The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-03-21
HOW DAVIS ESCAPED.
THE MEN BHOSEN TO EXECUTE THE
CONFEDERATE LEADER.
Chaplain Kane Had a Rifle Aimed at His
Heart-Saved by His Little Girl
The Chaplain's Story,

| ling event OF the stirring scenes between
| 81 and 20 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 i'll feminine attire when captured,
but this is of minor Importance in COM
parison with the fact, now for the first
| time published. that when the head Of
| the southern Confederacy was imprisoned
i'll the United States transport Clyde, prior
| to being transferred to Fortress Monroe,
| he was tried by Il mock court martial,
| sentenced 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 assas-
siIMtion of Lincoln by sulnmarily ending
the career OF Davis was the result of Il
regular but unofficial trial by Il number of
the officers on board the United States
steamer P0ntooSuc, then acting as a guard
of the transport Clyde. The man who
was selected TO carry out the plan was
Ensign james j. Kane, now chaplain at
the BcokIyn navy yard, and well known
throughout the country as the oldest chap
lain i'll point of service in the navy. En-
sign Kane had served i'll the navy from
many adventures and like many others.
at the time believed the scriptural iniunc-
ton for the forgiveness OF enemies dld not
extend far enough to save the lie or
Davis.
aimed at His Heart.
The movements of the parties that cap
tu,Ju mn Ioii ,ile "nie .no ionG"5
made unti TIE prize was saielS lanu I'sc
Fortress Monroe, were Shrouded IN mystery;
IT was reared mat the unioi sol,ilGra , Muuld
XII nm al any opportunity, ana ooloHci
IHtchard' OF me fodllh hlciiisau anu
elShty men were KEPT SuaIo hpot'lu tne
steamer LInllt. ana ailefWdlu on the
tyH', 10 Whlth me party was ua"leiicu
in Hampton Roads. Among the prisoners
besides Jeit DAVIS we're ms WE anu SIS
ter and three chlidten, Alexander ii
Stephens Mr.. Reagan, postmaster general
of the conte,ler""N; Clement Z. Gay ana
wife. Gcner'- NAeeler ana S'ail'
tolonels Jt" +'0n ana itubuetk
Of DavsS stat; MaJor MqTanu'
Captan AioouI' nicu'eH ~, rortn or.
away ana SEVERN Ifllc'; .Ie P ",i,
i inth o nrIcrt tn land wara rot received
I".!i' w, Wv 81 H. 49,, ,,,oont;n,n Tho fool
; mo- agn;nst Davis reached fever heat.
Thero were 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
DE 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 punish
ment was looked upon as a possible disgrace
to the honor of the republic chat could only
he aycrtcd by summary action. This was
the finding by the mproviscd counrtmartiai,
consisting of Il group of officers off duty,
and Ensign Kane was appointed to XII
Davis ut the first chance. 1he opportunity
came on May Odd The Pontoosuc and
Clyde were then lying within 800 yards of
each other Ensign Ndne ana NUMBER on
his brother officers met il his room. The
scene that followed is described i'll has own
words:
"Jeff Davis" he said was sitting in n
steamer chair ON the Deck of the Clyde. 1t
was n clear dav and could see him as plain
Iv as if he hal been but one hundred feet
1u.nv T1oaded m Enfield rifle had pick
"a ,,n q, tho bottInfind of Fort Fisher. and
H.; n ~, ,,,,,,,lo il, an o;r mort aimed II
- II tnort "f D.r;e 7 feel confident 7
at ,1V n,"' W. b,IIIo+ 70 Tho target hrt
o".a',' i!'G,,oncn ,rnpented me from milling
SOM son i...ue'''o pio' ''i'N'-
''e 'iisS ,p..,rair.a
,,1
but they urged me to hre, ana tolu me