The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1895-02-08
M..hlnrten In Msr.IIme.

10 an unusual degree Of intimacy
with Lincoln. has n chapter Of remin'
isccnces In the Century. Mr.. Brooks
says
IL il impossible In these days, 40 re-
mote from the oxcitements Of the
civil war, 10 give readers Of the later
generation any adequate idea OF the
unensiness that pervaded Washington
or Of the morbid sensationalism that
characterized the conversation and
conduct Of the ioyAlists who were
constantly haunted by suspicious OF
secret plotting all about them. One
evening. while was sitting with the
president In his cabinet, Professor
Henry. then In charge Of tho Smith
sonlan institution. came In for a social
chat with tho president The conver.
sation ran upon various unimportant
themes, and presently a card was
brought In by the doorkccpor, who
said that the man In waiting was ex-
trcmcly mr. gent 10 see the president,
as he had matters Of pressing Import
ance 10 communicate. lie was brought
into the room, and proved 10 be a
modest shopkecpcr whose home was
not far from the Smithsonian institu.
tion. CHANGING uncasily at the presl-
dents two visitors, whom he evident
ly did not know, no said his business
was very Important aud should be
kept secret The president assured
him that Professor Henry and
myself were 10 be trusted with any
business Of state however secret II
might be. and genially encouraged
his visitor 20 speak out without fear
Of being betrayed In case the weighiy
matter which he carried on his mind
was Of an explosive character The
man went on 20 say that he had fro.
quently observed lights shown from
one Of tho towers Of the Smithsonian
institution late at night lie had no.
tioed that these lights invariably
made their appearance about the
same time tat mldnlghD, and he was
confident that the person displaying
them was carrying on oontraband
correspondence with the rebels by
means OF signals The president,
with great gravity, closely examined
the witness. but elected nothing
more from him than the fact that the
lights were actually shown.
The president said 80 YOU sus.
peot anybody In the Smithsonian iu-
stltutlon7"
"No," replied the witness, ~ do not
know ANYBODY inside Of that instltu-
ton. Hut have heard that Professor
Henry IA a Southern man and n rebel
sympathlzer,"
With that the president turned TO
Professor Henry, and, with admirable
command Of countenance, said; This
IA Professor Henry; perhaps he will
be able 10 answer for himself" The
look Of diGmay on the countcnance Of
the visiting witness was so grotesque
that the president could not restrain
his laughter Professor Henry. who
was somewhat disturbed by this OK
preston Of suspicion on the part OF
the well meaning. but mistaken
unionist very briefly disposed OF his
tale. lie explained that tho scientific
instruments used 10 ascertain the d.
rcction and force Of tho wind, tom.
pcrnture. etc, were examined at ccr-
tain hours OF the day aud night for
the purpose Of taking their record.
and that tho supposed slgnal.light In
tho Smithsonian tower was the Ian.
tern carried to tho observatory at
midnight by the attendants who made
sh.aa .kg.rVuNtnus guu,...sh.t ....,
fallen. the visitor withdrew, the pres,
idcnt thanking him for his vigilance
and wcll.mean MT rromptncss In re.
porting this Incident, and adding. as
the man departed, III you should
see any indications Of rebel con.
splracy In Washington, you will do
the country real service by reporting
at once TO headquarters"
The frequent appearance In Wash
ington Of parolled rebel officers, who
usually wore their own uniform with
evident pride and pleasure, aud some
times with swaggcr. generally
threw loyallsts into fever Of excite.
ment More than once | saw ultra.
loyal ncwsboys or boot, blacks throw
u lump Of mud or brickbat at the
passing Confederate. One OF these
officers, Lieutenant Gurnett being
on parole, sent In his card to Repre-.
sentative Wiekliife, OF Kentucky, aud
was by him introduced upon the floor
of the house, where he attracted at.
tentlon, as well as Indignation, from
thu members present Presently n
wave OF excitement seemed to sweep
over tho galleries, the spectators
being yisibly affected by the appear
ance OF an officer In full Confederate
uniform sitting ON ono OF tho sofas OF
the house OF representatives Thl,
was intensified when doorkeepeI
spoke 10 the visitor, who rose from
his seat, gave profound and sweep.
ing bow, and withdrew to the outer
corridor IL appears that tho door
keeper had told the Confederate thai
Il was contrary to the rules OF tn,
mouse for him TO be present
"Cods flag"
As one OF the brlgades Of the re
serve corps which came up 20 the es-
cue OF General Thomas at ChiclSa
manga was marching through In,