Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-05-01
A TRIP TO CANADA WITH JEFFER-
SON DAVIS


free man. Some time before, his children,
under the charge of their grandmother,
Mrs. Margaret Y. Howell, had gone to
Montreal, where he new determined to
ioin them, and make in that city his tenn
uorsry abode. Accompanied by his devo
Ted wife, he wei 10 New York, stopping AZ
the New York Hotel, to perfect his or
rsugements.
During his stay in the great American
metropolis, Mr., Davis psrIors were tbroDg
ed daily with visitors. But the sssemblsge
within his rooms was as nothing compared
10 that without. The halls and corridors
Of the hotel were filed with peopie-re-
porters and Representatives Of every paper
IN the city were eager TO learn OF his con
templatsd movements, well knowing that
such items would be greedlly deyoured Oy
their readers; whils the streets in the
vicinity we're crowded with motley thropg,
anxious TO catch q glimpse Of the man
whose name was on every lip. How to
take mis- departure quietly was the problem.
AT length the following plan, to turn the
press and the public generally CT the
rack, was decided upon. Mr.. Charles
OConcr, the eminent counsel and unurlng
friend Of the Confederate chiefIsin, was to
call for him In his carriage aud
drive him to his beautiful residence al
Fort Washington, on the Hudson, where
the writer was to Join him the next after
noon. IL was also thought advisable By
ms friends that Mr. Davis should not take
rhe through railway train from New York,
lest it should be telsgrsphed ahead, aud
ne be subjected from annoyance from the
crowds, who would proOsbly gather At each
staIo2 along toe route TO catch sight o.
toe arch traitor" IL vas, therefore, ar
ranged thar we should tGke the way train
10 Poughkeepsle, and there await the
Montreal Express. The scheme worked
admirably. The New York reporters were
completely circumgented, as they conclud-
ed that the OBJECT Of then attention had
merely gooe to take an afternoon drive,
and as tSe papers OF the next day
announced. The toiIcging morning, laden
only With u ysliss, | took the GERS for For;
Washington, with the intention of remslR-
ing at Mr. OCouors until the afternoon
tram. At this point, piece cE thought
lessness of which was guilty came near
upset.ing the entire arrangement Alter
leaving the station, | lncsutiously iu-
CURED of policeman the way to MIR.
d ConOr's residence. Hardly had | done
so however. when | realized my mistake,
and feared that the officer, knowing that
the distinguished Southern leader was
visiting Mr.. O'Conor, would, with the
shregdness Of his kind put two and
tzo together, and suspect that my
arrival was in some way connected
with Mr. Davis movements. The result
proved that my spprehensions were not
groundless. When the tine for leaving
came, tsrewells were said, hopes for his
safe journey expressed and MIR. Davis
started for the station. On arriving there.
one glance showed that my police friend
wa on the alert, aud scarcely were We
comfortably seated 10 the car before he
came in, and, looking hard at Mr.. Davis,
wko was absorbed already in q newspaper,
passed on 10 group Of two men and
woman, and whispered something to them,
immediately they turned in their seats,
and gazed intently and long at the
lste Confederate President; and, fsally,
one OF the party arose, walked past him,
and on bis return to his seat expressed
himself as satisfied that it really was Jet,
terson DAYS., indicating that he had recog.
nizsd him by defective eye. the eight OF
which had been lost by neuralgia, Incl
dent, believe, upon the wound be received
&c Bpens Vista during the Mexican war
All mis- tine Mr.. Davis Was deeply in.
terested in his morpiag 02ger, and totally
unmindful of the sensation he was cTeStsng
tssred however that his presence on the
train might be photographed abroad and that
he might be en- barrsssed with curiosity
seekers, even if some ardent and exuber-
ant patriot might not be about. who would
think be was doing God service, and a
meri,orious act, by Offering personal
violence or iudiguiEy. Ny snxieties
we're much increased by the evidently
Gnfriendly glsnces bestowed on the distin
guished traveller by the parry who had rec
oguized him. thought, under these cir
cumstsnces it would be better Tor aG to
leave the tain at Peekshill instead of az
Foughkeepsie, and there await the Mon
tresl Express. As We approached that
station, crossed over to where Mr. Davis
Was sitting, and telling him that he was
known, and what had seen going on,
made the suggestion He at 6rst demurred,
olt at length agreed thst il might be wise
to do as I proposed. especially as it really
made no material difference; thus the train
moved eff We remained at Peekshill for
some three hours without exciting any
suspicioA as 10 Mr. Davis identity, and, !
finally boarded the Though train in safety
have often thought siL &C, that j. the vsri- !
Gus persons about the station had had the !
slightest idea as to who was among them |
how different might have been our expert |
eDee.
Nothing further Of any special interest
occurred until We reached St. Adams, Yer.
mont, the following morning. The people
OF that city were srill very bitter against
everything Southern, for they held in vivid
ths Confederate raid made
on the 81. Adams banks from Canada dur.
ing the war. On this account was spe-
ciAlly anxious that Mr.. Davis presence
should not Do known, as l felt sure that if
it was, the result would be unpleasant. he.
however, did not share this feeling, but was
willing to mix with the crowd at
he depot, apparently uneoueerned, and not
thinking that any special notice would be
be bestowed on him even if be should be
We accordingly entered the
breakfast room, and, taking our &
Ies's, began discussing very
poorly prepared meal of tough steak and !
lard pltstoes-s tact that VAS particularly c
upoa my mind by q remark !
nAds By Mr.. Davis. While wrestling with