Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-11-02
Y JEFF. DAVIS IN PRISON
Charles 5. Tripler's story OF His Pleasant
Life ut Fort Monroe.

.%.A0 ~ oAt ttsNas1's
From the San Francisco Alta.
was in 1865 First Lieutenant in
the Twelfth United States Infantry,
and in the absence OF my Captain,
commanded Il Company of the First
Battalion of that regiment. Early in
October was ordered to Fort Monroe,
and reported for duty to Gen. n. A.
Miles. My rank as Lieutenant sub.
jected me to detail as officer OF the
guard, as such had for the twenty
four hours OF my detail immediate
charge OF our distinguished prisoner,
my orders being mot TO allow him out
OF my sight during my tour OF duty
MIR. Davis was confined to room in
Carroll Hall, which was designed as
quarters for Lieutenants, who are en-
Titled to two rooms only, so all the
rooms, except the mess hall and Ii.
brary, are in suites of two rooms each.
The doorways were all grated with
iron, and sentry walked before each
on a pile OF cocoa mating some four
inches thick The officer OF the guard
| WttS ttob dliONFd w ltfthc tIlt EOpil
unless relieved by the officer oil
the day, nor to sleep at all
during his twenty-four hours OF
duty. The grated windows were lock
ed, the keys being in the custody OF the
officer OF the day, As was the custom
on my first day OF duty as officer OF
the guard | was introduced by my
predecessor to MIR Davis, thus; MIR
Davis, MIR. Tripler oil the Twelfth Mr.
Davis said: Are you Stuart Trip
| ler?h | said: "ies SIR He then
said he remembered my grandmother
Mrs, Hunt and had very pleasant
recolleetions OF my father Sturgeon
Tripler OF the army. We had that
| first day no further conversation un.
til the time came for his daily walk
| around the parapet. At that tim .
/ the officer OF the day came accompan-
| led by two negro prisoners, unlocked
/ the door, when MIR. Davis dressed III
| snutf.colored clothes, with Il Raglan
| ovefcoat and q soft high crowned,
black felt hat, stepped INTO my room
Gen. Miles entered mt this time with
the daily papers. which were placed on
table IN Mr.. DIS room. The prison
i Us GotlllllEllIEtl fll pIltf III NIfdIt UIl tue
| room, and We left in the following OF.
der: MIR. Davis and officers OF the
guard, ten PAGES behind two sentries.
IA couple OF PAGES behind them the oil
ticer OF the day, and lastly. some dis
tance OFF, Cen. Miles strolled along
i reading
We took our time, and MIR Davis.
| by his Instructive and most enter.
| tanning conversation. rendered this il
most delightful duty He seemed to
| know everything. He had the unlisn.
al faculty of drawing u young man ont
and making him show his best side.
i We would sometimes stop abreast oil
the water battery, in front oftheeoui-
manding officers quarters. and rrcline
on the crest OF the works. where he
| would relate pleasant stories III the
| old army, ask after common friends.
and often give me points it, my pro-
feSsion which were Invaluable 10
| show how small matter H. would
4 notice and speak OF, there were 4
I number of trees growing along one Of
the fronts OF easements which bore
clusters Of white berries. Mr. In.
ris said Lieut. Tripler. saw
you riding lcr-looking horse he
other day but il il out OF condition.
Those berries you see there are one az
tn. best condition medicines know
| Of. and you can lind them all over the
4 south: remember that; itS worth
knowing Tn onrreturn pr Cooper
| servant came in With Mr. Davis
| lunch. All his meals we're supplied
from DIR. Cooper. tabi.. and Mrs.
/ Cooper was notable housewife, and
the markets of Fort Monroe we're
well supplied: you may be sure Mr..
Davis did not suffer. The only re-
| quest he ever made me during the
time | was stationed there Wa
TO bring him lew apples each
time | came on guard. which
lid. ! rather think lie asked
me for he sake OF letting me think I
was doing him favor in return Tor
his exceeding kindness to my grand
mother when he was secretary Of war
He could make q request ii such d way
that yoH felt he had conferred i favor
onyou II preferring II
G.G. Clay was confined in the rooms
directly beneath MIR Davis, but had
Mrs. Clay with him, and was not
guarded as Mr. Davis was. Mrs. CLAW
used to send sometimes u pitcher Of
punch to Mr.. Davis. My orders not
forbidding II. the pitcher Mas always
passed III, Mr.. Davis was supplied with
good cigars by his friends. | know
they were good, because Il Davis re-.
marked that smokers are gregarious
and can't enjoy cigar alone, and
offered me one nearly every night after
he had assumed his most satanic.
looking night robes-he wore Il red
flannel ni-btgown. zap and drawers.
lie waa nerrr annoyed. inSuIted. or
worried during his stay. Gen. Miles
wascoldly civil, and others "ofIiciaEly
polite. I.pcrhapS .aud "a was natnrai
was more kindly disposed, bnt j never
exceeded my instructions. Think Mr.,
Davis will himself give the lie to the
exaggerated accounts 81 his sufferinps.
Imprisonment Is not pleasant under
thcmost favorable circumst ances. and
no fallen chief Of great movement
could have expected or received more
con-iderate treatment than did Mr..
Davis.