Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-03

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COLONEL GEORGE w. ALEXANDER
Grom a photograph taken five years aftei
the war;
which he had taken part made him SO.
Everybody had heard OF the capture or
the ST. Nicholas, which. as 1t was on its
way from Washington TO Norfolk. laden
with valuable commodities, was entered
by Colonel Zarvona Thomas, Captain
Alexander, and a picked set of men. all
in disguise. as passengers. some OF them
In women's apparel, and at a concerted
moment the party threw off their dis
guise. captured the officers and crew. ana
brought the vessel to Fredericksburg.
where its contents were eoid. and ieaIlzcd
some time afterwards $1,000 In gold.
Everybody recolected. TOO. that snort
time afterwards Captain Alexander was
captured by the Federal forces in Mary
land and incarcerated in Fort Mchehry'
near Baltimore. and how. after some
months suffering. in that Federal fort,
he made his escape In manner when
greatly attracted public attention ana
aroused public sympathy. lie happened
to have that greatest blessing that God
ever vouchsafes 10 mana true, NOBLE
courageous, little wife-who determined 10
release her husband from captivity. in
furtherance OF her design she got per
mission to visi, him at Fort McHenry'
whittier she went carrying with her a
suit OF Federal uniform. concealed under
her dress. she prevailed upon him TO don
this suit and make his escape Near night
the Captain, thus equipped. left his cell.
passed some Of the sentinels, but, being
discovered by one of them, who fired at
him, he leaped over the wall INTO the
river. and. although he had badly spralned
his ankle in the fall. swan TO Baltimore
where he was concealed for some time py
his friends. until finally. after inuch
difficulty. he escaped TO Richmond. Here
ne was received with great cordiality by
Governor Letcher, who at once gave MN
a commission Of captain IN the Virginia
forces. and General Winder, the military
commandant OF Richmond soon after
wards appointed him assistant provost
marshal OF Richmond and gave him the
command OF the Confederate prisons.
CAPTAIN ALEXANDER'S DOG.
Well do the people Of Richmond OF that
day remember him in his tight-ntting SUIT
of black trousers, buckled at the knees;
his black stockings and black loose shirt,
relieved only by a white collar, win MS
long, black whiskers flowing IN the WIND
riding at full gallop on his black horse
along our streets, with his large, mashii-
heels. III, -.
A short history OF this dog viii not
be out OF place or uninteresting. Sihce
the war have seen many accounts pun
lished in our papers about him. an Vi
which, in some particulars, were hicoi-
rect. | heard during the war from 'ne
Hon. James Lyons and Mayor Joseph
Mayo the history of Nero. and VIII give
IL as II was related to rue by them-
10
10 Richmond, a puppy. by the captain OF
n Bayarian vessel which landed AT
Rockets. The captain gave the puppy
10 Mr.. John Allen. of the firm or Gihter
& Allen. Mr.. Allen gave him TO Mr'
James Lyons, Mr.. Lyons allowed Joe
Mayo. the Mayor OF the city, to take him
and keep him in the city jail. as sort
OF guard. because he was too large ana
ferocious-looking to be permitted to 80
at large. When Captain Alexander came
10 Richmond he saw Nero In the city jail
and was greatly struck at his size ana
beauty. He persuaded MIR. Mayo, with
Mr. Lyons's consent. 10 allow MIN 10
take Nero to Castle Thunder. and there
he remained until the close OF the war.
He was OF the breed known as the Ba-
varian boar hound--dogs used for hunting
the wild boar In Bavaria and in the
interminable forests OF Germany. The
wild boar Is one of the strongest and most
CONTAGIOUS OF animals and does not fear
even the terrible tiger. In India sports
men have come across bears and tigers
dead the latter bearing the marks OF
the boar's terrible tusks. When aroused
and brought to bay the eyes of the wild
boar look savage and glow Ike red-hot
charcoal Their strength Is sufficient TO
rush beneath horses belly and bear him
and the rider on his back sheer or his
legs. and sometimes their tusks are
seven inches long.
NERO A NOBLE SPECIMEN.
1t was TO hunt such game as this that
Nero's noble progenitors were used. and
truly he was q noble specimen OF his
lordly race. He weighed l& pounds. and
was well able to enter the combat with
such d foe Visitors at the Castle were
amazed at him. and their spontaneous ex-
carnations at sight OF him would be:
Goodness! What splendid dog?' lie
was permitted to run about the Castle
as he pleased. and was great favorite
with the prisoners. Ordinarily he was
good natured. playful. and docile. bu;
when angered or provoked he was terrible
looking. and dangerous. ! have seen
Captain Alexander whip him with horse
whip. at the same time have a cooked
revolved In his other hand. which occa-
sionally he would fire over his head.
and then he appeared the very impetson-
auon OF ferocity subdued by the will Of
man. After the city fell into the hands
Of the Federal troops and Castle Thunder
was vacated. Nero took up his abode
with Mr.. stephen Chiidrey. who had been
,commtssary OF the prison. and while
there had generally had him fed Some
time In the summer OF 1855 some Yankees
took the dog and carried him through
the Northern States and exhibited him
- show TO the people. Flaming adver-
usementa were posted about him. He was
said 70 be the dog which was kept at
LIBBY Prison 10 eat Yankee prisoners,
and his qualities. disposition, and I'm
mense size were set forth in srandiio-
quent style. This. Of course, attracted
public attention. and much money was
realised from his exhibition. Mr.. Chill
Grey. who accompanied him on this north
ern tour. returned home some six months
thereafter and he told me that his share
OF the profiss was 5000.
FOND OF THE DRAMA.
Captain Alexander. when IN Richmond
was very fond of theatrical performances.
He wrote several plays. which were acted
at the Richmond Theatre. One OF these.
1.-The Virginia Cavalier" was Z great
favorits with the people during the war.
and Il ran for the unprecedented time Of
10 nights. consecutiyely. at the Theatre.
In one Of the scenes Captain Alexander
sp1sass6 for . short time. mounted on