The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-06-22
A FEDERAL SPY.
Obtaining Shelter in an At
lanta Bomb-PrOOf.
The Two Scars which Revealed His
Identity Years Afterward.

qttllllGAlCC - JIG ltCS. MI. buDuluC, u
delegate from one Of the northwestern
states, says a writer in the Atlanta Con-
titution. What attracted me to the man
was his amiability md mcckncss. Mr..
Dubuque came up to my ideal of a
preacher, and I found his companionship
very pleasant. One afternoon my west
ern friend asked me if 1 thought that any
Of the bomb-proofs dug by the citizens
during the siege of Atlanta were still in
existence. He desired to see one, rs he
had been requested by his friends at
home to sketch it. 81 know of one that
We can reach in a tcn-minutcs' walk" I
said. Mr.. Dubuque was delighted, and
we were soon on our way to the place.
I had a slight acquaintance with the
old lady upon whose premises the bomb
proof was situated, and when we reach
ed the place and stated the object of our
visit permission was readily given to OK
anime the queer-looking hole in the
ground which had served as q refuge
from Shcrman's shells. The bomb-proof
fortunately was in a fine state of prcscrva-
ton, and the old lady pointed it out to
us with a good deal of pride. At first
we saw only a huge mound of earth COW
cred with grass, but at one end we found
an opening to a crooked underground
chamber, about 6 feet deep, 10 feet long,
and 5 in width. No falling shell had
sufficient force to penetrate that mound,
composed of red clay, timber, and scrap
iron.
When we scrambled out of the gloomy
place the old lady remarked that when
she occupied it the walls were lined with
Did carpets, and the floor was covered
with rugs. With a few chairs and some
blankets her family had found a night in
the dug-out, as she called it, very cndura-
BILE.
"Thosc were stirring times" said Mr..
Dubuque.
"Thcy were indeed, replied our host
css. 81 can never forgive Gen. Sherman
for Smelling a city full of women and
children"
"One of the necessities of war" said
the preacher in an undertonc. "By the
way, did any of your soldiers ever seek
shelter in this snug little holc2"
"Only one" replied the lady, "and he
turned out to be a Yankee spy"
''Is it possible!" her two listeners cx-
claimed.
"4es, [ was never so surprised in my
life. One day the Smelling was unusual
ly hot. Two spent shells struck the
house. A soldier who was passing ran
into our yard and made for the bomb
proof. He requested our permission to
remain for a few minutes, and of course
we had no objection. He was a fine
looking young man and made himself
very agreeable. When he left he ex-
pressed a wish for something to read,
and let him have THE Abide Camp
a confederate novel. Hc promised to re-
turn it, but 1 did not expect to see it
again"
"And did he return it2" I asked.
eyes, and I wish he hadn't. Why,
what do you think? Two weeks later,
after Sherman had occupied the city, !
was out in my front yard one morning
looking after my plants, when who
should ride up to the fence but a young
officer in a spick-spank new uniform. ]
wouldn't look at him until he saluted me,
and said: MADAM, I have called to re-
turn your book. Icnjoyed it very much.
I took the book. It was s'The Abide
Camp Then I looked the officer full in
the face. so you were a spya' I said.
That's what they call it, replied the
young rascal, with a laugh. He bowed,
waved his hand, and galloped off. ]
never saw him again, but I would know
him anywhere by the two scars on his
right temple"
ga very interesting incident" " said Mr..
Dubuque. lit is to be hoped that YOU
spy abandoned the tricks of his bushes:
and settled down into a good citizen at.
ter the war"
81 don't believe a word of it." re-
sponded the old lady. eff I had know
what he was at first I would have had
him turned over to Gen. Hood and shot
By this time we had seen all there was
to be seen and were ready to take oul
departure. AS he turned to go, aftel
thanking the mistress of the house fol
her courtesy, Mr.. Dubuque, before re-
placing his hat, brushed away his curly
locks from his right temple, revealing
two little scars, and gazed at the good