The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-22
CHOSEN TO KILL DAVIS.
PLOT TO EXECUTE THE CONFED-
ERACY'S LEADER.
How Chaplain Kane Once Took Aim at
the Southern Presidents Heart-His
Life Saved by His Daughter.

between '61 and '65 is told which after
ward becomes part Of the history Of
that momentous period.
The story of the capture of JEFF Davis
has been printed often and with facts
varying SO greatly that the northern or
southern reader cannot help but find
some account to suit him. 1t Is hardly
probable that 1t will ever be known
whether or not he was In feminine at
tire when captured, but this is of minor
Importance in comparison with the fact,
now for the first time published, that
when the head of the southern confed-
eracy was imprisoned in the United
States transport Clyde, prior to being
transferred to Fortress Monroe, he was
tried by a mock court-martial. sem
fenced TO be shot, and only the appear
ance of his little daughter prevented
the appointed executioner from pulling
the trigger that would undoubtedly
have sent bullet through his heart.
The determination to avenge the as
sassination of President Lincoln by sum-
marily ending the career of Davis was
the result Of regular but unofficial
trial by number of the officers on
toosuc, then acting as guard Of the
transport Clyde. The man who was
selected to carry ont the plan was En-
sign James j. Kane, now chaplain at
the Brooklyn navy yard, and well
| known throughout the country as the
oldest chaplain in point of service in
the navy. Ensign Kane had served In
| the navy from 1861. He was a capital
shot, the hero of many adventures, and,
like many others, at that time believed
| the Scriptural requirement for the for
Qiveness of enemies did not extend far
enough TO save the life of Davis,
Blew Up Their Ships.
The movements of the party that cap
| tured Davis, from the time the capture
was made until the prize was safely
landed at Fortress Monroe, were
shrouded in mystery. 1t was feared
that the union soldiers would kill him
at any opportunity, and Col. Pritchard,
of the Fourth Michigan, and eighty
men, were kept on guard aboard the
steamer Emile. and afterward on the
Clyde, to which the party was trans
ferred in Hampton Roads. Among the
prisoners besides jeff Davis were his,
wife and sister and three children;
Alexander II. Stephens, Mr.. Reagan,
postmaster general of the confederacy;
Clement Q. Clay and wife, Gen. Wheeler
and staff, Coils Johnson and Lubbock,
| of Davis staff; Maj. Morand, Capt.
Moody, Lieut.. Hathaway and several
| privates. The party arrived opposite
Fortress Monroe on May 10, and orders
to land were not received until May %.
In the meantime the feeling against
Davis reached fever heat There were
demands that he be shot from thousands
of loyal people of the north, and threats
of death on the lips of soldiers still in
the south, who believed Davis should
be hanged to avenge the death of Lin
coin.
Much of the talk of the officers on the
Pontoosuc was naturally about the
closing scenes of the war and the pris-
oner whom the ship was there to guard.
The chance that Davis might escape the
death punishment was looked upon as
n possible disgrace TO the honor of the
republic that could only be averted by
summary action. This was the finding
by the improvised court-martial con-
sisting of group of officers off duty,
and Ensign Kane was appointed TO kill
Davis at the first chance. The oppor-
tunity came on May %. The Pontoosuc
and Clyde were then lying within three
hundred yards of each other. Ensign
Kane and number of his brother Off
GERS met in his room. The scene that
followed is described in his own words.
Feared the Soldiers.
"Jeff Davis" he said, twas sitting in
n steamer chair on the deck of the
Clyde. 1t was a clear day and l could
see him as plainly as if he had been but
one hundred feet away. / loaded an
Enfield rifle had picked up on the
battle field of Fort Fisher, and. resting
the muzzle in an air port, aimed 1t at the
heart of Davis feel confident l could
have sent a bullet to the target, but
some influence prevented me from pull
ing the trigger.
'"I can't do it, said TO my COM
rades, but they urged me TO fire and
told me would be justified in doing so.
1T would be murder said, and one of
them answered: Think of the death of
Lincoln With that / took aim again
and even touched the trigger, but a
psychological force / now think was of
divine origin prevented the from doing
the act which would have ruined me
forever after | still hesitated, how
ever, and was still aiming when the lit
tie daughter of Davis came on deck with
a lady who was probably her mother
and ran into her fathers arms II was
then impossible to shoot without en-
dangering the life of the little girl and
laid up the gun. a short time after
ward and before the child had left the
arms of its father the vessels drifted
apart, making it impossible for any OF
the other officers TO do the killing.
/ al have been thankful ever since that
was restrained from doing what would
have been an extremely rash act, and
have never until now related the Incl
dent except with n requirement of sc