The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-12
Two GOOD MASON STORIES.
Signs That Saved Lives During War
Times.

Signs That Saved Lives During war
Times.
From the Chicago Times-Herald'
'JyncIe Davy Wells. who saved his life
nv a masonic sign, was the loudest-voiced
congressman Louisville ever had
There were two points in that remark
which indicated a story worth telling. 1t
was probed for, and the former resident
of Louisville responded with entire salts
faction.
Everybody in Uncle Davys district
knew him. His father bought his free
dom when boy He had many peculari-
ties including his loud voice. His ordl-
nary talk could be heard block away.
When he sang or shouted he could be
heard at least a mile, and he was IA
nous for singing. He was an expressman
for many years, and always had plenty
to do. People liked his good nature and
honesty, and most of the time his noise
was not so very Objectionable.
From his early boyhood Uncle Davy
was deeply interested in Masonry. a
Masonic parade, drill or funeral always
had DaVy as boy or young man, for an
inspector and admirer, and long before he
was old enough he declared, many times,
that he would become a Mason as soon as
he arrived at the proper ge. Hearing of
ored applicants, he massed his earnings
and started for the city of brotherly love
prepared to remain until he could sat
isfy his ambition. For weeks he worked
at anything he could find to do. Finally
he became acquainted with two or three
members of the lodge. They encouraged
him to believe he would be taken in, gave
him necessary information and in due
time he was introduced to the mysteries.
While his particular lodge was not recog-
nized by the white Masons, 1t was gcW
enough for him. Indeed, it filed his cup
of joy to OVERLOOKING.
"UnSe Davy was back in Louisville
when the war commenced. Like many of
his colored brethren, he was anxious to
be of service to the government. At that
time they were not enlisting men of color,
| but he was set to work on a steamboat.
One dark night while the craft was plow
ing down the Tennessee river it was sud
denly checked by cannon ball. An ir-
regular band of confederates had made
| the attack. All but two or three on the
boat were captured Uncle Davy with the
rest The trial of the colored men was
promptly called, and they were quickly
| found guilty of helping the United States
government in its effort to defeat the
| establishment of a southern confederacy.
| Their sentence was death.
LESS than forty-eight hours from the
moment of their capture the colored en-
ployes on the boat, at least all who had
| hired out to serve the United States gov
eminent, were drawn up in line, blind
| folded and ordered to say their prayers,
| If they had any TO say, as they were to
die Two or three rods in front of them
were twenty or thirty soldiers, fully arm
ed, ready to carry out the sentence Of the
| self-constituted court.
Naturally enough, Uncle Davy was
not ready to die, and when he heard the
captain give the command, ready he
gave some kind of a sign which attracted
| the attention of that officer, whereupon
he gave the command, shoulder arms!
Order, arms Parade restr Then he
went up to Uncle Davy and led him to one
side, when this conversation took place:
What did you mean by that sign?
IF you are a mason you know what l
mean
:" Are you a masonP
" Yes, SAN
"'Where is the lodge you belong TOP
philadelphia, sab
when were you Initiated?
THAT was answered, and he was also
! questioned on many other points. The
| confederate was satisfied that he had been
Initiated into the order. Weak and trcm-
bling like a leaf, he was placed in charge
Of a corporal and taken some distance
TO the rear. given rations and otherwise
made comfortable. After the balance OF
the party had been shot the captain told
| him he would be given safe escort beyond
the confederate lines. and advised him
to get back to Louisville with the least
possible delay and stay there until the
war was over.
Uncle Davy accepted the safe escort
with a grateful heart and took the ad-
vice gladly. A week later he had resumed
! his duties as an exprcssman, from which
he scarcely took his mind or eyes until
| the war closed. confident that sign
4 A. l..
| time Uncle Davy had been content 10 re-
main a third degree member OF the order
that had saved him from a shower OF
| bullets. He grew 20 like Masonry 40
well and so keenly appreciated what II
had done for him that he wanted all OF
the grades that one Of his color could
get, 30 he took the chapter and command
cry degrees, and never missed az oppor-
tunity 20 put on al funeral the attrac-
| tive Uniform"
Here Is another Masonic story which
comes well vouched for:
Among the prisoners taken by the
union troops al the time Pickett made
his great charge al Gettysburg was q VAR
ginla sergeant He was a Mason. Capt.
John A. kellogg OF the Sixth Wisconsin
gave him a drink Of something reyiving
from his canteen and put some ratlons In
his empty haversack. Their parting was
that Of brothers.
In December. 1854 when Kellogg was q
colonel commanding his regiment, 1 ace
companied him on a ride along the picket
line a few miles 20 the left OF Peters
burg BY some means. and without
knowing g. we got between the picket
lines we were brought 20 a halt sud
denly by the following unmilltary iaiu-
tation.
"Is that you. Capt. KellogR?"
Looking up, and about two rods 10 the
right. we saw "a Lieutenant and a dozen
men IN gray, who had apparently just
taken their arms IN preparation FOR seri-
Qua business.
That's my name. SIR" answered tho
colonel
beg paTden-col. Kelogg. You were