Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1893-05-11
THIRTY YEARS AFTER.
The e"YankeeThief" Paid For the Rebel
Horse He Stole.
Trimble, Tenn, Special to Phila. Press

Trimble, Tenn, Special to Phila. Press
John Railey, VINO resides aboat
four miles from this place, is one OF
the happjest men in the countrY.
The cause Of his exuberaat j = was
the receipt yesterday b7 exp,css of
$685., not a cent of which be ever
expected TO receive, and this
is the story:
s'In 1864 a squad Of the Fifty
fourth Pennsy yIvauia Cavalry, who
werc out on sco1 endeayoring TO
learn something of the movement
of Gen. Forest, camped at a spring
near Mr.. Railey's residence. The
following morning before departing
from the neighborhood they rode
up to Railey'e, al but one, who
was walking aud he went 10 the
barn and led out the finest horse
there, Rsiley expostulafed insvain-
'Let that horse loose, wouldn't
take $3.50 for that horse, you low
born Yankee thief he angrily ex-
claimed, Don't worry yourself so,
pardner,' mildly etlied the sol
dier. you see, my horse died with
the collie last night, and [ am
bound to have another. If | were
to depend on my feet to get out OF
this count; Forest would get ne
sure
81 wish he'd get every one OF
you, contound you," replied the
owner of the animal.
"I'll tell you what I'll do" cons
tinued the trooper, "If yon will
tell me your name and get
through this blame war alive, and
ever get able, I'll send You the
money for the horse"
my name is John t, Railey,
d--n you, but I'll never hear from
you again, you d-n old Yankee
thief
THAT may be- smiled the soldier,
'but Eait and see,' and, amidst a
roar of lau shter from his comrades
he amounted the horse and with
them rode away,
At that time Railey was wellaoff
in this worlds goods, and the loss
of the horse occasioned him no pes
cuniary en- barras ment. But since
the war be has met with many res
verses. lie has been conpe. LED 10
sell part OF his farm at various
times Lntii he now has bat forty
, acres, And this Spring he was
compelled TO MOI tgage that for 5000
order to obtain money to pur-
chase seed and some badly needed
farm implements.
Yesterday be received a letter
which read as follows:
"READ1NG, PENN, A priI 3. '93
s1MR. JOHN T. RAILEY, TFimble
Tenn.
Dear Sir:-I suppose you re-
member one April morning il
1864, when . squad OF Yankee SOL
diers, as you called them, came t.
your house, and one Of them rode
off with one of your horses, which
You said was worth $3.50 Th'
Ye nkee promised to pay for The
horse If it was ever in his power t'
do so an tha. same Yankee
Fortnne has dealt very harshl,
with me until the last tey
years, since which time | baVe &C
cumnlated CO, siderable property
L am getting Nd now and takini
your horse was as rear stealing as
have ever been gui. 'ty of, and
wish now to ay for h "a, | nav
learned from your Postl- '1aster 1na
you are still in the land Inc iss
irg, and have had pretty hi va iucs
which, | am sorry TO hear, ! sen
you by to-day's express sos
which allows you 6 per cent IN
terest. " evil likely never NEE
again in this world, but I hop e t
meet you in the land where ther G
no sectional hatred. Trusting o
may prosper, / remain yours We.
tEnly.
CRANK K. WALLDRAlJ. )