The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-06-18
HISTORY OF A GOLD PIECE.
jefferson Davis HnA Ii When He
Was Captured in 1905.
W aShin"ton Post.

) WASHINGTON Post.
1t was q noticeable fact in connec-
tion with the recent exercises OF the
unveiling and dcdicating OF the Cen
cral Hancock statue that Gcncral
Miles. commander in chief Of the
army, who was in command Of the mill
itary parade, made |; decided change
in the personnel OF his stan officers for
the occasion.
When the war closed General Miles
was in command Of the first division OF
the Second Army Corps, which was
commanded by General Hancock. OF
tho half dozen officers then composing
General Milcss stail, four still survive,
! and these wore present, to take part in
the statue unvciling ceremonies. Ono
came oil the way from North Dakota,
another from Michigan, the third from
, Ohio. and the fourth from New York,
and they had not all been together be-
!; fore for twenty-five years.
When making up a list Of those who
should compose his statf for tho Occa-
sion, General Miles paid Il very grace
ful tribute to his old stail officers by
announcing that rs president OF the
Society Of the Second Army Corps and
the ranking officer under General Han
cock, he felt that he would be Justified
in choosing the few survivors Of his
old stan, to the exclusion of his pres
cnt staff. AS Il consequence, General
Miles marched on foot down Pcnnsyl-
vana avenue with the four members
of his former stan at the head of the
| parade, as they had SO often marched
or ridden on other far moro dangerous
| occasions more than thirty years be-
| fore.
General Nathan Church, the Michi-
gan representative Of the quartet Of
| the old officers, who rose from captain
to colonel OF the famous Twcnty-sixth
Michigan, and thea to assistant gene
raj and chief Of staff under General
Miles, showed with much pride while
in Washington a - gold piecc that has
u wonderful history. When General
| ]Church'S regiment was to be mustered
out in 1860, General Miles requested
the war department to allow him to re-
tain his chief Of staii in tho service,
which request was granted, and fer six
} mouths after his regiment had gone
homo, and until he declined to remain
longer, General Church was with Con
eral Miles ut Fort Monroe, their prin
G cipal duty being to guard their distin
+ gulshcd prisoner of var, Jcncrsol
= Davis.
Il When captured Mr.. Davis had in hi
II pocket tho gold piece in question an
IS Il Mexican silver dollar. Genera
b. Church procured other similar piece
|. and ELECTED an exchange for the tw
IS found in Mr.. Davis's pocket. Hc rt
G tanned the gold piece, and gave tn
c dollar to Major Black, the Dakot
; member OF the four who were proscr
= at the recent exercises, and who ha
o been his tent mate. a few month
a thereafter Major Black was shown
If his famous dollar at an evening gatl
IL ering, passing it from one to anothc
.s and ho has ever since mourncd for h
o lost treasure.
W General Church, however, had be
&c tor luck with his gold piece, and viii
ID he occasionally exhibited it TO h
le friends, carried it as ~ much-prizc
N pocket picco for twenty-five year
st when ho suddenly discovered that |
1g had unintcntionally paid it out instc;
1T OF another similar piece Of money
cy carried with it, but to whom he h,
IN not tho slightest recollection
an promptly directed tho cashier of /
to bank to lay aside any 50 gold pic
ICY bearing tho date of 1857 that mig
pass through his hands in the course
ice business, thinking there might be p'
9h- sibly ono chance in u million that t
trc valuable keepsake would soma til
try mako It's appearance. Six weeks
me forwards an old farmer dropped in q
ail- made a small deposit, when the cas-
Q {. icr said TO Mr.. Church Here sec
ON that's the gold piece you arc louki
OF tor.' Hc took it and was ovcrjoycd
nd, find the distinguishing marks he h
ng. placed upon tho coin when it first |
so Mr.. Davis's pocket and found its W
mt into his own. Since then the prccit
NO. piece has been kept carefully wrapl
,ws and safely secured against another d
in appearance.
>od While in Paris five or six wears a.
NV General Church was guest one ov,
no ing at the homo OF y wealthy fam
avs who had formerly resided in n
md York. In some way the hostess lea
til cd that ho had hclpcd to guard \
om Davis while he was u prisoner OF W
ecp and said, with much apparent satlsf
Gro tion st have Mexican dollar tt
md was taken from Mr.. Davis's pocket
be that timo which | valuo worry highl
ust Mr.. Church asked when and whore S
i've obtained it, and was told that it h
nd been presented to the lato Preside
'ge Andrew johnson, while he occup
ive the white house, and that sho bel
wn his near relative, it had fallen to |
NV aftor President JohnsOn's death. q,
ly. eral Church had no opportunity nor
les clinatjon then to explain what he KIN
nd of the old relic, but he has now had
M opportunity W personally IcIl Ma
en- Black where his lOng-lOst dollar
nd and he, too, may, like General Churt
cd come again in duo time into posscssi
Inn OF his own.
le. ..-.-------.1a'' 10 's'N'-----''--.~--'
10 Tho nature OF tho wind, aB lat,
defined by Professor Langley, OF t
ch Smithsonian Institution, Is not that
he an approximately uniform moving ms
u of air but Of q succession Of very bri
er pulsations varying in amplitude, al
on relatively to the mean movement
ry the wind in direction also. ON
lg launched into tho moan velocity of u
q wind, q flying machine could therefor
at he says-if it had the power to vary i
d. inclination - take advantage OF I'll
O. varying velocity and direction OF tn
I'd wind; falling With tho slower wind,
g, would accumulate the energy which
8. would have to expend in rising wit