The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-09
DEATH ENDED THE CHASE.
4 Confederate officer Shot at His
Mothers Door.
From the Brooklyn Eagle.

From the Brooklyn Eagle
One of the most pathetic Incidents of the
war was related the other day to an Eagle
reporter by a man VINO was the hero OF it.
f. A. Easton, tall, stalwart Scotchman,
six feet in his stockings if he is an inch,
was a cavalry officer during the war. On
one occasion, down in Virginia, he was
sent along with two orderies with some
important dispatches. He was to avoid
the enemy, but otherwise to spare neither
horse nor man in his mission.
1t was a glorious night when the three
started out of camp. 1t was the first time
that Easton had been given a commission
of such an important character, and the
spirits of the little party rose as they can
tered on. The day dawned cheerily and
broke over the little town of Salem, which
nestled closely in a wooded plain fifteen or
twenty miles away. Suddenly from a thick
clump of trees close by there burst upon
the party a band of thirty or forty. con-
tederaie troopers, who gave a shout of
triumph as they sprapg at Capt. Easton
and his companions. The latter turned and
shot out at hard gallop for camp, while
Easton gave his horse her head for Salem.
The pursuers divided and the larger party,
headed by an impetuous young fellow,
splendidly mounted, dashed off after Eas-
ton, as like to be the more important can
ture, EastOn dug his spurs deep into his
horses side and the confederates clattered
angrily after him.
The pursuit grew hot and feverish and
an occasional pistol shot that whizzed past
Easton's ears reminded him that his pre-
clous dispatches were in jeopardy. Pres
enty he began to draw away from his pur-
Suers-all but their fiery young leader He
closed steadily up ON Easton while the lat
ters horse began to show symptoms of
distress. He called upon Easton TO surren-
der; EaSton replied with a harmless pistol
bullet and dug the still 6aana~ int,
his beast. The young fellow pressed hard
after the prize although his companions
had given up the chase AS the two clat-
tered madly into the main street of Salem
the rebels foaming horse was painting
feverishly at Easton's flank Steadving
himself for an instant he grabbed at the
union soldier. Easton shook him off there
was revolver click and a report and the
young rebel officer dropped from his sad
die dead. with a bullet through his brain.
EaSton drew up his Wearied horse for a
moment, sprang to his dead enemy's side
secured his two pistols and his sword and
dSrted off again And now the villagers
poured out OF their cottages and rushed to
the side of the man lying there so still.
with the sun beating fiercely down on the
features from which the glare of passion
and of hate had scarcely faded yet.
Presently a woman from house close nv
Joined the curious, awe-stricken group.
The crowd silently made way for her. She
glanced swiftly at the figure with had been
youth and then:
willie! Oh, my Willie" she cried
1t was several months later when Easton
and his troops found themselves in Salem
and 1t was only then that he learned of the
tragedy. He had never forgotten if IF
you are a good friend OF his and droD in tn
see him in his coy home he will if he
chances to be in the humor, draw YOU a
glass of the Scotch whisky punch which
he knows how to brew so well. and with
big, sympathetic heart tell you over again
the story of that eventful day in salem
when he shot the boy at his mothers door.
and then he will take you into his dra win,
room and show you on the wall the burn
lshed sword ana one of the well preserved
pistols that he took from his dead enemv,s
side iy