The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-04-06
LIST. Louis GlObe-DemOcrat. |

Saved by His Little Girl---The
Chaplain's Story.
LIST. Louis GlObe-DemOcrat.
Every year for the first time some
startling event of the stirring scenes
between '6I and '65 is told which
afterward 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 it
will ever be known whether or not he
was in feminine attire 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 confederacy was
imprisoned in the United States trans
port Clyde, prior to being transferred
to Fortress Monroe, he was tried by
mock court martial, sentenced to be
shot, and only the appearance 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
assassination of Lincoln by summarily
ending the career of Davis was the
result of regular but unofficial trial
by a number of the officers on board
the United States steamer Pontoosuc,
then acting as guard Of the transport
Clyde. The man who was selected
to carry out the plan was Ensign
James ]. Kane, now chaplain at the
Brooklyn navy yard, and we'll 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 capital
shot, the hero Of many adventures,
and, like many others, at the time
believed the scriptural injunction for
the forgiveness OF enemies did not
extend far enough to save the life of
Davis.
AIMED AT HIS HEART.
The movements OF the parties that
captured 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 Colonel
Pritchard, Of the Fourth Michigan,
and eighty men were kept on guard
aboard the steamer Emile, and after
ward on the Clyde, to which the party
was transferred in Hampton Roads.
Among the prisoners besides Jeff Davis
were his wife and sister and three
children. Alexander H. Stephens, Mr..
Reagan, postmaster general of the
confederacy, Clement &. Clay and
wife. General Wheeler and staff,
Colonels Johnson and Lubbock, of
Davis's staff, Major Morand, Captain
Moody, Lieutenant Hathaway and
several privates. The party arrived
opposite Fortress Monroe on May
10Th, and orders to land were not
received until May 23d. In the
meantime the feeling against Davis
reached fever heat. There we're
demands that he should 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 Lincoln.
Much Of the talk of the officers on
the Pontoosuc was naturally about the
closing scenes of the war and the
prisoner whom the ship was there to
guard. The chance that Davis might
escape the death punishment was
looked upon as possible disgrace to
the honor of the republic that could
only be averted by summary action.
This was the finding by the improvised
counrtmartial, consisting Of group
of officers off duty, and Ensign Kane
was appointed to kill Davis at the first
chance. The opportunity came on
May 23d. The Pontoosuc and Clyde
were then lying within 900 yards Of
each other. Ensign Kane and
number of his brother officers met in
his room. The scene that followed is
described in his own words:
"Jeff Davis" he said, was sitting
in a steamer chair on the deck of the
Clyde. 1t was clear day and l
could see him as l'oinly as if he had
been but one hunugld feet away. 1
loaded an Enfield rifle had picked
up on the battlefield of Fort Fisher,
and resting the muzzle in an air port,
aimed it at the heart of Davis. | feel
confident l could have sent a bullet
to the target, but some influence
prevented me from pulling the trigger.
MYsTERIOUsLY RESTRAINED.
".I can't do it, l said 10 my
comrades, 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 l
took aim again and even touched the
trigger, but psychological force, l
now think was OF divine origin,
prevented me from doing the act which
would have ruined me forever after. |
still hestated, however, and was still
aiming when the little daughter OF
Davis came on deck with lady who
was probably her mother, and ran
into her fathers arms. 1t was then