The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-21
,aHosEN no KILL DAVIS.
\ Plot to Eixeoute the Leader OF
the Confederacy.
How Chaplain Knne Once Took Aim at
the Southern Prcsidont's ueart-His
Life Was Saved by His Littlo Daugh-
ter-An Interesting Story.
lCoPYRIGur, 1893.

lCoPYRIGuT, 1899
Every year for tho first time some
startling event of the stirring scenes
between 81 and 'G5 is told which after
ward becomes Il part of the history OF
.nat 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 it 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 mock court-martial, sem
fenced to he shot, and only the appear
ancc of his little daughter prevented
the appointed eXccutoncr from pulling
the trigger that would undoubtedly
have sent bullet through his heart.
The determination to avcngc the u.s.
sassination of President Lincoln by sum-
atmarily ending the career of Davis was
f&he result of regular but unofficial
-3ftrial by number of the officers on
S2spoard the United States steamer Pom
As.sDosuc, then acting as guard OF ~
\ transport Clyde. The man who was
i. {selected to carry out the plan was En-
SSign James j. Kane, now chaplain at
i Sthe Brooklyn navy yard, and we'll
"a known throughout the country as the
I'D ldest chaplain In point of service in
N he navy. Ensign Kane had served in
che navy from 1901. He was capital
shot, the hero of many adventures, and,
like many others, at that time believed
10 Scriptnral requirement for the for
Rivcncss of enemies did not extend far
enough to save the life of Davis.
The movements of the party that cap
tured Davis, from the time the capture
was made until the prize was safely
G anded at Fortress Monroe, were
q. hroudeG in mystery. 1t was feared
C hat the union soldiers would kill him
CAT any opportunity, and Col Pritchard,
e. the Forth Michigan, and eighty
~ ien were kept on guard aboard the
= steamer Emilio, and nftcrward on the
4 hyde, 10 which the party was trans
r ferred in Hampton Roads. Among the
7 prisoners besides jeff Davis were his
7 wife and sister and three children:
Alexander III. Stephens, Mr. Reagan.
(. Clement c. Clay and wife, Gen. Wheeler
ana staff, Coils. johnson and lubbock.
{ of Davis staff; Maj. Morand Can't.
\ Moody, Lieut.. hathaway and several
Z 'rivatcs. The party arrived opposite
fortress Monroe on May 49, and orders
I to land were not received until May 20.
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
or death on the lips of soldiers still in
the south. who believed Davis should
be hanged to avcuge the tlcn tn 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-
oncr whom the ship was there to guard.
The chance that Davis might escape the
death punishment was looked upon as
IL possible disgrace to the honor of tho
republic that could only be avcrtcd by
summary action. This was the finding
by the improvscd court. martial, CON
sisting of q group of officers off duty,
and Ensign Kane was appointed to kill
Davis at the first chance. The oppor-
tnnity came on May 49, The Pontoosuc
and Clyde were then lying within three
hundred yards of each other. Ensign
Kane and a number of his brother Off
GERS met in hiss room. The scene that
followed is described in his own words.
jeff Davis" he said, ''was sitting in
! steamer chair on the deck of the
Clyde. 1t was clear day and 1 could
see him as plainly as if he had been but
one hundred feet away. loaded an
Enfield rife l had picked up on the
battle field of Fort Fisher, and, resting
the muzzlc in an air port. aimed it at the
heart of Davis. 1 feel confident could
have sent bullet to the target, but
some influence prevented me from pull
ing the trigger.
81 can't do it,. L said to my COM
radcs, but they urged me TO fire and
told me would be justified in doing so.
1T would be murder, l said, and one of
Them answered: Think of the death of
Lincoln With that took aim again
and even touched the trigger. but n
psychological force now think was OF
divine origin prevented me from doing
the act which would have ruined me.
forever after. still hesitatcd, how
ever, and was still aiming when the lit
tie daughter of Davis came on deck with
lady who was probably her mother
and ran into her fathers arms. 1t 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 driftcd
apart, making it impossible for any of
the other officers to do the lJillinc