Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-10-21
SPY WHO TOOK ATLANTA.
II Has Never Been Known whether
1t Was Man or Woman.

1t Has Never Been Known whether
1t Was Man or Woman.
In the spring of 1864 Atlanta was full
of Johnston's officers and soldiers. An
uneasy feeling prevailed in every cir
Gle, and it was feared that the federals
might any day make forced march or
q raid and surprise the city.
Still the people faced the situation
courageously. They had passed through
so many dangers that they were not
easily frightened The sullen boom of
Sherman's big guns could be heard
40 miles away, but Atlanta maintained
her usual serenity outwardly and gave
no sign of her secret misgivings.
The theater was then on it's last legs,
but occasional performances were lib
orally patronized. One of the star at
fractions in a strolling company at that
time was pretty black-eyed young
woman, about 20 years old, who carried
the town by storm.
The girl was wonder. She was
equally at home in tragedy and com
edy. She could sing and dance, and
when she took male part in aplay she
was a bowling success.
A better aLl-round artist had never
visited Atlanta, and that was the gen
eral verdict.
When she told her story it excited
sympathy She was creole of Louisi-
ana, and her family had been murdered
by raiding party of Buffers troops.
She had taken refuge in the confed-
eracy, and, having no relatives or
friends, she had decided to use her rare
dramatic gifts and earn her own living.
The story made the pretty actress very
popular, and she was patronized in
social way by leading citizens,
Young officers took her out driving,
and generals and colonies showed her
over the Notifications, which were then
nearly finished. The creole's curios-
ity about such matters charmed the
military men, and it afforded them the
greatest possible pleasure to answer
her questions and explain every doubt
full point
Several weeks rolled by, and when her
company disbanded the actress re-
NAMED in Atlanta. She established her
self at a popular boarding house and
| told her friends that she needed rest
before going on the Richmond stage.
She received great deal of attention
and was practically the belle of the
army. The lines were closing around
the city, but the creole charmer still
fingered. The officers of Johnston's
army were at her feet. They sent her
costly presents, and every fine day they
might have been seen riding with her
along the lines of breastwork.
Suddenly the actress disappeared. The
military men were nearly crazy because
they could not trace her, but the ladies'
Of the city did not seem to regret her
departure-in fact they limited that she
was no better than she should be. The
month of June slipped by, and there
were no tidings from the missing star.
Then came July, and with it the begin
ming of the siege.
At such critical time people soon
forget the favorite of the footlights,
and at the end of the 40 days Smelling
people were thinking of far more inn
portant matters. The siege was over
at last and the federals marched in.
One morning western corps com
mander with his staff rode through the
city and took look at the fort&ications
At his side was small, dark-faced,
black-eyed young man. who acted as
his guide and pointed out various
things of interest. A prominent At
larta man met this youngster face to
face, and his surprise caused him to
stand almost paralyzed in his tracks.
He was the pretty actress who had
turned the heads of so many officers.
The strangers eyes met those of the
Atlanta man and snapped viciously.
Then a hooking smile spread over his
piquant face, and his glance was plain
ly one of recognition. The Georgian
spoke guardedly to several of Sher-
mans officers about the mysterious
young man, but they gave very little
satisfaction. Finally it was learned
that he was a famous personator of
male and female characters on the
French stage in New York city.
But was he a man or a woman? No
body could answer this question; but
he or she, as the case might be, was one
of the most successful spies who had
ever served the union cause. The mys-
terry of this persons sex remained uD'
solved.-Chicago Chronicle.