The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-16
MAJOR ELOKKE'S LOST REVOLVER
A Relic of the War Returned
to Its Owner.
The Way 1t Was Lost and How
Regained.
a Thrilling Escape From an Ambus-
csde-rhs WoundIng of Captain
Kovnts-An InterestIng
Rem niscence.

There arrived in this city yesterday,
fer Maj. E. F. G. Klokke, revolver to
which is attached something of his
tory. It is q decided instance OF held
by the enemy, as for 80 years it was kept
in the far south before being finally sent
to its owner. However, the weapon
will not need to be acclimsted, as it re-
posed in the balmy preezes of Florida.
Major K|okke was probably az happy
over the receipt OF the pistol as if be had
sold @ l0.acrs tract without water at
Csjcn Pass. He ia quite an enthusiastic
man and when q HERALD representative
called at his office on South Broadway
yesterday afternoon and stated that he
had heard OF the pistol, Maj. Klokke at
once warmed up and proceeded to re-
late in Enthusiastically graphic style
iuet how the pistol had been lost.
That's it," he said, producing from
his deck q revolver in d black leather
hols'er. The reporter examined the
weapon and found it to be about 49,
calber Colts, old model. 1t was in ex-
cellent condition. On the metal of the
grip was some lettering which pro-
CLAIMED that the weapon mad been pre-
sented to Lieutenant Kiokke by friends
in Chicago, April 81, 1861.
ut was given to me-" continued Maj.
Klokk "by friend who was killed at
the head of his company in the fights
before Richmond"
Tell something about the circum.
stances of your losing the revolver"
"Well, when | went into the Union
army | was lieutenant, and was finally
breyeted major, but never mind that,
its got nothing TO do with our story. |
think it WAS about July 10, 1862, that
Was at Jasper. Tenn, with battalion.
The town is near the Tennessee river,
and was sent out with reconnciter-
ing party to observe the enemy.
ION returning to our troops | WAS met
by my commanding officer who said my
com pany was about mile down GER
tain road and if desired | could join it.
| started out on foot accompanied by
him, Captain Kovats, who was mounted.
''After going mile and half Cap
tain kovata, who was ahead, suddenly
stopped and stated that the enemy were
ahead of us as one of their pickets had
aimed q gun at him.
1--WE decided to retrace our footsteps
WDlCu m0 ulu lOE 8DVub CIV ySIue Wien
we encountered a soldier named Smith
who was mounted infantrynan, the
regiments then being allowed 20 men
who we're mounted. The captain told
Smith to go ahead and kill the first man
he saw. Smith then headed his horse
from where we had come, the captain
following him, while l came last as l
was on foot.
Suddenly Smith pointed his gun at
| the side of the road and fred, showing
| that the enemy were hidden in the
woods. In an instant we received q
whole battalion's fire in our faces. The
Iuad WAS very narrow, sDd Smith WAS
endorsed, as was Captain Kovats.
81 Immediately threw myself behind
a stump" here Major Klokke jumped
out of his chair and crowded behind an
other one in the office.
II drew my revolver" he went on.
at the same time reaching and getting
the relic from the table, land waited
for the enemy to come on" Here the
narrator, who was still crouching in his
enthusiasm, pointed the revolver at g
newsboy looking i'll at the window, who
Immediately bounded away.
Il felt sure" said Mr.. Klokke from
behind the chair, "that it was all over
and that would be captured. In a
little while | heard the captain calling
Lieutenant Klokkep l then decided to
risk it and jumped from behind the
stump and into the brush. Making my
way to Captain Kovats l found him on
the ground badly wounded.
Let me help you en- your horse and
you can get out of this" 1 said.
NO." he replied, 81 cannot sit up
and you mount and 20 for re-snforce-
ments."
well, didn't wait for second invi-
tation, got on the animal and set out for
camp"
BY this time Mr.. Klokke had resumed
his place in the revolving chair, but
still held on to the precious metal.
81 think that during my trip to the
captain and mounting, the revolver
must have dropped from the holder, as
that was the last ever saw OF it until
today.
"On returning with the troops the
captain was rescued all right, but Smith
had been captured. My company, 1t
seems. had gone in another direction.
81 heard nothing from the revolver
until ak years ago, when clippings from
Florida paper saying that Lawrence
Canova of Jacksonville. Fla, had the
weapon in his possession and would re-
turn it. l wrote, but nothing came of
it until several weeks ago. when | re-
ceived notice from the postmaster at
Pasadena, which also contained letter
to him from Mr.. Canovs asking for my
address. at once wrote to the latter
and received the following letter in re-
| ply, and also the letter, today:
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, May 7.
| e. F. G. Klokke, Los Angeles, Cal
| send you today by registered mail q
package containing your Icing lost re-
volver, captured by my father, A. b.
Canova, late lieutenant G. s. A., during
the late war of secession. l take great
pleasure in placing in your possession
this revolver, which bears your name,
and after being lost for nearly SO years.
| To you it will bring back thrilling
recollection when you and were ene-
mics, when you could see bullets in the
air. But, happily, the day of war has
passed. We have beaten the weapons
OF war into Implements of peace. am
sure you were true soldier and that
you fought brsvely for your rights, as
did my father for the southern cause.
note that you speak OF sending
me revolver in return. Do not feel
that you must do this. 1t is not sent
with this in view. Hoping you may get
| tho nronartv in dino rim q and To hoo =