Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1899-08-10
Story ofan Escaped Confederate.

Washington Evening Star.
On the night of December 3, 'G3,
Simon Seward, confederate prison
er Of war confined in the United
States military prison 1t Point
Lookout. made his escape. II was
. desperate piece of daring, requir-
ing for its successful performances q
man Of iron nerve, strong determi-
nation and signal bravery. That
occurred nearly thirty -six years ago,
and few Of the actors OF that me-
mcrable incident in Mr.. Seward's
life remain to tell she story. There
are some, however, who remember
the nightlof the escape, and . few
days ago shey turned back the
leaves Of time and lived over again
the memories Of the night, when
peaceful st. Mary's county was
swarmiug with blnecoats hunting q
youth who had outwitted them and
escaped.
Today Mr.. Simon Seward is .
wealthy Virginian, domiciled at
Petersburg, where se is respected
as a prosperous manufacturer and
loved by large coterie of friends.
For years it has been Mr. Stewards
ambition TO visit the scenes OF his
escape. and few days ago he came
to Washington with his mind fully
made up to follow step by step the
route he took when, after eluding
the sentries. he slipped outside the
barricade Of the prison and, in q
shower Of bullets. plunged into the
freezing waters of Chesapeake bay
and swan for life and liberty.
With Two Desires.
And so, without care as to ex-
pense, he set forth, filed with two
desires-to be an escaped prisoner
again, and, travelling through that
wild country, search for those peo-
pie who had aided him; or, failing
in that, to reimburse in some prac-
teal way their children. "Cast
your bread upon the waters" was
histexs,eand wish- the~1Sgumeuts
that prosperous business career
had brought him, he started. There
could be nothing but success at
tending such an expedition, altho
on the way he often shook his head
and deplored the fact that be
had neglected his duty SO long.
Fervently he prayed that God had
spared some one who had helped
him, bat thirty-six years works
many changes, and he only hoped.
Simon Seward 10 Q man fifty-fiye
years of age, and stands several
inches over the six-foot mark. He
is as straight as an Indian, with q
square chin and firm mouth that
denote dogged determination, high
cheek bones and-well, to use his
own description of himself. s'I am
never so happy as when people say
| look like Abraham Lincoln. even
though the dear old man was ugly"
And that about fits him; for he 10
every inch counterpart of the
great emancipation, even to that
sympathetic nature which wins at
friends ell brought in contact with
him. He wears no beard and pos
sesses the virtue of bashfulness. Il
was only after the most continuous
and urgent questioning that he con-
sented to relate the experiences Of
his escape, although later 10 the
excitement of meeting with the
very boy who had piloted him thru
the dense woods, he flushed, and.
with the enthusiasm of q boy Of
fifteen. related the Wild incidents of
that memorable December night
nearly half q century ago.
Recognized ct Once.
1t was my pleasure to accompany
Mr.. Seward and his brother, the
latter q well-known merchant of
this city, on the trip to Point Look
out. We selected the steamer Po-
tomac to furnish the motive power,
and 4 o'clock last Tuesday we start
ed. The trip developed interest
from the start. Our party had gone
on the hurricane deck to get bet
ter view Of the scenery, when we
encountered Capt. William g. Geo.
hogan. The eyes Of the captain
and Mr. Seward met for an instant,
then both started forward, and
calling each other BY name, olasped
hands and shook heartily.
s.WelI, il you amt Simon Seward
/ want to be keel-hauled I" exclaim-