Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-02
ESCAPE OF ]. c. BRECKENRIDGE
The South Africa oil J. Taylor Wood Recalls
Interesting Civil War Incident


tai. erect figure. wrapped In q well.
worn and faded military cloak. tow.
erred above all others on that mcfnor.
able MORNING. The last time / had
secn him was on the occasion Of hls re-
tifcment from the presidency of the
Senate. when h. was addressing. In
justification " his action. an Immense
assembly from tho balcony 81 the Eu.
tuw House, In the city ~ Baltimore.
four years prcvlonsly Ills compln-
Ions IN exile wene Capt J. Taylor
Wood. father Of the young officer re-
Gently Killed In the South African war:
Col. Wilson. of the Florida cavalry.
sorgt. o'Tooie and O ncgrl boy. Tom.
tho faithful body servant Of Gen.
BrecklnfidEc. who insisted on accom-
panylng his master on the pUriloua
journey In search OF hospitable shorca.
Promptly making myself known na o
fellow countryman, I ptonored my
Cd by the party. and at once put 70
practical Use, I explained % the Span
ish officials the cause ~ their bearing
arms. the high character and position
OF Cen Breckenridge. and that, COM
PEELED by the necessities Of war. they
were pc1eeablc refugees In search q
temporary asylum. ON my telling
Gen. nfeckinridgc what 1 had said TO
the Spaninrd, Who did not n5rm 20
credit my statements, and appeared
averso 90 permit the landing Of armed
men on the soll OF her majesty. Queen
Isabella, Gcn. Breckinrhixe promptly
unbuckled his sword and offcred II.
with o few appropriate words, TO The
Spanish official The other members
Of the party followed hia example, ten
definE their side arms and pistols. This
apparently dissrmei stl-picisn. and
shall never forget the chivaitous
speech. Of which I was tho interpreter.
HHaN 40 LA al 81 A..
W returned the sword and side arms.
You have fought the most heroic
battles OF the ages In defena. uf your
country and ia Institutions You have
won the admiration Of my countrymen.
and u all brave men throughout the
world. and. recognising your nobility
ana the sad causes that have brought
you TO thenc shores, We rcturn 60 YOU
l,y'
After lodging the PARTY IN the best
hotel IN tho town--El Hotel Cfistoboi
colon-where they were givcnacvcry at
tentlon. l FASTENED TO inform Col. San
Martin president Of the cardenas d.
vision or the railway to Havana, re-
qucs,ing his official assistance In the
trnnenortntlon OF the party 60 Havana
Col Han Martin was editor OF "a Span
ish paper In New York during Gen.
hreekinrldEc's term as Vice President
OF the United States, and. II appears,
mad. NJ that time, made his personal
acquaintance. This was most fortu-
nate circumstance. for II not only alb
nolutcly verified my statements but
gave tho party n reception hardly 10
be expected under less favorable con-
diuona. sr. San Martin returned with
me TO the hotel. cordially greeted den.
Brccklnrldgc. and offered the use Of
his private car whenever they desired
TO proved 90 Havana. The few Amer
leans In the town and viclnity, lire
Hpectlvc Of their sympathles with one
or the other side IN the Civil War,
called to pay their respects 60 their fell
low-countrymen and for the first time
lin foreign iand-Hince the fall of
lNchmond, Just one month before, the
band We Americans procured 10 aere-
Yankee Doodle" "The Bonnie Blue