The National tribune., 1901-03-21
MASONIC LODGE JEWEL S.
4 Connecticut Comrade Tells Of the Return
of CAPTURED Property to the Owners.


of Captured Property to the Owners.
The following story is told in the Amer
| icGH Tyler by Lewis B. Brown, of New
| Haven, Conn, of the capture of some
Masonic jewels from Lodge room IN
| Trenton, \. G. The jewels were subse-
quently returned to the Lodge, but the
! history of their adventures is interesting.
| Comrade Brown tells how the 10th Conn,
a battalion of the Sd \. Y. Cav, and a
section of the LIST Conn. l.. A. approached
| Trenton, driving the enemy before them
/ with continuous fighting. until they
reached the bridge over the Nuese River
at Trenton. Here" he says. ''the en-
emys cavalry had crossed the bridge into
! Trenton, setting fire TO the bridge in their
| rear, in order to prevent our following.
| The enemy'S cavalry, taking positions be
| hind the buildings and fences, kept up a
galling fire upon us, killing and wounding
quite number of our men. At this time
the bridge was considerably burned, moth
| ing being left but the four heavy stringers
| which Spanned the river.
| The fire from the cavalry on the other
| side of the river was so annoying that L
went to our Colonel and asked permission
| TO take 20 men, charge across the burn
| ing timbcrS and drive the cavalry out Of
! the village. Permission being granted,
volunteers were called for. but as every
man in the regiment wanted to go, it was
necessary to make Il selection, which was
| promptly done, and with arms extended
and locked at the proper distance to cor
respond with the width of the spaces be-
tween the Stringers, we charged across
the still burning bridge, and after a rather
| lively fight drove the cavalry out of the
town.
'Then, after stationing guards on the
| roads, we commenced an inspection of the
stores and houses, they being deserted, in
order to find almost anything which we
thought would prove of use 10 us. Some
of the boys struck the postofice and cap
tured numerous letters, which furnished
an unlimited amount of amusement.
Noticing a building across the street
which appeared promising, Bob Adams
and myself entered the front door, which
led up stairs. Arriving on the second
! floor, we entered what was evidently a
hall. which if | had known as much then
as | afterwards learned. l should imme-
dately have recognized as a Masonic
Lodge room, but being utterly ignorant.
and finding Il desk in each Of the farther
corners, Bob went for one and / inter
viewed the other. On forcing open a
drawer ! discovered rosewood box, and
| on opening this found what appeared to
be lot Of silver ornaments Just at this
time there was firing in the street, and
we both hurried down to see what caused
the alarm. We found that the cavalry
men had attempted to charge down the
main street, but had been driven back.
At this time the signal was given for us
to return. which we did, / carrying my
prize with me-
"On arriving at the other side I sat
down in the bushes, intending to examine
my prize, there being quite number of
| the boys around me anxious to see what
the box contained. l had taken out of
the box only three or four pieces when
someone touched me on the shoulder. On
| looking up l saw Lieut.. John G.. Coffin.
who was in command of our company.
He ordered me to put the articles hack
into the box and come with him. Taking
me short distance into the underbrush
away from the rest Of the men, he asked
me if / knew what / had captured. | re-
piled that all / knew was that had lot
of things which appeared to he silver and
therefore of some value. The Lieutenant
then explained that they were the jewels
of n Masonic Lodge and sacred TO every
Mason on earth. Lieut.. Coffin then ad-
yised me to place them in his possession,
saying that he would forward them to his
Lodge at home, until such time as they
could be returned to the Lodge in Tren-
ton, and j. of course, complied with his
request. At this time il was discovered
by him that one of the pieces was missing
The Lieutenant then ordered me to take
charge of the box for him until we ar
rived in camp at Newbern.
Immediately on our arrival in camD
delivered the box to Lieut. Coffin and
went to my tent to remove my equip
ments, but before / could accomplish this
simple task. Gen. J. G.. Fosters Chief of
Staff came riding at breakneck SDeed into
camp through the regimental avenue di-
rect to our company street, and inquired
for Corporal Brown. Some of the boys
pointed me out. and riding up to me he
ordered me to Immediately report with him
to Gen. Fosters Headquarters and to
bring with me the box which had cap
turcd in Trenton. I informed the Major
that the box was in the possession of the
Lieutenant in command of our company.
He then ordered me to go with him to