Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-12-12
DAVIS In CHAINS.
an ACCOUNT OF HIS IRONING AT FORT
RKSS MONROE
lis Vehement Protests Agans. Tue Needless
P3rpsraaoa Of an Iliigniiy How Ea Vas
Compelled to Submit
In The Poison Life OF Jefferson Davis, u

Ia The Prison Life OF Jefferson Davis, ="
n3miaally written by DR.. J. J. Craven,
surgeon o. The prisoner, bat really the
sketch cf NJ jon Charles c. Halpine, U. S.
a, ("Mies O'Renly,") is tie following
graphic account of ihc ironing ,f Mr..
Davis. The main iscts ere substantially
trus:
Goa the moroing Of the - of May a
very bitter tTisl was 10 etore for the proud
spirit-a trial ssyerer, probably, thsn had
ever 10 modern times been iphctsd upon
any one wlO has erjnyed such eminencs.
/ This morning Jefferson Davis was shackltd.
''It was while all tha swarming camps
OF the army Of the Potomac, the Tennessee
aud Ge0reia-'yer 200 900 brOuzed aud
laureled veierans-Sere preparing for the
grand review OF the next morning, 10
which, Dassiog in endless succession, be-
fore the mansion OF tue President tire con.
quering military power of the nation was
TO lay down ia arms at the feet Of the
civil authority. that the following scene
. WAS rNAlirA ~ OFt nAultuEs
Captain Jerome f Dtlow, Of the Third
+ Pennsylvania artillery, entered the p.is-
oner 3 cell, followed by the blacksmith O.
the fost and his sesi-tant, the latter carry
iug in bis hands some heavy and harshly-
rattliug shackles AS they entered Mr..
Davis was reclining on his bed feverish
and weary ef.er q sleepless night, the food
D,aced near him the precedicg day still
wing untouched or its lin plate near his
btdsds
"'W,hs' ssid Mr.. Davis "a they enter
Cd, slightly r3isisg his head.
o. y have an unpleasant duty to perform,
-ir, said CAptiiu Titlow; and as he spoke
the senior blacksmith took the shackles
from his sistaut.
Davis ieaptd instantly from his TeCum-
hent attitude, a flush passing over his
face for a moment. and then his counter
nee growing livid aud es rigid as death.
He gasped for breath, clutcbiog his
throl. ~i,h the thin fi1gsrs Of his right
hand. ard then recovering himself slowly,
" lille his wast.d fgur5 lowered up 10 its
f1ll heient-now appearing 70 swell with
Indignation ard then 70 shrink with terror
% he glanced from the Captains face to
she shsckles-hs said slowly and with a
laboriug chest:
My Gadi You cannot have been cent
70 iron UtY
Such are my orders, sir. replied the
office, beckuaing the blacksmith to ap-
proach who stepped forward. unlocking
the padlccS AMI preparing the letters 20 DO
their ofics These fetters We're OF heavy
iron probably ive-eighths Of sn inch in
thickness. and connected together by a
chain Of Ike weight. believe they pre-
nov ir the poss, ssion of Msior General
ailss, aud will form IA interesting relic
''rhis is too nOn3tr0Ue,' grOaned the
prisoner, CHANGING burcieily around the
room, AZ II for s0ule weapon OF means of
.e'f-desiruction. i demand, cipisin, that
vou let me see the commanding officer
Can ne pretend thai such shsckles sre re-
h qoired TO secured the safe custody Of & weak
Old msn, 50 guarded and ia such afort as
jhis2'
Il could serve 10 purpose, replied
Captain Tillow; 'his orders are iIom
Washington, ~ nine are from hiU.
"'But he can telegraph int5rposed
Mr.. Davis, eagerly; there must he some
mistake No such outrage a. ycu threaten
me with is ou record in the history OF ma
t'ors. Beg him 10 telegraph, and delay
until he sn2Hers.
"'bly orders eTs pegemp,0ry, said the
officer, and admit Of no delay. For your
oEn sake, let me advise you 20 snbmit
with patience. As eoldier, Mr. Davis,
you know I must execute oideIs'
These se not orders for a soldier
boutei the prisoner. losing all control OF
himself They are orders n the jailer-
Tor q haugman, which no solder wearing
A sword should accept l isll you the
world will Iiog with this disgrace. Tue
xar is over; the Soulh is conquered. have
10 longer any country hut America, end
10 IL for he honor OF America, ss for my
own honor and lie. that plead sgaiost
this degradation. Kill mel kill men he
cried passionately, throwing his arms wide
open sud exIosipg his breast, rather than
irflic, on me and oa 10Y people, through
me, this insult worse than desthn
d" Do ycur duty, blscssnith,' said The
officer, walking toward the embrasure az
IL not caring TO witness the performance.
.It only gives increased pain on all sidas to
p,o.ract this interview
"At these words the blacksmith nd
vanced with the ssCcklCs, aod seeing hat
the prisoner had one loot upon the chair
near biz bedside, his right hand resting on
ne hack of 10, the bTawny mechanic MADE
IN effort 70 slip one OF the shackies over the
ankle 70 raised hot, az # with the vthe-
merce and STRENGTH which frenzy can in.
part even 10 the weakest invalid, Mr.
Davis suddenly ssized his asssilant and
hurled him hallway across the room.
GOA this Captain TitloR turned, aud
seeirg tina. Davis had hsGked against the
vail for further resistance, begon to re-
mousirsts, pointing ont in brief clear Ian
gusge ihnt this course was madness and
thar orders ust bs eEforc,d &C any cost
| Why comp me, he said, TO add the fur
Their iudignjty OF personal yiolencs 20 he
necessity Of your being ironsd?'
] "I am prisoner o. war, hercely retOrt-
| ii Davis; Y have been q soldier in the
aTmjt3 f America and know how 70 die
/ Olly xiii me aud my latest breath shall be
/ blessing on your head. Bat while have
| life and strength 10 resist tor myself and
| for my people, this thing sbsll not be done
"Hereupon Captain TitlOw called IN o
] sergeant AlN lllG hA tOlNlNlo mum TIC NJ ~
room. and the sergeant advarced 10 seiz-
the prisoner. Immediately Mr.. DAVIS flew
on him. seized his musket and attempted
20 wrench IL from his grasp
"Of course such a &C ieme could have
but one issue. There was short, pas
siooate scunl' In moment Mr Davis
was flung upln bis bed, and before bis
four powerful ass,ilants removed their
bands rom him She blacksmith and his
assistant hsd done their wofk-One secur-
iug the rivet on the right ankle, while the
other turned the key in the paddock on the
left
This done Mr. Davis lay for a moment
IA II in stupor Then slowly raising him
self aud turning rcuud. he dropped he
sbacklsd feet 10 the door. The harsh
cank Of The striking chain seemed ii-st 70
nave recalled him 10 bic situation.
AVID be muiteTtd at brief iutvryals: Oh
the shame, the shamern
AMERICAS HOUSE OF LORDS.
The Plutoc fatic Character of the nate
Is DEMANDING serious Consideration.
E1,ou Glt5