The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-02
DEATH OF A MYSTERIOUS MAN.
Chain Armor Found When Preparing
Him for Burial.
rom The 81. Louis Globe-Democrat. :.

Him for Burial.
From the 81. Louis Globe Democrat.
WEATHERFoRD, TEX, June 20.-Last
week man died in this state who was from
first to last mystery to his friends as well
as enemies. A creature of the late war, he
knew nothing of fear. could subject himself
to the ssverest hsrdships without a muir
muir, was surrounded by an impene-
trsble mystery, aud preserved his incog-
nitO to the last.
brigade of Gen. Mosby in the Confederate
cavalry. He was then a man of perhaps 81
years, tall aud commanding in presence,
black hair and ewes and an exceedingly
swarthy complexion. lie was one OF the
best riders and shots in that famous COM
maud. His face always held its calm,
stony expression, and he was never known
to lie under the influence of excitement OF
any KIND. Soon he was detailed as a scout,
and the only name the soldiers had for him
was Wilmington, or BLACK w Wilmington,
the scout" Though in many desperate
hand-to-hand encounters he was never
wounded, and his judgment and informa-
tion were Implicitly relied on by the of
ficers.
He seemed to avoid company, and would
never enter into conversation with any one,
except relative to the service and the bust
ness be had in hand. Once Col. Mohun
asked him were he came from. When he
had finished his report he said: Colonel, |
try TO make a good soldier for the confeder-
acy, and outside of that it is none of your
business what am or where | was born. u
In this mysterious way he came and went,
and the soldiers of the line came to count on
a battle when they saw BLACK Whiting
ton" return from one of his trips, always
riding at swift gallop. At the
battle Of Yellow Tavern, just out
side of Richmond, he was last seen
for many months. Many of the
soldiers refugeed to New Orleans with
the intention of going to South America.
| While there Wilmington came in, to their
great surprise, for many thought him capt
ured and hung as a spy. While there be
became involved in difficulty with some
lawless soldiers and killed three. He then
went to Mexico aud joined Macmillan.
He seemed to have been long acquainted
with him and his officers, though his com
panions knew well enough to ask no uues-
tions. After the downfall of the emperor
he struggled goods across the border for a
time, but finally disappeared, and nothing
was heard from him till he turned up as
scout OF Barrias in South America. When
that campaign was over he came to Texas
and lived quietly on farm until he died
| last week.
He died from the effect of a bullet that
had lodged near his heart, and very sud.
denly. When they went to dress him for
burial be was completely clothed in heavy
suit of Spanish chain armor, dented aut
battered by bullets that had come in con-
tact with it. The only thing about hin
that would in any way lead to his identity
| was seal ring hung around his neck with
a chain, on which was cut an olive branch
People who took an interest in him Otter
| tried to trace up his past life and lineage
thinking him to be of some noble family
and that he had exiled himself, but they
were unsuccessful. and he died as he lived
without giving a single clew to his identity