The St. Louis Republic., 1901-01-06

the trans -Mississippi: but. hclrins on tho
road that marauders were pursuing my
family whom had not seen since they left
Richmond. but knew 10 be cu rout" to
the Florida coast. I caansed my direction.
and. afttr long and bard ride. found them
encamped and threatened by robhinS
party. To give them the needed protection.
! Travelled with them for sev raj days. TN
tl In the neighborhOod % Irwinvlle, Cd.
when ! supposed I could safely leave thsm-
But hearing about nightfall that parry
- mJrauderS were to alta X the camp that
night. and supposing them To be pillagin:
describes from both armies. and that the
f1rf',i-rates would listen TO me, l awaited
their coming. lay d1Wa in my travelling
clothes and fell asleep. Late In the night
ny rp.oTod 'CachTaa aroused me with the
Int liig-u-c that the camp was attcked-
and I stepped out OF the tent. where my
vif- and children were sleeping. and saw at
ON that tie SssIilGnts werc troops deploy-
ine @rouId the sncampment ! - informed
my wife who ur-ed me- To escape Atter
srme hesitation. II consented. and a servant
woman started with me carrying a bucket.
"s il going 20 the spring for water One OF
ths surrounding troops ordered me to halt.
and demand 4 nv surrender. ! advanced
toward the trooper. throwing on a shawl
which my wife had put over my shoulders.
The trooper aimed his carbine. when my
wife. who had witnessed the act. rushed
forward and threw her arms around me.
thus defeating my intention. which was.
II the trooper missed his aim. TO try and un-
horse him and escape with his horse
quote from General HaTEden's bOook, as
.ollpWS:
1t appears that when the fighting began
Mr.. Davis was sleeping in his tent.
Alarmed al the noise. he hastily arose and
threw shawl or dressing gown around
him. ard started out. hut meeting sol
dier. was stopped and ordered back into
Lis tent
The fighting here referred to was be-
tween two detachments Of Northern troops.
Wisconsin and Michigan cavalry. who. in
the darkness of early morning. fired into
each other Later. in IIarnden's account. i'm
chapter of Questions Answered. he says:
How was Davis dressed?
He wore a common slOuched hat. nice
fine boots. no spurs. coat and pants Of light
blue English broadcloth. Taking all cir
cumstances into consideration, he was neat
ly dressed
How did the hoopskirt story get start
ed?'
When We got back to Macon General
Wilson sent for me and made me tell him
all about my pursuit and the incidents OF
the capture of Davis. The General insisted
upon every particular. as how he appeared.
how he was dressed. etc. After narratinS
all. I told him that heard the soldier who
halted him say that when Davis came out
%: his tent he had his wifes shawl on. This
OI Iniut was tcieEFdp0tu NOFtn,
and when 1t came back II had apparently
grown into its weil-knOwn proportions"
Last Words of John Quincy Adams.
Richard W. Thompson Of Indiana died Feb
ruary 3. 1850. at mis- home in Terre Haute,
in that State. aged about 90 years. He was
a very distinguished citizen, for he had
heen for many years a Whig representative
to Congress and from 1877 to 1851 Secretary
of the Navy in President Hayess Cabinet.
lwla Of
Republican Congressman from Indiana. not
long since related an account Of visit he
made Mr.. rhampson during his last Illness
Mr.. Lands says:
Il had asked him about John Quincy Ad-
ans. when the latter was a member of
the lower house. After he had answered,
he said:
Lands. haven't much longer to live.
and i want to make a little confession ta
you. II is not important. perhaps. but I
am the only one living who knows the Sc
cret. and I think I shall feel better to
house when JOIN Quincy Adams had the
attach of apoplexy In February. is4s, which
resulted in his death two days later. 1 was
one of the four who carried him into the
Speakers roam. He never regaincd con-
sciousness- After his death We who carried
him out OF the house met and questioned
one another until each confessed that he
had not heard MIR. Adams say anything
after We picked him up. In those days the
last words of great men had an interest
which does not attach 20 last ::tsfanccs
in this age And so IL was agreed that. in
as much as MIR. Adams had no chance to
say anything for himself. would make
some last words for him. commensurate
with his worth.
'I was selected 10 formulate something
suitable. IL was no easy task but finally
reported as his last words: This IS the last
OF earth" One of the four who helped to
carry him our replied: II am content
These last words were not intended to be
credited TO Mr.. Adams. The member who
said Il am content meant that he was
satisfied with my report. but did not so
understand him at the time i thought
that the words were intended az a sort of
amendment, and added them As they
seemed quite appropriate. we concluded {"
let them stand. and there they are as they
have been quoted for hfty years. Thi,
Is the last OF earth: am content.
Mr.. Adams never uttered the words. and
they constitute to-day one of the myths OF
biography. WILLIAM F. SWlTZLER-