The Washington critic., 1886-12-29
COY. CURTIN'S ESCAPE.
How Near He Came to Being Made a
Prisoner of War.


Governor Curtin has large fund of
interesting "reminiscences OF the civil
war, during which he was the War
Governor of Pennsylvania. Saturday
evening at Chamberlin's in converse
ton with some friends, he related how
near he came to being captured at one
time. His recital was in substances II
was on my annual visit to Bedford
Springs in September, ga, to enjoy q
brief recreation aud the recuperative
benefits Of this wonderful water. One
day a clergyman called on me, and,
taking me aside, Informed me that q
body of Confederates was going to
make raid on the Springs for the pur.
pose of taking me prisoner and carry.
ing me into Virginia, and he urged me
TO leave the Springs at once. | treated
the information as an idle rumor, and
soon dismissed 1t from my mind. Later
in the day ! received similar informa-
ton from another Source, this time
from the wife of country clergyman,
and also advising me to get away before
1t was too late. This friendly warning
also disregarded. didn't think 1t
was the proper thing for the Governor
of Pennsylvania, TO run away while on
the soil OF the wealth, from
any rumored contemplated rebel raid,
and determined TO remain.
"llowever, along In the evening, Colonel
Tom Scott Of the Pennsylvania Railroad,
also a guest at the Springs, came TO me
hurriedly, exhibiting considerable nervous
ness and said must leave there right away;
that all the telegraph wires had been cut
and be had received reliable information
that force OF rebels was making a raid
on TO Springs to effect my capture and
might surround the premises at any mo.
ment. dumurred at the idea OF my run
ming away, but his earnestness persuaded
me, aud my satchel was hastily packed,
while Scott got team hitched up, and we
soon started OFF In the dark for station on
the railroad about eight miles distant. Just
before we reached the depot Scott wanted
me to get out and hide In tue woods while
he went on to reconnoiter This / posi-
lively declined to do, and we went up to the
station through the dark together. No
| enemy was there, and Scott soon had loco
motive fired up, on which j took passage,
| while Scott took seat astride OF the cow
| catcher In front with lantern In hand to
watch out for the condition Of the bridges,
VuiNtIle, ttcs, NHlie VIC cautiously TOllcu
away from the rebel raiders into place OF
safety. Within in an hour after my de-
| parture from the Springs the place was sur
rounded by Confederate force under Gen
| eral lmboden, who had made the raid on
purpose TO effect my capture.
| "After the war; continued the Governor,
| ~ became well acquainted with General
| Imboden and we have talked the matter
over several times. The General said If the
night had not been so dark, which delayed
his progress, he would have arrived there
10 time to capture me. He said lie had in
tended 10 take me TO Lynchburg, Va, and
hold me as an important hostage Of war
and at that time they considered II would
have been a commendable piece OF strategy
on their part; but he further remarked III
was one OF the luckiest things for us, after
all, that we failed TO capture you, for, had
we done so, and carried out our designs
I've now no doubt but what the whole
male population Of Pennsylvania, II neces
sary, would have ralded Virginia for YOU
release, ontaIlpg all the dreful conse
quoucos Of such an Invasion upon our al
ready impoverished people,"