The morning call., 1890-09-15

ON his horse. Another lay upon his back,
with one hand over his face, crying in bitter
agony, Il shall never see, them again, my
darling mother and sister" We looked him
over carefully and could find no trace of a
wound; at last he lifted his hand from bis
fac aud both eyes were gone. For three
hours we continued this work of gathering
up the harvest of battlefield where death
had been the most prolific reaper.
When the little that we could do had been
accomplished turned away toward another
part of the field.
Away yonder under a clump of trees l
saw considerable of gathering, and being
anxious to dspel as much as possible the
impressions Of the last few hours by other
scenes, made my way in that direc ton.
AS neaIeI the place | met one of our boys
and inquired the object of special interest
that seemed to engage the attention of the
company he had just left
Don't you know what has been goi
on 2" said lie; "where have you been ?"
replied that l had been over at the sta
ton ever since our arrival.
9'WelI, go down there" he remarked, "and
you'll see something interesting"
So saying he went and l continued my
Journey | had not far to go and was soon
upon the spot. Gathered together under a
tree | found a company of officers examin-
ing very ntently some papers.
''Well. Captain, what have you got? Fresh
OrderS?''
The Captain whom l addressed looked at
me a moment, then pointed over his Shout
der without saying word Looking in the
direction indicated, was filed with amaze
ment TO see. hanging to the limb of tree
not fifty feet away, the lifeless form of
man. One would hardly suppose that, after
such an afternoon. the sight which met my
gaze would so affect ne, and yet, AS took
in the awful reality of that scene, | felt a
sickeniug sensation that compelled me to
seek q spot where | might sit down.
"What does this mean ?" said /, at last
sit MEANS" said Sergeant Derby, who lay
sprawling out upon the grass at my feet,
calmly smoking his pipe, 1T means that
We have just hung spy, proof positive, no
appeal"
Then | was shown the proof. He has been
captured during the fight and held pris-
oner until such time as an examination
could be made, to account for his presence
upon the field, as he was unarmed and
ununiformed. To all questions he was
as mute as though nature had denied
him the gift of speech. Upon examining
his pockets there were found passes from
Secretary of War Stanton and many Union
Generals; also any quantity of passes from
jeff Davis and Confederate officials, high
and low The man was well equipped
maps and plSns of Union territory and
camps without number. Together with this
mass of evidence was memorandum book
nearly filled with closely written RACES,
giving in detail his journeys and expert
encas, and stamping him rs one of the
most daring and successful rebel spies liv-
ing.
As read this collection of documents l
found myself equal t. the sight before me-.
Indeed, | brcame interested in surveying the
spectacle of spy who had come to the end
Of his rope. The body was hanging with
back toward me. At last | walked down to
get nearer view. As | passed around the
body glanced up and beheld the face of
Sam Staples.
Something induced me to make closer
examination of the memorandum-bo0k
found upon Staples, and at last | was re-
warded by finding the following entries I'M
der date which | cannot recall, but which
was doubtless correct:
To-day | visited the camp of some YER
mont YankS, and did thriving trade. Just
outside the camp came across credulous
young fellow to whom | related my old yarn
about loss of niggers and family. and that |
had not where TO lay my head. (EIiS was
soft enough not to need pillow Gave him
some of the stuff about having no confidence
in the Richmond Government, produced two
or three teas tn seal the SAD tale, and came
away with the Lads blessing"
This extract from the diary of Sam Staples
accounts for the paragraph with which this
article begins, and warrants me. | think in
citing this famous spy as an example Of
total human deprayity.-Bost1n Herald.