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


tall, erect figure, wrapped in we'll
worn and faded military cloak, tow
! cred above all others on that memoir.
! able morning The last time had
seen him was on the occasion Of his re-
! tiTcment from the presidency Of the
! Senate. when he was addressing. In
/ Qualification Of his action an immense
! assembly from the balcony OF the Eu,
taw House, ia the city Of Baltimore,
| four years previously, His compan-
ions In exile We're Capt j. Taylor
Wood father OF the young officer re-
Gently Killed In the South African war;
Col. Wilson, Of the Florida cavalry.
Sergt. O'Too!e and negro boy. Tom.
the faithful body servant Of Gen.
Breckenridge. who insisted on accom-
panylng his master on the perilous
journey In search OF hospitabe shores
Promptly making myself known as
fellow-counlryman, | proffered my
services, which were thankfully accept
ed by the party. and at once put to
practical use. ! explained 10 the Span
ish officials the cause Of their bearing
arms, The high character and position
OF Gen. Breckenridge. and that, COM
PEELED by the necessities OF war. they
were peaeeable refugees In search Of
temporary asylum On my telling
Gen. Breckinndge what 1 had said to
tho Spanlard, who dld not seem 10
credit my statements. and appeared
averse 20 permit the landing OF armed
men on the soil OF her majesty. Queen
Isabella Gen, Breckenridge promptly
unbuckled his sword and offered II,
with a few appropriate words. 10 the
Spanish Official The other members
Of the party followed his example, ten
derlng their side arms and pistols. This
apparently disarmed Suspicion, and
shall never forget Che chiyalrous
speech, OF which | was the interpreter.
that the Spanlard made az he gallant
~ returned the sword and side arms:
You have fought the most heroic
battles OF the ages In defense Of your
country and its institutions. You have !
won the admiration of my countrymen.
and Of all brave men throughout the
world, and, recognizing your nobility I
and the sad causes that have brought |
you 70 these shores, we return TO sou
your arms aud tender YOU ourshospital- |
ity'
After lodging the party IN the best |
hotel In the town--El Hotel cfistobol |
Colon-where they were given'every at |
tentlon, fastened 10 inform Col San |
Martin president Of the Cardenas d. |
vision or the railway to Havana, re- |
questing his official assistance In the |
transportation Of the party 10 Havana |
Col San Martin was editor Of Span |
ish paper In New York during Gen.
BreckinHdge's term as Vice President |
Of the United States. and. II appears, |
had, at that time. made his personal |
acquaintance. This was a most fortu-
nate circumstance, for II not only alb
solutely verified my statements, but |
gave the party reception hardly 10 |
be expected under less favorable con-
ditions. ST. San Martin returned with |
me TO the hotel cordially greeted Gen.
Breckenridge. and offered the use OF |
his private car whenever they desired |
70 proceed 10 Havana. The few Amer
leans In the town and vicinity, ire
specilve Of their sympathes with one
or the other side In the Civil War,
called 70 pay their respects TO their fell
low-countrymen and for the first time
lin a foreign land-since the fan OF
Richmond, just one month before, the
band We Americans procured to sere-
made the party played Dixie" and
Yankee Doodle" The Bonnie Blue