Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-07-29
ROMANCE OF TEE WAR
Story OF q Woman who Led Band OF
GuerIllas in Kentucky.


GuerIllas in Kentucky.
A Burkesville, KY, correspondent OF
the Atlanta Constitution writes: The
preparations for the trial Of q land suit
which is to come up at the approaching
term of the Circuit Court in this town
have revealed singular story.
Throughout the civil war this back
woods acknowledgements is forty miles
from the nearest rzilroad--was debst-
able ground. 1t was harried alike oy
iederals and confederates, and, worse
than all, by the guerillas, who claimed
either flag, as it suited their conven-
fence, and robbed the friends OF both
alike.
In the early days OF the war a party OF
guerillas, who were mainly OF confeder-
ate sympathy, made their headquarters
In Bennett township, In this county.
From that vicinity they made many
raids throughout the surrounding coun-
try, and often attacked attachments OF
federal troops.
One OF the boldest and most dashing
OF the guerillas was young fellow
named Jack Mason, who said he was
from Tennessee. But Of his family and
antecedents he told his companions
nothing. He was slender In form and
effeminate In face and manner. But
these circumstances were attributed to
his extreme youth. His enterprise and
bravery in battle prevented his COM
panions from commenting upon his
girlish appearance.
One day a smart" skirmish between
the guerllas and federal troops was
fought. Jack Mason was wounded In
the shoulder aud fell from his horse.
His companions picked him up and car
ried him off with them. But he was so
severely wounded that the rude surgery
Of the camp was not sufficient. A
friendly farmer named John Ortiz took
the wounded youth into his house and
Mrs. Orth nursed him.
Mason had not been In the house OF
the Orths long before they discovered
that their wounded guest was girl in
disguise. The girls wound, though not
serious. was painful and slow in heal.
ing. She was in bed several months,
aud a. that simo baby girl was born.
When the mother became strong and
= ell she suddenly disappeared from the
home of the Orths, leaving her BABY.
She left also a considerable sum OF
money and some jewels, and note
directing that they be used for the bsn-
eft OF the baby.
The Orths adopted the little girl, and
she grew to womanhood, married pros
porous young farmer named MAYHEM,
and is now the mother OF two children.
Mayhew owned some land in this
county, which he sold. Later a ques-
ton OF title came up, and his wife was
summoned as witness. In the course
of her testimony she told tho strange
story OF her abandonment by her
mother, the disguised soldier. Local
newspapers printed the facts, and they
were reprinted in newspaper At Knox
Vile, Tenn.
Recently q middle aged but good look
Ing woman arrived here. She said she
| was Mrs. John Mason, who lived near
Knoxville, Tenn, and that Mrs Mayhem
| was her daughter. Then she told her
story. She said she was the disguised
soldier, Jack Mason. She had run away
| from her home in Tennessee and had
married a young man against the will oil
her parents. Afterward she became
Jealous of her husband and deserved
| him. Ashamed to return home, she had
] put on mems clothes and joined the
guerrIllas.
When she left the house OF the 0rths,
she said, she intended to return and
claim her baby. but when she reached
East Tennessee she fell into fever and
was never afterward able to locate the
place where the Orths resided. She and
her husband were united, and they ad-
vertised extensively for the child, but
heard nothing.
Mrs. Mason was overioyed at finding
her daughter, Mrs. Mayhem.