Nevada County picayune., 1886-07-21
PLAYING FOR LIFE.
The Trying Ordeal a Scout Pass
 ed Through.

I ) great raid on Washington, I was scouting between his advance and the city, and was captured within the city limits twenty-four hours before his battle-hags appeared in sight. l was dressed in citizen's clothes, pretended to be deaf and dumb, and claimed to have been driven out of Richmond because 1 had written threatening letters to Jefferson Davis.
 l had been inside the fortifca- tiOns for half Q day and was slowly working out, when, couple of young men, both of whom were considerably the worse for liquor, halted me and wanted to fight. l had pencil and q block of paper with me, and I wrote:
 'I am deaf and dumb" l That made no difference with them. Indeed, they declared that it would be novel idea to lick a deaf and dumb man, and one of them gave me cuff on the ear.
 In those days I weighed 1G0 pounds and had the muscle of a prize fighter. tried to get away from them withour further trouble but when they seemed determined to have row l gave them all they wanted and wasn't many minutes about i.. A crowd of soldiers and civilians collected, the provost guard came up, and the result was as l had anticipated. l was arrest. ed and takeh off to a guard-house.
 One of the young men, who af- terward turned out to be related to a member of the Cabinet, fol. lowed me to the once of the Pro- vost Marshal and charged me with being a spy. No one seemed to entertain doubt that l was deaf and dumb, as l claimed, and my examination was carried on in writing. 1 was asked my name, age, where born, and a hnndred other questions, and then search ed. They found nothing on nc of c eliminating nature, and l reason ed that l would be detained until after the excitement bad passed and then released.
 Alter being detained three days sn officer entered my quarters one morning and said to me:
 "Well. dummy, you can pack up and got out"
 The minute heard his step ont side l was on my guard, bat he spoke ill such natural tone that 1 came near giving myself away. On three different occasions dur ing the year I had played tho part of a deaf and dumb man, and l tell you it takes all the nerve and pres once of mind man can call up. l sat facing the door, and while l heard his words, l made no move , ment. He came closer and said: "Come, pack up your traps, you arc to be turned loOse."
 I looked him straight in the eyes without winking, and after a bit a look of chagrin stole over his face and he motioned for me to follow him. He took me to the Provost Marshal's office, and l was usher. ed into private room where the Marshal and three or four other officials were seated On the way : 10 the office, as we crossed n wide street, the Oficer suddenly OK claimed:.
 "Therc's a runaway-horse look out"
 If I had not been expecting some such thing on his part must have betrayed myself. As l gave no sign, continuing on with my head down, heard him growing: "They think they have got a !, sucker, but they'll find out their mistake"
 entered the office, knowing that every trick would be resorted to break me down, and my nerves were braced as if to charge bat tery of artillery. 1 was standing by the door for a moment, when one of the officials looked up and quietly sad:
 'Take a seat, sir, and we'll at. tend to you in moment"
 made no move, but looked around the room in stupid sort of a way. l was looking out ofthe window on to roof when the same official said:
 "YOu may come forward and take this chair"