The National tribune., 1899-09-28

fore the Ordinance Of Secession was passed
| III the State Capitol at Richmond, an old
! schoolmate Of mine visited Richmond and
| met hini at the ST. Charles Hotel. He
had a friend with him, who was q country
schoolmaster, both coming from the i'm
mediate neighborIood OF the place where
| was born.
MYSTERIOUS SHOTS. o.
I did not know the young scboelmaster.
but had known my old schoolmate, then
Dr.. Edward Phillips, since early boyhood
in the country. "Eed'' and Iwere intimate
| friends, and, after supper at the ST. Charles,
We agreed to walk up Main street in the di-
rection Of the Spotswood Hotel and the
newspaper offices for the latest news, as
there was much agitation in tie city and
State regarding the Secession movement
Taking Ned on one arm and the Young
schoolmaster, name not remembered, On
the other, we proceeded up Main street
Just above the st. Charles there seemed to
be some disorder on the street in front, and
| we somewhat slackened our pace, when two
shots were fired in our front, one quickly
after the other. With cry of pain Dr.
Phillips stumbled forward and said, Joe,
I'm shot in the leg"
A second or two later the Young school
master exclaimed, with a cry Of pain. that
| he was shot in the abdomen, and believed
he was killed. He was absolutely terror
stricken.
DIR. Ned said: 'Iet us get back to the hotel
at once" so, both holding On to my arm, as
we had started. We soon returned, about 40
or so yards, 10 the hotel. DR.. Ned hastily
examined his leg, while the schoolmaster
sat in q chair, pale as the proverbial ghost
had not been hit, though my two friends
had been. DR.. Ned found that tie bullet
had passed through the calf of the leg. and
had so nearly passed through the fieshy
part that with pocket knife and his fingers
he easily removed it. not however, ieforc
he had examined his young friend the
schoomaster. Upon examination it was
discovered that a bullet had struck the
schoolmaster squarely OH the top button of
his pantaloons, forcing the button into the
flesh, leaving a red, iniamed ring near the
center of the abdomen. A marvellous es-
cape, indeed!
DR.. Ned remained at the st. Charles
nearly two weeks before the wound was
sufficiently healed to permit his returning
| home. Later he was 4 Surgeon in the Con-
| fcderate army, and came to Richmond
where | met him again. He had left his
residence and farm in the village of Chucka-
tuck in the care of an old Union friend, as
he called him, for protection when the
Yankees" came, which they did often, the
village being near the Nansemond River.
Our difference in politics did not mar in
the least our friendship, and when the war
ended he came to see me at the Crawford
House, Portsmouth, Va, where | was
quite unwell, and cheered me up, and joked
about his experiences in the war. He had
just been paroled at Petersburg, or nearby,
and was on his way home. | never saw
him again.
1t has been frequently subject of
thought with me as to who those shots
were intended for. DIR. Ned and his young
friend were strangers in Richmond. There
was much feeling between the Secession
lists and the Unionists at that period, and
| was free and outspokcn in my sentiments,
never avoiding any argument. Now, were
the shots intended for me, or were they
fired by some drunken rowdics without
purpose?
We have Lombard Alley again, for
those shots We're fired from very near the
main entrance to that infamous place, near
Wciseger'S hat store, near the very spot
where the Union man WAS murdered by n
Confederate soldier, an account of which
is given in a previous article.
(To b. continued.)