The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1890-08-28
A 8 PARROT.
How 1t Saved Judah p. benjamin From
Being Captured.

How 1t Saved Judah =. benjamin From
Being Captured.
General Forney, of Alabama, told a
good story of the war, not long ago, in a
cloak-room of the House Of Representa-
tives. He heard 1t from the lips OF a
Confederate officer, who got 1t direct
from Judah I. benjamin, the Confeder-
ate Secretary of State.
Jefferson Davis and his cabinet were
at some little town in Western North
Carolina, on their way to Texas, after
Lees surrender, when they heard of the
assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The
news appalled, them. A council Of war
was held. All felt that the Indignation
Of the North over Linccln's death would
be 50 great that summary vengeance
would be wrcakcd upon any members of
the Confederate Cabinet who were cap
turcd. BENJAMIN struck out for himself.
lie tried to make his way to the sea-
coast and take his chances of escaping
TO Europe. lie had little money. At
first he was assisted by members of his
own religious faith, but in time his sup
plies ran out and he had any thing but a
pleasant experience. lie understood
that there was Il large reward offered
for his arrest. The country was secured
by Federal cavalry and several times he
narrowly escaped capture. lie finally
reached the boundary of Florida and
Georgia. 1t was unsafe for him to APP
ply at plantations for shelter. lie slept
in thickets and wherever he thought it
would be safe. One night, hungry and
footsorc, he went to sleep upon a bed of
pine needles in a scrub of saw palmettos.
Soon after daylight he awokc. A sharp
f~dlsetto voice shouted; "llurrah for
JEFF"
1t startled him. At first he thought
that it came from some Yankee trooper
on his trail, and trying to lure him out.
The mocking-birds were singing in the
pine trees above the palmettos, and
iinchcs were twittcring in the tops.
Occasionally 4 cardinal groesbcak flew
over him. All the time, however, he
heard tho words: 'llurrah for Jeffw ut
tered in the shrill falsctto tone. Atlast
he ycnturcd to raise his head and eau
tiously peer over the scrubby ~palmettos.
Nobody was in sight. lie raised himself
to his full height, which was very short,
and looked around him.
'liurrah for jeff was repeated. He
saw, Il few yards away, a parrot sitting
upon the limb of a burned pine. lie
quickly concluded that the owner of the
bird could be trusted. lie approached
the parrot, which gazcd at him with APP
parent interest, and then began to
whistle Away Down IN Dixie" Amo-
ment afterwards the bird flew a hundred
yards or more and again shouted: "IIur-
rah for jeff
benjamin followed and soon arrived at
a plantation in the edge Of a hammock,
shaded with live oaks. Its owner lived
in Il large log house, with a cartway
through the middle. The chimneys
were built upon the outside of the
dwelling, and there was a row of negro
quarters ncar by. A tall Cracker sat
upon the stoop handling a half-naked
hoy upon his knee. benjamin asked him
if he owned the parrot. He replied that
he did, and added: THAT birds u rale
old rebel, like the rest of u.s."
Thcrcupon benjamin made himself
known. and was treated with the utmost
hospitality. Moro than that, the Cracker
gave him n mule and saddle and after
that he had no difficulty in making his
way to the coast.-N. y. Sun.