Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-10-23
Copyright, 1895, by the Author.
CHAPTER <.

after 30 years, and has long forgiven
me for the bullet l lodged in him in
1878. A few years after arresting me in
the West Indies he went to San Fran
cisco and started private inquiry office
of his own at S2S Montgomery street
When, after 20 years incarceration, ar
rived there one lovely May day in 1892,
he was waiting for me at the ferry and
gave me warm greetings, and as hearty
congratulations, too, as any man could
give another, then introduced me to
his friends everywhere, and, in fact,
from the hour of my arrival until my
departure. three months afterward. was
never tired Of doing me service and
forwarding my business, so that, by his
kind offices / made great success out
of what, by reason Of the great financial
depression, might otherwise have proved
failure. But as Captain Curtin, after
effecting my arrest, having recovered
from his wound, was one Of the four
who took me to EnglHnd, ! will wait
until later chapter to tell how it was
he discovered my name and located me
in Cuba.
There was not a single cloud on the
horizon in Havana, but it was soon to
blow hurricane. My wife had sent out
invitations to dinner for Thursday to 30
friends. There was then steamer in
the harbor advertised to sail in two
days for Mexico, ard I had thought of
going by her. HaG we, this narrative
would never have been written.
AS invitations were out for Thursday
I concluded to wait for Saturdays
steamer, but determined to sail on that
day without fail
On the day Of our dinner I was
strongly tempted to give some hint to
my wife that / was in some way entan-
gled in web, but as she was so happy
could not do it, but resolved to wait
until we were settled in Mexico, and
then to tell her little, but not all the
truth.
Ny wife. all unconscious Of the
frightful calamity impending, entered
upon the last half day Of happiness she
was to know for many long years. The
same statement would be true Of my
self. As the guests were arriving I was
in happy vein. and in the same happy
frame of mind sat down to dinner;
Twenty happy mortals, but not one di-
vined the termination of that dinner
party, least Of all the proud and happy
hostess. 1t was great success, and at
8 was drawing to close. The long
windows were open, while the warm
breeze from the nearby gulf was pour
ing through the room. The clock had
Just chimed the quarter, when there
came a sudden rush Of feet over the We
randa and through the hall All eyes
were fixed on the open door leading to
the hall, when an eager, resolute faced
man, evidently an American, stepped
with firm pace into the room, follow
ed by a dozen civilians and soldiers.
With quick glance over the company
his eyes rested on me, and coming di-
rect to my chair, while my guests stared
in amazement, he bowed and said in
low voice: "Mr. Bidwell, I am sorry to
disturb your dinner party or to annoy
you in any way, but am forced to tell
you have warrant in my pocket for
your arrest upon charge Of forgery
upon the Bank Of England. The war
rant is signed by the captain general Of
Cuba Everything is in due form, and
you are my prisoner. I am John Curtin
of the Pinkerton force"
Every man who enters the arena and
joins in the struggle Of life has more or
fewer takedowns in his history. But
my wish is that between this hour and
my last I may have no more takedowns
so near the freezing point as this was. I
shall never forget the look on my wife's
face. First she gazed at the intruders
with indignation, then turned to me
with look of eager expectation, as
much as to say, "Wait till my husband
raises his arm and you will all go
down" But instead Of seeing me rise
indignant and angry, driving the in
truders out, she saw me talking quite
calmly to Curtin. Then her face grew
deadly white. None Of the guests heard
Captain Curtin s words; but, as will be
easily imagined, there was a painful
silence, which I broke by standing up
and saying that there was some unhap-
py mistake; that I was arrested upon
the charge Of furnishing arms to the in
surrectionists in the eastern provinces.
I requested my friends to withdraw at
once and everything would be explained
on the morrow.
There were five soldiers present, Mr..
Crawford, the English consul general,
and Captain Curtin, my servant Num-
being in custody of the latter. 1t was q
strange and unhappy scene, and every
one felt extremely awkward and i'll at
ease, especially the writer. In the rear
of the dining room was large sitting
room, where kept my valuables in
trunks and did my writing. turned to
Curtin and said. "Will you come in the
other room?" Certainly" he replied
without the slightest hesitation. The
room was brilliantly lighted. Motion
ing him to a seat, I said:
"Will you have glass of wine?"
eyes, but 1 never drink anything but
Cliquot, replied the captain pleasantly.
A servant brought in bottle and
glasses, and I turned the conversation
upon the subject of money. The captain,
being stranger to me, guided by for
mer experiences with Irving & Co.,
fancied might be bribed. Sometimes
the police are susceptible to this form Of
temptation, and was at bay and des'
perate. 1 intended to offer him fortune
for bribe. If he refused to take it,
resolved to shoot him and dash out Of
H. ...;,,do.r for at my alhnX was ar