The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-12
UNION PLOT IN BALTIMORE.


UNION PLOT IN BALTIMORE.
Prepared to burn the city d. lsoi n It Fell
unto the Hands or tho Conrederntes.
During the first year Of tho war; a griEsled
Colonel remarked, while recalling incidents of
the great rebellion, business connected with
the recruiting and eouipping of volunteers in
Pennsylvania took me frequently to Washing
ton. and. as the hotels in that city soon became
crowded and uncomfortable. I made It q custom
to stop at Barnum's, in Baltimore. remain over
night there, and run over to the capital in tho
morning. arriving at the War Department by
the time 1t was open for business. Sometimes
this arrangement was repeated, in a modified
form, on tho northern journey. and thus I
passed many nights, during 1861, In tho famous
old hotel Of the Monumental City. Near II was
n large tobacconist's shop, where 1 discovered q
superior grade OF cigars was sold. and Of this
shop l became q regular customer. Ordinarily
1 was served by n young salesman. but l fro
quently saw in the shop an old gentleman who.
1 presumed. was the proprietor. One day I was
rather surprised by the old g%entleman's stop
ping forward to wait on me himself. After I
was served. he said:
"'1f you are not in q hurry. sir, I would DO
pleased TO have you walk into my private oflce
and have q smoke with me-
II readily assented. and he led the way TO q
room at the rear of the store. separated from 1t
by a glass partition. plainly but comfortably
furnished. and having tho appearance OF long
and habitual use. Pushing toward mo q large
split-bottomod rocker. my host remarked:
Here, for many wears. l have been accus.
toned to receive my friends. OF whom 1 had
many, but 1 am sorry to say that now the num-
Der is sadly diminished
"'Why SO Z l asked.
because Of differences in opinion he re-
piled. 'Ineed not remind you OF tho condition
the whole country Is In. or tell you how com.
pleteiy men vary in their ideas Of duty. No
whore Is that variance greater than hero in
Baltimore, and nowhere 10 there greater dan
ger Of its leading to o calamity that may as
tonish the world
"'You surprise me- I exclaimed. I knew
there was considerable secession sentiment here,
and that months ago It exhibited itself openly.
leading to bloodshed on the streets, but / thought
all that had passed away
by no means he replied. Tho rebel sen.
timent in Baltimore Is as intense and bitter to-
day as It ever WAS Tho apparent quiet Is only
on the surface. You arc in the service OF the
Union. and It may DO as we'll for you to be In
formed exactly what the situation here La. for I
honestly assure you 1t 10 critical After o brief
pause he continued:
~ am q Nv England man BY birth. but for
mess here. Til: shop . Sa, a sm All por''o Du Of
that businoS,. As a tobacco merchant I am
pref , gen rally known in he trade. Whom the
Southern Sta es secedei and th. sympathy Of
I I'm ma ,%U . : my my m az YD e1 = . f Esisn m lc ah sla tAr ng
2 so ,ses So a. m;Fs Chief w sssS ov1 sao Sn 90 I 'h HpptS to
Goods eoe '1 FL. interests ttTss A%P Z Ssv sSp left tn here eo n. not o
very inn ~ortant, but this Is my hon. end I am
DIT }r;nined to main here.doing with my Union
can to kee Bal more I ON becoming o part Of
the Sou hern Co, foderacr.
arc Intensely Southern in their feelings and
Preiudices Az the slaveholders are SO; ana
is the class which always toadies TO whatis con-
sidered the sristocracy: and after these comes a
large hf d nS element; known as the plug
ity. Now i know beyond doubt that the leading
are determined, the drst favorable Opportunity
that offers. to declare openly for the new Con.
Maryland, II possible. out Of the Union
How is all this TO BE- done r l inquired:
man aar1 UPON Di aRon rs t ih.s; e Th'y RELY tnG AND 'tIss siKr
strength is well understood. They have
clubs organized, which meet regularly. The
snd supplies Phes Of a'n arm, o. are pl sHsfIla 81 mG Rss:
ular communioa ton Is hsa with, the Con.
waiting only for a definite. tangible Opportunity
TO strike. Such an opportunity would come 4
Washington-a thing they ex~pect-or should the
Union Army meet with another serious reverse
In the East. II Beauregard had pursued Nc
Dowell after the battle OF Bull Run. they would
heaped upon him for his failure. As they OF.
pressed 1t, e TO follow up his victory" They arc
confident their chance will como, and IL II does
you can rest assured the attempt will be made
TO make Baltimore. TO use their own language,
the barrier between the North and the national
what, asked. do you Union men propose
o "B u rne the Rs'e eiFs.' Re SSu replica naiesi'A Just ' as cor,
tainly as the Russians burned Moscow will we
burn Baltimore II the rebels here take 1t out of
.Ho can you. SO few comparatively in num-
"'Well. sir. we. TOO. arc organized. and for
this ono purpose. In every part OF the city prep
~arations have beeh made, and when the time
once. Do you know what this 10 2 he asked. TAX.
Ing from n closet n ball OF tow. cotton, or oakum
about the siZo of . largo cocoanut: 1t Is o nre.
ball, thoroughly saturated with turPentine;
signal they will DO lighted and thrown whore
they will certainly prove effective. oh. We know
well enough that We cannot resist tho organized
rains Of @ui B sYI Sa% viii sver become a part Of
the sla veholding Confcderacy.'
"Inevor saw my old Union.loving tobacconist
after that evening, for not long afterward l was
there until the end Of the war. We all know
that Baltimore remained In tho Union and was
not burned: but we know, too, that the Con-
federato Army never made a serious advance on
Washington, so that the opportunity waited for
by the rebels In the Monumental City never came.
How much truth, II any, there WAS In tho old
mans story must, therefore. remain unknown.
i only tell the tale as 1t was told TO me-"
TRADE DEVICES ON WHEELS.
w-.ul. m., go o,h.. rn,u.. vQ.an so a..x.