The record-union., 1891-08-07
CLOTHED IN ARMOR.
Mysterious Revelation at the Death of
''Black Whittington,' the Scout.

''Black Wilmington, the Scout.
Last week man died in this State,
says Texas correspondent of the Globe
Democrat, who was from first to last q
mystery to his friends as well as enc
mics. A creature of the late war, he
knew nothing of fear, could subject him
self to the severest hardships without a
murmur, was surrounded by an impene-
trable mystery and preserved his incog-
nito to the last. He first made his ap-
pearance IN the brigade of General
MoSby in the Confederate cavalry. He
was then a man of perhaps 27 years, tall
and commanding in presence, with black
hair and eyes and an exceedingly swarthy
complexion.
He was one of the best riders and shots
in that famous command. His face al
ways held its calm, stony expression, and
he was never known to be under the in
huence of excitement of any kind. Soon
he was detailed as scout, and the only
name the soldiers had for him was Whit
tington, or "Black Wilmington, the
scout" Though i'll many desperate hand
to-hand encounters he was never wound
ed, and his judgment and information
were implicitly relied on by the officers
He seemed to avoid company, and
would never enter into conversation with
any one except relative to the service and
the business he had on hand Once Col
onel Mohun asked him where he came
from. When he had finished his report
he said: Colonel, try to make good
soldier for the Confederacy. and outside
OF that it is none of your business what I
am or where / wGs born.''
In his mysterious way he came and
went, and the soldiers of the line came TO
count on battle when they saw "Black
Whittington'' return from one of his
trips, always riding at swift gallop.
After the battle of Yellow Tavern, Just
outside of Richmond, he was not seen for
many months.
Many of the soldiers refugeed to New
Orleans with the intention of going 10
South America. While there Whiting
ton came in, to their great surprise, for
many thought him captured and hanged
as spy. He became involved in diff
Guilty with some lawless soldiers and
killed three. He then went to Mexico
and Joined Maximilian. He seemed
to have been long acquainted with
him and his officers, though his COM
panions knew well enough to ask no
questions. After the downfall of the EN-
peror he smuggled goods across the bor-
der for time, but finally disappeared,
and nothing was heard from him until be
turned up as a scout of Barrios in Central
America. When that campaign was over
he came to Texas and lived quietly on q
farm until he died last week.
He died from the effect of bullet that
had lodged near his heart, and very sud
denly. When they went to dress him
for burial he was completely clothed in q
heavy suit Of Spanish chain armor,
dented and battered by bullets that had
come in contact with it. The only thing
about him that would in any way lead to
! his identity was a seal ring hung around
| his neck with 1t chain, on which
was cut an olive branch. People who
took an interest in him often tried to
trace up his past life and lineage, think
! ing him to be of some noble family and
that he had exiled himself from some
hippant cause, but they were always un-
successful, and he died as he had lived