Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-07-22

A NOTABLE
HISTORIC EVENT
Continued from Page 6.

to house. though strange to say q con-
siderable period of time elapsed be-
fore the crowd on Bank street were
informed of the result. Then they
joined most heartily in the shouts. A
company OF United States infantry
had been brought UP to the door of
the custom house when Mr.. Davis was
carried in by General Burton. No
one has ever yet known what became
OF them. They vanished in the uproar,
doubtless rejoicing that they were re-
leved OF the ignoble functions which
had been assigned them az jailors.
A CAPTIVES TRIUMPH.
Some time elapsed before tho bond
was signed and the order OF release
was entered. Then Mr.. Davis left the
room. and with Mr.. O'Conor on one
side and Mr.. Ould on the other, came
out Of tho custoin-house door on Bank
Suqare. They were greeted with
sound which was not a cheer or a
hurrah, but that fierce yell which was
first heard at Manassas and had been
the note of victors at Cold Harbor. at
Charlottesville. the Wilderness and
wherever battle was fiel cest. The trio
got into an open carriage and drove to
the Spottswood Hotel, at the corner of
Main and Eighth streets. AS they
moved amidst the rejoicing crowd. the
rebel yell was their only applause,
their happiest greeting. 1t was the
thus best give expression to their in
dignation for what was past and their
JOY for the present.
"HATS OFF, vIRGINIANSl"
AS the carriage approached the hotel
all sounds ceased, and a deep and SOL
emn silence fell upon the vast crowd,
less demonstrative than the yell, but
more tender in its sympathy. AS MIR.
Davis stood up in the carriage pre-
n alir1,tfatr n CT n
voice shouted: Hats off, Virginians,"
and five thousand bare-headed men
Gid homage to him who had suffered
Tor them, and with moistcned eye and
bated breath stood silent and still UNI
I'll their representative entered the ho-
tel
The treatment which the Federal
government had imposed upon Mr.. Da-
Vis had made him a martyr. The APP
plause was an attestation of that fact.
around the courtroom were thousands
or men Who had met danger and suf-
Tered loss. Each man felt That Davis
had suffered VIGOROUSLY for him. If
DAVIS was traitor. so was he. Ii
Davis should suffer the penalty of the
law, SO should he. This it was which
made the feeling so intense.
The Southern people had profound
+ respect for Mr.. Davis personally be-
GAUGE OF his pure character and In
teliectual abilities, but for him there
was no nueh deep and abiding devo-
ton as FOR Lee. and many of the other
5 military chieItans. Mr. Davis imper-
Eonated their failure. the generals their
brilliant success as long as success was
possible. But when the victors charged
: him falsely With crimes abhorrent to
his nature. put him under ward and
manaciad him as felon, and then in
dtcteG him as q traitor, he became
their martyred hero and history will so
record him.
AT the November term, 1867. Mr..
Evarts, the Attorney General,w was pres
ont representing the prosecution be-
FORE Judge Underwood. Mr.. Davis.
through his counsel. was ready. earn
estsy demanding trial. The govern
incnt asked that the trial be pnt off
until the succeeding March to suit the
sconSen:enoe of the chief justice. The