The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-11-17
PLOT In BALTIMORE.
UNION MEN WE'RE PREPARED TO
BURN THE CITY IN 1861.

During the llrsb year Oh tne War,
grizzled colonel remarked, while recall
ing incidents of the great rebellion,
"busincss connected with the recruiting
and euuipping of volunteers in Pcnnsyl-
vania took me frequently to Washing
ton. and. as the hotels in that city soon
became crowded and uncomfortable,
made IL custom to- stop mt Barnum's,
in Baltimore, remain overnight there
and run over to the capital early In the
morning, and thus | passed many
nights during 1861 i'm the famous old
hotel of the Monumental City. Near il
was large tobacconist's shop, where
discovered superior grade of cigars
was sold and of this shop became
regular customer Ordinarily was
served by young salesman, but fire.
luently saw in the shop an old gentle.
man who, presumed was the proprie-
tor One day was rather surprised by
the old gentleman's stepping forward
to wait on me himself. After was
served he said:
If you are not in n hurry, sir.
would be pleased to have you walk into
my private office and have smoke.
81 readily asscnted and he led the
way to room mt the 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 mo u large
split bottomed rocker, my host remark
ed.
Here, for many years, have been
accustomed to receive my friends, of
whom | had many, but am sorry to
say that now the number is sadly di-
minished.
Why SOP / asked.
Because of differences in opinion,
he replied. Il need not remind you of
the condition the whole country is in,
or tell you how completely men vary in
their ideas of duty. Nowhere is that va
rance greater than here in Baltimore,
and nowhere is there greater danger of
its leading to calamity.
You surprise me, exclaimed i
knew there was considerable secession
sentiment here, and that months ago IL
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 rs well for you to
be informed exactly what the situation
here is.
'Three-fourths Of the people Of Bal.
timore are intensely southern in their
feelings and prejudices All the slave.
holders are SO, and they are 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 uglies who are willing and
ready to do anything that looks like re.
sistance to constituted authority. Now,
! 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
ry Baltimore certainly, and Maryland
~ POSciDicb Oub VI tue IL.
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
~.
is had with the Confederate leaders in
Virginia. and thev are waiting only for
adefinite, tangible opportunity to strike
Such an opportunity would come If the
Confederate army made an advance to-
ward Washington-a thing they 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 mp his
victory.
What asked, do you Union
men propose to do If the movement you
anticipate is nader
BURN the city, he replied Just
90 certainly as the Russians burned
Moscow will we burn Baltimore IL 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 is?' he asked, taking
from closet q ball Of tow, cotton, or
oakum about the size Of large cocoa.
nut. 1T is fire ball. thoroughly satu-
rated with turpentine. Plenty of these
are ready, and at an understood signal
they will be lighted and thrown where
they will certainly prove effective. Oh,
we know well enough that we cannot
resist the organized rebels, but you can
rely upon it that only the ruins Of Bal
timore will ever become part of the
slaveholding Confederacy.'
II never saw my old Union loving
tobacconist after that evening, for not
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