Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-04-16
THE WAR is OVER.
A Surrender That Rivals That
at Appomattox.
MISS WINNIE DAVIS IN LETTERS,

But Cupid Forge. the Golden Chain with
Which She Is Bound-The Groom Ex-
peetant Comes OF the Most UnaduIter-
ated Abolition stoek-His Grandfsther's
Record In the Days Before the War
Story of the Courtship.
SYRACUSE, y. ", April Is Yesterday
report of very interesting nature was
verified Ii is the crownins event of the
great rebellion Ii is nothing more nor les
than the announcement made to very init
mate friends here of the betrothal Of Miss
Winnie Davis, ths eldest daughter of Jetfer-
son Davis, the late president of the Southern
Confederacy, to Mr.. Alfred Wilkinson, OF
this city, the grandson OF Samuel J. May,
the great Abolition leader. Dame Rumor
has for long time past Whispered of the
possibility OF such an event coming to pass.
The Groom's Lineage.
The life of Miss Davis is too well known
TO Be repeated here, but Mr.. Wilkinson's
parentage is comparatively unknown He
is son Of John Wilkinson, a very promi-
nant figure in local history, and the grand
son OF the Rev. Samuel j. May. The name
OF the Rev Mr.. Nav is one of the bright
gems In the Abolition sky. fer he was the
pioneer, with Garrison. Emerson, Phillips,
and Longfellow. in the great work for the
freedom Of the negro. Not only in the
United States tut in Europe also be fought
for the Abolition cause. In Great Britain
especially Mr. May lectured upon slavery TO
large audiences
Part of the Underground Railway.
After his removal to Syracuse Mr.. May
| continued TO be very active AMI prominent
in promoting the anti-slayery reform. He
soOn became known far and wide as fear
hess and Incorporating Aboliticnist. Hun
dreds OF men, women and children, fleeing
from bondage and bound for Canada, came
TO him for protection and help. and never
| came in vain He assisted many 10 escape,
among them being the celebrated J -rry Nc
| Henry, whose liberation caused such a sen
| sation, the anniversary of which was cels-
| brated for several years
May Burned in Emgy.
As the meetings Of the AbolitiOnists short
| IL before the declaration of war were vio-
| isntly assaulted in Boston and other cities,
the mayor OF Syracuse earnestly requested
| Mr.. May to prevent the holding of meeting
| here lest it should provoke a riot Twenty
OF the most influential gentlemen of syria
| cuse, nearly half Of whom were his parish
| toner's, addressed letter to Mr. May telling
| him that they were creiitably informed
that orgsniz a and forcible Efforts to prevent
| the holding of the Abolition cow ention
| would be made. Before the hour appointed
| for the convention rioters took possession Of
the he'll which Mr. May had hired for the
| convention and he was roughly used. the
meeting being prevented, and Mr. May was
| burned in effigy in Hanover square II is
this mans grandson who j. t. wed the
| slaughter of the COME leracy7
Romantic Courtship.
| The story Of the cOurtship i most roman
| tic. Miss Winnie Davis came north some
four years ago to visit DR.. Thomas Emory,
Of the firm Of d. Mccarthy & Co in this
| city. 1t was her first visit 10 this old Abol.
itionist stronghold, and she was cons -quent
| ly quite anxious to meet the society OF SYRIA
| cuse. At one Of the receptions given in her
| honor she was introduced to Alfred WiIkiu-
son Mss Winnie received a cool reception
| in one or two houses here and this treat
ment of the Daughter of the Confederacy"
Is said to have brought her and Mr. Wikin-
son into very ose relations. He resented the
GOODNESS shown her ami CALAMITY cham
| pioned her cause.
Conrted Her In Europe.
Mss Days l. in Europe, and Mr.. Wukin.
son some two months ego crossed the ocean
70 see and spend several weeks with her
sightseeing on the continent and pressing
his suit Wien he returned they were be-
| trothed. The actual time for the wedding
has not teen set, but 1t is Understood the
| date will be in the near future. The event
| Is of more than ordinary significance owing
| 10 its bearing on the birth and fall Of the
rebellion. This marriage, when accom-
| plished, will unite two families who have
been heretofore the most implacahle political
foes, and to whose efforts the ferceness and
fervor OF the rebellion are largely due.