The Lamar register., 1891-08-22
A MYSTERIOUS MAN.
Death of "BIack Wilmington" the CON-
federate Scout,

Death OF "Biack Whittington," the Con-
federate Scout.
Weatherford, Tex. correspondent to
St Louis Globe-Democrat says: A
man died in this state recently who
was from first to last a mystery to his
friends as well as enemies. A creature
of the late war he knew nothing of
fear, could subject himself to the
severest hardships without murmur
was surrounded by an impenetrable
mystery. and preserved his incognito
to the last He first made his appear
ance in the brigade of General Mosby
of the confederate cavalry. He was
then man Of perhaps % years, tall
and commanding in presence, black
hair and eyes, and an exceedingly
swarthy complexion. He was one Of
the best riders and shots in that famous
command. His face always held its
calm, stony expression, and he was
never known to be under the influence
of excitement of any kind. Soon he
| was detailed as scout and the only
name the soldiers had for him was
Wilmington, or Black Wilmington,
the Scout" Though in many desper-
| ate hand-to-hand encounters he was
| never wounded, 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 in
hand. Once Colonel Mohun asked
him where he came from. When he
hnd finished his report he said:
Colonel, | try to make a good soldier
for the confederacy and outside of that
it is none OF your business what l am
or where was born" In his mysteri-
Gus way he came and went and the
soldiers of the line came to count on
4 battle when they saw BLACK Whit
tington" return from one of his trips,
always riding at a 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 in
tention of going to South America.
While there Wilmington came in, to
their great surprise, for many thought
him captured and hung as a spy.
While there he became involved in a
difficulty with some lawless soldiers
and killed three. He then went to
Mexico and joined Maximillian. He
seemed to have been long acquainted
with him and his officers, though his
companions knew well enough to ask
no questions. After the downfall OF
the emperor he smuggled goods across
the border for time, but finally dis
| appeared and nothing was heard from
him till he turned up as scout oi
Barrias in South America When
that campaign was over he came tc
Texas and lived quietly on farm un.
til he died, recently.
He died from the effect of bullet
that had lodged near his heart and
very suddenly. When they went tc
dress him for burial he was completely
clothed in heavy suit of Spanish
chain armor, dented and battered by
bullets that had come in contact witt
it The only thing about him tina
would in any way lead to his identity
was seal ring hung around his necl
with chain, and on which was cut al
olive branch. People who took al
interest in him often tried to trace W
his past life and lineage, thinking hin
to be of some noble family, and tina
he had exiled himself from some flip
pant cause, but they were always un
successful. and he died as he lived
without giving a single clew to his
| identity.