The National tribune., 1896-06-25
STORY OF A spy.
Pauline Cushman Recalled by a Comrade
E to Whom She Did Service.

i Pauline Cushman Recalled by Comfaue
l. to Whom She Did Service.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Pauline
Cpshman was to the Union army during the
rebellion what Belle Boyd was to the Con-
federates. She had checkered career, like
the other, and an age Of poverty and disap-
pointment, such as fell to Belle Boyd's lot.
Many exciting episodes were crowded into a
life which was by choice one of variety and
adventure. She was a creature of impulse
and followed her hayward faucies to many
extremes Naturally, an actress who became
in war times spy appeared in contradictory
lights to different people. To some she was
all light and 10 others all shadow.
Pauline Cushman was born in New Or
leans of mixed French and Spanish parent
age in 1888, and went on the stage at an
early age. Her love of excitement led her
into an act of bravado which colored her
whole after-lfe. Early in 1868 she was the
leading lady i'll a theatrical company then
playing at Woods Theater, Louisville, KY,
which was then full of paroled rebel officers.
As Miss Cushman was native of New Or
| leans the Contederates naturally supposed
| that she sympathized with the rebel cause,
| and showed her much attention.
One night the company was playing The
4
dressed in uniform, drank toast to the
success of the Union. She electrified her
audience instead by proposing this toast
Here's TO jeff Davis and the Southern Con-
federacy. May the South always maintain
her honor and her right"
At once the theater was in an uproar.
| The Southern sympathizers cheered, while
the loyal portion of the audience rose in
| wrath and broke into angry cries OF dlsap-
| proval. The daring actress was immedi-
| ately placed under arrest for uttering such
| reasonable sentiments, but was shortly re-
| leased and sent TO Nashville. There she
repeated her Louisville performance, and
| was Immediately sent into the Confederate
| lines, where she embarked on her dangerous
mission of gathering news concerning the
! strength and movements Of the rebel forces
and forwarding the same to the Union COM
manders.
How Miss Cushman came to deliver that
celebrated toast has been the subject Of dis
| agreement. Some accounts say that rebel
officer offered her $500 if she would do it,
and she in a spirit of bravad0 accepted the
challenge with little thought or care Of the
consequences. After her arrest Gen. Boyle,
then in command at Louisville, saw in the
incident means of gaining secret informa-
ton from inside the rebel lines, and availed
himself of it by employing the daring act
ress his agent.
Miss Cushmans own story is that when
she was challenged to give the toast she
first informed Gen. Boyle, and suggested the
subsequent program which she followed
with such signal address and success.
The fair spy at first found everything to
her hand. She was lionized and affclled
many opportunities for carrying out her
mission But shehgas suspected after time
and captured by Gen.. John Morgan, the
noted raider, who turned her over to Gen.
Forrest. She underwent a severe ordeal at
the hands of Forrest, who came near hang
ing her, but delivered her to Gen. Bragg in
stead. While awaiting court-martial she
fell sick with Jail fever, and while she lay
i'll the place was abandoned, leaving her
once more in the Union. lines.
Gen. Garfield, Gen. Rosecrans's Chief-of-
Staff, was so impressed with her services that
he brevetted her Major" and, on his repre-
sensations, President Lincoln warmly in
dorsed the title, which appears to have been
purely honorary. I
While Miss Cushman was performing the
hazardous feats as spy, she had husband
in the army. This was Charles c. Dicken-
son, a musician, whom she married while on
the stage. Several children were born of
this union, but they all died when quite
young. According TO Mrs. Flyers own
statement, four OF them died in one day Of
diphtheria. After the death of her husband
and children, Miss Cushman took TO the
platform, and lectured in many parts of the
country on her war experiences. She came
to this State more than 90 years ago, and
after leading somewhat irregular life for
some years. married Jerry Fryer, who was
subsequently elected Sheriff Of Pinal County,
Ariz, where he now resides. This union did
not turn out happily, and few years ago
she left her husband and came to this city.
Alter n long struggle she got pension from
the time of her husbands death and for her
children up to the date of her marriage with
Fryer, but it did not amount to much.
The ex-spy finally came to such pass
that she endeavored to secure entrance to
some charitable institution.
Mrs. Fryer finally died at her boarding
place on Dec. 2, 1893. There was a sus-
piciOn that her death was due to morphine
poisoning, but whether by accident or sui
cidal intent is not known. Nothing was
found in her room to indicate that she had
taken her own life. She left no scrap of
writing that gave such an impression, and |
she was yOluminous writer.
The day before she died she wrote a letter |
to Mrs. Florence Tillman, Florence, Ariz., !
stating that Mrs. Tiimau would soon see |
her in Arizona. This letter, stamped and |
was found among her effects. |
There were other letters written and di- |
rected, which had not been mailed. All Of |
them were respondent in tone, but spoke of
future plans in way TO forbid the idea of |
suicide. 1t was believed that she took the |
morphine to relieve pain for she continually
suffered from rheumatism.
At one time lived at the same boarding
place with her, and when | became crippled
by an accident she was the first one that put
a bandage on my foot. | had IN opportunity
to get personally acquainted with her. She
had a checkered life, but truer and better
hearted woman never lived.-J. c., San
Francisco.
Flag Day.