Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-08-27
A Rebel Parrot and the Trouble II
Occasioned,

| Uccasl0neu.
Gen. Forney, of Alabama, told
good story of the war, not long ago,
in cloak-room of the house of repre-
sentatives.. He heard from the lips of
confederate officer, who got it direct
from Judah P. Benjamin, the confed-
crate secretary of State.
Jefferson Davis and his staff 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 Lincoln's
death would be SO great that summary
vengeance would be wreaked upon
any members of the confederate cab
met who were captured. Ben
struck out for himself. He tried to
make his way to the seacoast and take
his chances of escaping to Europe.
He had little money. AT first he was
assisted by members of his own religi-
Gus faith, but in time his supplies ran
out and he had anything but pleas
ant experience. He understood that
there was a large reward offered for
his arrest. The country was secured
by federal cavalry and several times
he narrowly escaped capture. He
finally reached the boundry of Florida
and Georgia. 1t was unsafe for him
to apply at plantations for shelter.
He slept in thickets and wherever he
thought it would be safe. One night,
hungry and footsore, he went to sleep
upon a bed of pine needles in scrub
of saw palmettos. Soon after day
light he awoke. A sharp falsetto
voice shouted: "Hurrah for Jeffw
1t startled him. AT first he thought
that it came from some Yankee troop
er on his trail, and trying to lure HIM
out. The mocking birds were singing
in the pine trees above the palmettos,
and finches were twittering in the
tops. Occasionally cardinal groes-
beak flew over him. All the time,
however, he heard the words: "Hur-
rah for jeff" uttered in the shrill
falsetto tone. At last he ventured to
raise his head and cautiously peer
over the scrubby palmettos. Nobody
was in sight. He raised himself to
his full hight, which was very short,
and looked around him.
"Hurrah for jeff" was repeated.
He saw, few yards away. parrot
sitting upon limb of burned pine.
He quickly concluded that the owner
of the bird could be trusted. He ap-
preached the parrot, which gazed at
him with apparent interest, and then
began to whistle "Away Down in Dix
ie." A moment afterward the bird
flew 100 yards or more and again
shouted "Hurrah for JEFF "
Benjamin followed and soon arriv-
ed at plantation in the edge Of ham
mock. shaded with live oaks.
Its owner lived in large log house,
with cartway through the middle.
The chimneys were built upon outside
of dwelling, and there was row of
negro quarters near by. A tall Crack
er sat upon the stoop dandling half
naked boy upon his knee. Benjamin
asked him if he owned the parrot.
He replied that he did, and added
"That birds rare old rebel, like the
rest of u.s."
Thereupon Benjamin made himself
known, and was treated with the ut
most hospitality. More than that.
the Cracker gave him mule and
saddle, and after that he had no diff
Guilty in making his way to the coast.
New York Sun.