Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-10-09
PLOT IN BALTIMORE.
UNION MEN WERE PREPARED TO
BURN THE CITY IN 1861.

BURN THE CITY IN 1861.
a Counter Movement to One which Il Wa
Believed Southern sympathixsrs HAd on
-Conhdential Disclosures Made By
the Old Tobaceonist.
During the first year Of the war;" q
grizzled colonel remarked, while recall
ing incidents of the great rebellion,
business connected with the recruiting
and equipping of volunteers in Pennsyl-
vania took me frequently to Washing
ton. and, as the hotels in that city soon
became crowded and uncomfortable,
made it custom to stop at Barnum's,
In Baltimore, remain overnight there
and run over to the capital early in the
morning, and thus / passed many
nights during 1861 in the famous old
hotel Of the Monumental City. Near it
was large tobacconist's shop, where
discovered a superior grade of cigars
was sold, and of this shop became o
regular customer. Ordinarily I was
served by young salesman, but fre-
quently saw in the shop an old gentle
man who, presumed, was the proprie-
tor. One day was rather surprised by
the old gentlaman's stepping forward
to wait on mo himself After was
served he said:
If you are not in a hurry, sir, I
woald be pleased to have you walk into
my private Office and have smoke
II readily assented, and he led the
way to a room at tho rear Of the store,
separated from it by glass partition,
plainly but comfortably furnished, and
having the appearance of long and ha-
bitual use. Pushing toward me large
split bottomed rocker, my host remark
ed:
Here, for many years. I have been
accustomed to receive my friends, of
whom l had many, but nm sorry to
say that now the number Is sadly di-
minished.
Why SOP asked
Because Of differences in opinion
he replied 4 need not remind you of
tho condition the whole country is in,
or tell You how completely men vary in
their ideas Of duty. Nowhere ia that va
rance greater than here in Baltimore,
and nowhere is there greater danger Of
its leading to n calamity
You surprise me, exclaimed. 4
knew there was considerable secession
sentiment here, and that months ago it
exhibited itself openly, leading to blood
shed on the streets, but thought all
that had passed away
BY no MEANS he replied. The
rebel sentiment in Baltimore is as in
tense and bitter today as it ever was
The apparent quiet is only on the sur
face. You are in the service of the
Union. and it may be as well for you to
DO informed exactly what tho situation
here is
"Three-fourths Of the people of Bal
t1more are intensely southern in their
feelings and prejudices All the slave
holders a-o so, and they arc the leading
citizens Following them is the class
which always toadies to what is consid-
cred the aristocracy, and after these
comes large disorderly element known
as the plug ugies, who are willing and
ready to do anything that looks like re.
sistance to constituted authority. Now,
l know beyond doubt that the leading
secessionists here are thoroughly organ
lied and are determined, the first favor
able opportunity that offers, to declare
openly for the new Confederacy and car
~ Baltimore certainly, and Maryland
If possible, out Of the Union
How Is all this to be done?' in
quired
Their plan is this: They know
every man upon whom they can RELY,
and their strength is we'll understood.
They have clubs organized, which meet
regularly. The leaders have control Of
plenty Of money. and supplies of arms
are available. Regular communication
Is had withhhe Confederate leaders in
Virginia, and they arc waiting only for
definite, tangible opportunity to strike.
Such IN opportunity would come if tho
Confederate army L go: .,ivance to-
ward Washington-a lAx hey expect
or should the Union army meet with
another serious reverse in the east. II
Beauregard had pursued Mcdowell after
the battle Of Bull Run, they would
have risen then, and many were the
curses heaped upon him for his failure,
as they expressed it. to follow up his
victory
What I asked, do you Union
men propose to do If the movement you
anticipate is nader
"'Burn the city. he replied Just
as certainly as the Russians burned
Moscow will we burn Baltimore If the
rebels here take it out Of the Union
How can You, so few comparative
ly In numbers, do this?'
well. sir. we, too, are organized
and for this one purpose In every part
Of the city preparations have been made,
and when the time comes 100 or more
fires will be started at once Do you
know what this tsp he asked, taking
from q closet n tow. noktom "a.