The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1897-12-01
VETERANS IN GRAY
Entertain Members OF The United Daughters
OF The ConfederacY

OF The Confederacy.
The fourth annual convention of the
United Daughters of the Confederacy
was continued last week at Boltimore
at Lehman's Hall and reception was
rendered the delegates at the Mary
land Line Soldiers Home, Pikesville.
SAN DAVIS, THE HERO
One of the most interesting features
OF the reception was the reading byMiss
Mildred Rutherford of Athens, Ga
of poem just written by Ella Wheeler
Wilcox for Mr., A. S. Cunningham,
editor of the Veteran, published at
Nashville. Miss Rutherford is well
known as an authoress." She has rich,
sympathetic voice, and her reading of
the poem created the greatest amount
of enthusiasm. She was introduced
by Gen. Bradley Il. Johnson.
The poem tells the story of Sam
Davis, the Confederate scout who was
captured in Tennessee and hanged at
Pulaski, in that State, as spy. Gen.
G. NJ Dodge, of New York, under whose
orders he was hanged, has recently
written a tribute to him and contribut-
ed to a monument which is to be erect
ed in his honor. The movement to
erect the monument was inaugurated by
Mr.. Cunningham and already more
than $1,000 has been subscribed.
When captured Sam Davis had in his
possession very important statistics
about the federal commands in Tennes-
See, with maps of the various fortifca-
tiOns. General Dodge, believing that
the Information had been furnished by
some traitor in his army, determined
upon extreme measures to learn who
this was. He commended young Davis
for his fidelity to his cause, but told
of his peril in the event of a courtmar-
tial, Davis replied that he had given
his word that he would never betray
the source of his information and that
he valued his honor above his life. He
was sentenced to be hanged, but every
inducement was offered him to save his
life by telling where he got the plans
and statistics. Ever at the scaffold a
messenger was sent to him with an Of
fer of reprieve, When the messenger
put his hand on Davis shoulder and Of
Tered the pardon, Davis hesitated a mo-
ment, then said: No, if had a thous-
and lives l would sacrifice them all
rather then falsify my word and betray
my infOrmer."
Mrs. WHEELER's POEM.
Mrs. Wheeler sent the poem to Mr..
Cunningham few days ago with note,
in which she said: 81 have never work
ed harder to produce what l desired. l
began fully twenty poems before / wrote
this one" The poem, which ha IS
never before been published, is as fol
lows:
SAM DAVIS.
When the Lord calls up earth's heroes
To Efand before his face,
Oh, many a name unknown to fame
Shall ring from that high place!
And out of a grave in the Southland,
At the just Gods call and beck,
Shall one man rise with fearless eyes
And rope about his neck.
For men have swung from gallOws
Whose souls were white as snow.
Not how they die nor where, but why
Is what Gods records show.
And On that mighty ledger
Is writ Sam Davis name
For honor's sake he would not make
A compromise with shame,
The great world lay before him,
For he was in his youth,
With love of life young hearts are rife,
But better he loved truth.
He fought for his convictions,
Aud when he stood at bay
| He would not finch or stir one inch
From hOnor's narrow way.
They offered life and freedom
If he would speak the word;
In silent pride he gazed aside
AS one who had not heard.
They argued, pleaded, threatened
1t was6ut wasted breath.
"Let come what must, keep my trust
He said, and laughed at death.
He would not sell his manhood
To pure base priceless hope;
Where kings cast down name and
crown
He digniied a rope.
All, gravel where was your triumph?
All, DEATH where was your sting?
He showed you how a man could bow
To doom and stay king.
And God, who loves the loyal
Because they are like him,
doubt not yet that soul ahall set
Among his cherubim.
o Southland! fling your laurels;
And ado your wreath, o North!
Let glory claim the hero's name,