts as they thought could be
used to advantage in the North. After
stut1ing themselves with information
these pilgrims were quietly taken in
charge by committee and conducted to
q secluded place, where they were
searched and interrogated. 1t spaaks
we'll for the community that there was
10 resort to violen, g. In every case the
offensive interlopers were given 4 chance
TO leave town, and they never failed to
no without delay.
One case, however, was peculiarly cal
culated to excite bad feeling and provoke
violence. We were just drifting into
war. We dreaded the secret work of
sp.es and cranks of the John Brown
stamp. It seemed that self-preservation
deman ded vigilance and decisive acton.
1t was whispered around the hotels one
rainy afternoon that Yanke abolitionist
had been in the reading-room nearly all
day, reading the papers and taking
copious notes. What settled the matter
was the fact that h. wrote his notes in
kind of shorthand or cipher that could
not be understood by several patriots
who hd been sufficiently public spirited
to peep over his shoulder When this
came out, there was general indignation.
Those who hal seen the stranger swore
that he was Yankee. His pink and
white complexion and his brogue made
that plain.
Gradually stray citizens dropped into
the reading room until there was q con-
siderable crowd. The spy, with singular
stupidity, continued his work. He
W istled as he read, and frequently
paused to scribble in his notebook.
Finally, just about dusk, he put up his
book and turned with the evident intcn-
tion Of leaving. By that time everything
had been arranged. The spectators
stood, some of them in the room and the
others in the hall leading to the stairway.
A young man approached the suspect,
who, by the way, Was a good looking,
mild-faced youth, and said, with an air
of authority:
"Sir, we know who you are, and we
know your business here. Ifyou will 60
with US quietly, it will be better for
YOU"
The stranger was simply dumb.
founded-paralyzed, as it were. Un-
fortunately, this was against him. 1t
was mi taken for the brazen self-posses-
sion of malignant enemy.
"Come, SIR" said the leader of the
Citizens Committee, "we do not desire
to use force"
The prisoner said not word. A des-
perat, glare flashed from his eyes, his
face hardened, and he suddenly backed
into corner.
'Look outl" exclaimed two or three
voices.
The warning was not a second too
early. The man thrust his right hand
behind him.
This action was entirely unexpected.
Nobody had dreamed that this public
enemy would have the madness in the
very heart of the South to attempt re-
sistance in the face of q score of deter
mined men.
Giles drawing a pistol" shouted a
dozen citi:ens.
Two or three yelled "Murder!" Sew
eral volunteered the statement that they
were going for the police, and the entire
crowd backed precip:tately into the
dark hall, where they cane in contact
with the outsiders, who were doing their
best 10 get into the room. In half
minute the bewildered members of the
crowd were pummeling each other, pull
ing hair. and yelling in the most blood
curdlirg way imaginable. Each man ex-
pected bullet in his back from the mys-
terious outlaw, and at the same time he
was afraid of being knitted by the latest
corners, who appeared to be in: apable of
understanding the situation.
So, with yells, cries and curses rival
ing pandemonium, the visrantes strug-
gled n the gathering darkness to the
stairway, and went laundering down,
kicking and fighting and spluttering, un-
til they landed some of them headfore-
most-on the pavement. Here they were
picked up and separated. Reinforce
ments arrived, explanations were made,
and in less than five minutes from the
time the racket began everything was
ready for another attack upon the aboli-