The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1890-05-23
1T WAS A CLOSE SHAVE.
Escape of a Confederate Who Hid Be-
tween the Springs Of Bed and the
Mattress.
Minneapolis Journal.

~ lew years ago | was taking an
after dinner smoke i'll a hotel in
Chicago with gentleman who
had been Confederate colunel in
the Confederate army.
~ was in Chicago during iae
war, in 1862 or 49," he said, ''anl |
had a decidedly narrow escape.
Do ynu want to hear thrilling
episode, as lhe newspapers call il?"
"Cerlmnly.'
"Well, came through the Ines
no matter how-0n special bust
ness the nature Of which ! don't
care 10 divulGe even at this late
hour. | had tn be cautious in my
movements. The federal authorl-
lies were on the lookout for secret
emIssares. / came to .meet some
parties from Canada, and | met
them, transacted my business, and
went around Town several days en-
JOYing myself"
"One morning | received a note
from lady Of my acquaintance.
who had a kindly feeling for The
Snulh and who was well posted on
current movements. She wrote
i learned on undOubted authority
that you are known ta be in Chica-
90 and that they are on The lookout
for yon. When you gel This stay
where you are until night and
then 90 TO Mrs. Ks, - street,
and show her this note and | think
you will be all right"
" Here s pretty mess, said
TO myself. However, | deternin-
ed TO weather the gale. had been
through many a battle, but TO get
in tight place like this was cal
cula;ed 10 make a man nervous,
as | might be arrested as IA spy
aud shot. wasn't ii spy, how
ever, but | couldn't prove | wasn't.
IL wasn't molested during The
day. l.sluck close to my quarters,
and changing my clothes, and put
ing on a slouch hat aud pulling it
DOWN over my eyes, | launched out
Tn Ihe street aud pursued my way
do the address indlcatad in The
note. The streets were pretty
lively with people, and regiment
of soldiers were marching down
Lake street to The IllinniS Central
Depot 10 take a train 10 The front.
| gol to The house all right, and
found the lady c be an old south
ern friend. An old friend, but a
very young and handsome lady,
the wife of a very agreeable Chi |
cago gentleman. You'll be all |
right he"e,' she said, and | thought |
81, too. She, her husband and | |
had very pleasant evening to
gelher, and parted for The night .
in high spirits. | was tired and /
went to sleep very quickly. Don't /
know how long | slept, but | was
awakened by a laundering knock
1t my door. | sprang up ard .
Ound my friend the master of the
household pale as a ghost standing
n the hall. AN officer and IA
ruard are at the door and you must
lide-l don't know where-9r we
hall all be ruined
500 ahead, | said 'and let lhe.a
II. I'll take care of myself and
on shan'l be compromketE','
at was desperately V rou.lfsitu-
ton. just then my friends wife
ame quickly TO me and said:
Come in here; we must do the
,esl We can and adopt heroic
means. Get in there and don't
reaihe or we are lost.
"She pointed lo her bed"
'Ge; under The mattress and be
I'LL as death, and get air when
on can
"In an instant | saw her plan.
he bed was a large one. The
plings were large. | pulled up
he mattress, jumped in on the
prings and pulled the mattress $
yer me. The lady then returned ,
D her bed and quickly laid down {
: naturally as YOU please over me. !
he wasn't very heavy, but she /
mattress Was, and the springs ,
aemed to have edges cutlpg into I
ny legs aud sIde.'
Hardly had we disposed our
elves in this unique manner when /
he lieutenant aud his men were
dmilled TO the house. We could !
ear loud talking as they explored I
he house from cellar to garres and Z
DOked in every closet, ran their 8
ayonels into piles of clothes. At (
,Sl the door Of the room opened. 1
he officer touched hls hat and
emarked that he couldn't use ,
luch ceremony, rs the case was
TCent. He had been informed
nd was convinced that Colonel I
. was in the house and he meant |
D have him." ID
Mrs. Y pleaded sickness as
n excuse for not rising aud aiding I
h The search, aud said: Look {
veTywhere, sir, over the house. !
here is nobody here except my
eli, my husband aud The servants. I
IN the clesels and coal bins are
I your disposal. We have moth i
~ to conceal
"'Oh,' said the officer, I've Z
card all that many a time. / ,
hall have 10 look through your }
Dom.' madam
He did.
''lle looked in each closet call ]