The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-05-04
MR.. cHlLDs A PRISONER.
An Incident at Baltimore During the
Early Days of the Rebellion


relates an interesting incident that oc.
cured in Baltimore in 1901, in which
Mr. George w. Chids, the proprietor
Of the public Ledger" figured mag
unanimously. The details OF the story,
were furnished by one of the persons
directly concerned in the exciting affair.
In 1861, after the 10Th Of April,
when the Boston troops we're fired up
on in Baltimore, the mob notified all
known sympathizers with our Republic
to leave the city or to remain at their
peril The mob put Baltimore under
military rule; and the Fifth Regiment
patroled the streets.
Among the last to leave was John
T. Graham, a prominent Republican.
He had carried the banner ward of
the city for Lincoln, in opposition to
his own family and friends. He had
married a Turner young Quaker,
whose mother was at one time Clerk of
the Women's Yearly Meeting at Balti.
more; and her grandmother was long an
elder in the Society.
After John T. Graham had left, and
while his wife as yet knew not where he
was, her father brought the family car.
riage to the back gate, and she (who
had been il) was put into it, and taken
to the last boat that left for Port De-
post, on the Susquehanna This was
to take passengers to Philadelphia the
railroad being, as it seems, obstructed
or perhaps torn up by the rebels.
Their flag was flying everywhere.
Friend Turner with his daughter, had
been stopped upon his way to the boat;
and, not having the countersign, he
had been ordered back. But on the
plea that there was only a sick woman
IN the carriage they were allowed to so
on. On arriving at the wharf they
found the steamer crowded with re-
tugees. Among those on board was a
young man-who was introduced as
George W. Childs, Of Philadelphia
returning to his home from a trip to
Washington. He was introduced to
Elizabeth Graham by her grandmother,
Elizabeth Turner, whom the sick grand
daughter was surprised TO find on
board. Mr.. Childs assisted in making
the invalid comfortable. Her chief
concern was for her absent husband
and Mr. Childs quickly expressed his
sympathy.
Soon there was little excitement
on the far side of the boat, which
the women did not understand; and
during this excitement Mr.. Childs
disappeared. Word was brought to
Mrs. Graham that her husband was
safe; but that she should ask no ques.
tlons. AT the same time 1t was learned
that Mr.. Childs had been arrested and
taken TO the Provost Marshals office.
1t atterward transpired that the soldiers
sent to arrest Mr.. Graham had fancied
that they had found him in the person
OF Mr. Childs. Mrs. Graham says that
the latter was so magnanimous as to
divert the attention Of the crowd from
herself; and, knowing that he could
prove his identity, he went to the Mar
shaps office, where he was quickly re-
Cognized as prominent Philadelphia.
Returning, he was hauled over the side
of the boat, and she started, as it were
with an air of defiance.
John T. Graham was perhaps the
cause of the disturbance before men,
toned; for he had been brought in a
little row. boat, put on board, and quick.
ly hustled into the store-room, where
he was locked up with the blankets in
Camphor. After some hours he found
his sick wife and her party, including
Mr.. Childs, to whom he was introduced,
and the story told him, when they were
clear Of danger, In Philadelphia Mr.
Childs introduced Mr.. Graham to prom
inent Republicans. A Republican
club took him literally upon their
shoulders. In few days he Joined
Benjamin Buffers command on its way
to Baltimore. Afterward Mr. Graham
and his wife founded the Union Relief
Association for troops passing through
Baltimore; and it is said that he open
ed the first Army Hospital, under DR..
Hammonds direction. Mr.. Graham
was Assistant Medical Director during
the battle of Gettysburg, when our
troops were largely supplied from Bal
timore. He still lives, a wellknown
citizen of that city, and is President Of
the Real Estate Exchange and prom
inent Prohibtionist.
Mrs. Graham is a member of the
Women's Literary Club of Baltimore,
and President of the Lend Hand Club
at Mt Washington, near Baltimore,
where she and her husband live.
l have been told that when Mr..
Childs was at the office of Provost
Marshal Kane, on this occasion, he
obtained a written order to pass all his
friends through; and that he sent word
of his arrest to the Eutaw House,
to Barnum's Hotel and to some prom
inent Abolitonists. Among those
thus notified were the celebrated Anti
Slavery preacher Stephen Dudley Tying
and Mr.. Berghman son-in,law of the
late Charles Manchester. 1t has also
been said that but for the pass from
Provost Marshal Kane the steamboat
would not have been allowed to start