The Portland daily press., 1890-05-03
minneapolis Journal

4 few years ago was taking an after
dinner smoke IN hotel in Chicago with
a gentleman who had been colonel in
the Confederate army
Il was in Chicago during the war. in
1862 or 3d." he said, "and l had n de-
cidedly narrow escape. Do Won want to
hear thrilling episode, as the newspa-
pers call it?'
Certainly"
Wen, came through the lines-no
matter how-on special business, the ex-
act nature of which l don't care to di-
vulge even at this lac hour. | had to be
cautious in my movements. The Federal
authorities were on the lookout for secret
emlssaries. came to meet some parties
from Canada, and met them, transacted
my business, and went around town for
several days enjoying myself.
Zone morning received a note from a
lady of my acquaintance, who had a
kindly feeling for the south and who was
well posted on current movements. She
wrote: L learned on undoubted author
ity that you are known to be in Chicago
and that they are on the lookout for you.
When you get this stay where you are
until night and then go to Mrs. KS, -
street, and show her this note and think
you will be all right
"'Here's pretty mess said to my
self. However, determined to weather
the gale. 1 had been through many a
big battle, but to get in tight place like
this was calculated to make man nery-
Gus, as l might be arrested as a spy and
shot. Iwasn'ta spy, however, but couldn't
prove wasn't.
81 wasn't molested during the day. 7
stuck close to my quarters, and changing
my clothes and putting on SLOUGH hat
and pulling it down over my eyes, I
launched out on the street and pursued
my way to the address indicated in the
lady's note. The streets were pretty live
ly with people, and a regiment of soldiers
were marching down Lake street to the
Illinois Central depot to take train to
the front l got to the house all right
and found the lady to be an old southern
friend. An old friend, but very young
and handsome lady, the wife of very
agreeable Chicago gentleman. You'll
be all right here, she said, and l thought
SO, too. She, her husband and 1 had a
very pleasant evening together, and part
ed for the night in high spirits. was
tired and went to sleep very quickly.
Don't know how long l slept, but was
awakened by laundering knock at my
door. sprang up and found my friend,
the master of the household, pale as a
ghost, standing in the hall. IAN officer
and guard are at the door and you must
hide-I don't know WHEREOF we shall
all be ruined
60 ahead said, and let them in.
I'll take care of myself and you shan't be
compromised.
sit was desperately rough situation.
Just then my friends wife came quickly
to me and said: Come in here; we must
do the best we can and adopt heroic
means. Get in there and don't breathe
or we are lost
'She pointed to her bed.
"'Get under the mattress and be still
as death, and get air when you cam
Gin an instant / saw her plan. The
bed was large one. The springs were
large. pulled up the mattress, jumped
in on the springs and pulled the mattress
over me. The lady then returned to her
bed and quickly laid down as naturally
as you please over me. She wasn't very
heavy, but the mattress was, and the
springs seemed to have edges cutting
into my legs and side.
Hardly had we disposed ourselves in
this unique manner when the lieutenant
and his men were admitted to the house.
We could hear loud talking as they ex-
plored the house from cellar to garnet
and looked in every closet, ran their
bayonets into piles of clothes. At last
the door of the room opened. The
officer touched his hat and remarked
that he couldn't use much ceremony, as
the case was urgent. He had been in
formed and was convinced that Col.
- was in the house, and he meant to
have him.
Mrs x pleaded sickness as an
excuse for not rising and aiding in the
search, and said: Look everywhere, sir,
over the house. There's nobody here
except myself, my husband and the serv-
ants. All the closets and coal bins are
at your disposal We have nothing to
conceal
"'Oh,' said the officer, "I've heard all
that many time. shall have to look
all through your room, madam"
"He did
HE looked in each closet; called his
men in and made them run their bayo-
nets into the wall to be sure there were
no secret closets anywhere. He stopped
down, looked under the bed within four
feet Of me. Jove! but l was in a cold
sweat. One movement, one creak of a
spring, one sneeze or hard breath would
have betrayed me. But after three min
utes of suppressed vitality the lieutenant
withdrew, muttering: This is strange
''Still he fingered down stairs; went
into the cellar again, into the back yard,
tore up boards from the floors, and ran
his bayonet into the parlor sofas. At last
the gang cleared out thoroughly disgust
ed. They did their duty certainly and
deserved promotion.
D waited on those internal springs two
hours before I moved. 1 was afraid they
would suddenly come back. But they
didn't. The guard was kept around the
house until 10 o'clock next morning, and
then they withdrew. Ispent the day
with my friends, borrowed a suit Of
clothes and hat from my friend, shaved
my mustache of, and at o'clock in the
evening, taking leave of my kind pro-
tectors, l lighted a cigar, stepped boldly
into the street, and before midnight was
q good many miles on my way to the
pretty close shave"