The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-15

virginia and southern Maryland by
heart
:" 1t is on that very account that have
come 10 you Tor your assistance, co-cpera-
ton and advice said Booth.
And It's on that very account tha. T
tel you that the idea is not feasible. I
replied. In the second place. you do no,
realize the danger
don't consider that for a moment
said Booth.
Nor l.. ! replied. but II must be con-
sidered. After leaving Washington. pro-
siaeo We are able to leave with President
Lancoin-which / doubt-we will nave IN
drive over 100 miles before we can cross
sne Potomac. After having crossed that
In safety We will have 10 drive from one
end or Midland Virginia to the other.
Don't you know that that section is sim
ply swarmIng with Yankees? / do. be-
cause I have just come through there.
Granted that we do get through all right,
we reach the Rappahannock and cross il.
We will be reasonably safe. But we
stand one chance In about 500 OF sur
mounting all those obstacles Inside OF
an hour. or, at most. two hours from the
tine we get possession OF Mr.. Lincoln s
person, the entire country will be In a
iurore. The president Of the United
States cannot be spirited away like an
ordinary citizen
Booth said he was willing to take any
chance. i believe ne was a monoma Mao
on the subject. He had brooded over the
Souths wrongs SO much that his mind was
unsettled on the subject. He talked q
good deal Of Kidding the country of an
arch tyrant, OF helping the South and OF
dying for his country. He was unques-
uoHabiy insane when he shot Lincoln.
No man in his right mind would havs
done that. The South lost its best friend
when II lost Lincoln. He understood its
conditions and the character OF its peo-
PIE as no man did before or since. Booth
was the South's worst enemy. although
he was sincere In wanting to aid her.
After engaging In this conversation
with Booth. / dismissed the matter from
my mind, and supposed that Booth had
done the same. Going direct TO Rich
mond, I reported 10 Gen. Wilder and
was directed by him to go at once to Ell
mira, New York. and learn the plans Of
the fertilization, prisons, etc, at that
point. with the number OF prisoners.
was IN Eimira for several weeks, and as
my pockets were full OF Uncle Sans gold.
furnished me by my government, j made
hosts OF friends. and ] may add that it
was blessed good thing for me that
did, for Ii saved mo ct my trial. Among
the people / met at that point was q
Union coione. who was connected with
the Notifications. He seemed 10 be suf-
a
broke and finding that i had plenty OF
money and was not adverse to accom-
4nodatlng q friend, he soon began 10 bor-
row. That was exactly what l wanted.
At first IL was $40 and SO at time.
Then 1T was 500 and 500. l finally had
him completely In my power. One day
we were walking along the street, and
he said to me: T4ook here. Let me ask
you question. What are you doing
around here and what do you want?'
told him that / was IN Elnra because I
liked the place. and l added that was
anxious 10 get inside of the prison 10 sec
what II looked like. He promised 10 get
me inside. and on the following day was
as good as his word. He took me all
through the place. and finally left me on
a tower, where ! made careful plans OF
the place | repeated my visit on the
following day. and having gained what
l wanted / determined 20 go back 10
Richmond
1T was on my journey from E.Tn.ra 10
Albany that / first learned OF Lincon's
assassination. / was shocked. AID my
conversation with Booth Immediately re-
Cured TO my mind. The next day. en-
route from Albany 10 New York. bought
a New York paper ana read In 1t that il
was supposed that I was with Booth IN
his flight, and that reward OF $4,000
was offered for my capture. dead or alive.
When l read this startling intelligence /
Immediately left the train ard took the
first one north-hound tina; came along
Late that night l passed into Canada, and
that was the last time ! saw the United
States until brought back on nlan-of-
war two years later. went 10 Montreal
and then 10 Quebec. In the latter city
was secreated in a monastery, and there
remained fer FIVE months. Thinking il
wiser 10 be out OF the country on account
OF the angry feeling OF r-e people. I
boarded a steamer and went 10 London.
was ia London some time, and
also visited Liverpool ana Rrmlng-
ham. ] then went 20 Paris, and
from Paris went 20 Rome and
enlisted IN the papal zouaYes under the
name Of Matson. My life while In the
pa pal guards was very pleasant. bat
continually longed for my native lard.
eventually became a sergeant, and IN the
war between the papal states ard the
Gavibaidlans / was In my element
at was while IN the service OF Plus N
that wrote 20 one OF the most prominent
Unior statesmen In this country. telling
him who and where was and asking him
II Il would he safe for ma 70 return 20 :he
United States. and IL could get u Jury
trial and not undergo drum-nead court
martial. He wrota back saying that in
and advised ire 10 remain away from
America o. least three years. The Judge
al my trial refused 20 admit these letters
as evidence OF my intention 10 return 20
this country Voluntarily. I determined
however. % return and "a take my
chances 4 court martial. and was on
thu point OF doing 50 when / was arrested
at the instance OF Pope Plus TX and cast
into prison, .
How did he learn who you werse'
Through the contemptibie treachery OF
a sr!end~so-cai'ed~a Canadian. had
shared my bread and butter. my blanket
ard even my shirts with thar man. ard
hai any one told ME that he was going
- prove "a false AZ be did / would have
secuted the hare suggestion. ] have long
since learned that no man IN this word
can he trusted. This mz- wen. 10 Cars;!-
nal An.oreiii anc ted him my s;ory- An
tonel! went with the Information 10 TIE
pore. who Immediately ordered my arrest
and strict confinement. / was stationed
a. one or the o3tpoSts between Rome ara
Naples 81 thu Italian mountains. II vas
ii beautiful spo;. and We were Quarteve1s
in ar Oh monastery. The papai sec-e-