The National tribune., 1903-07-02

flag floating at the flag staff. and walking
down to the waters edge, began waving Il
handkerchief, and calling, but could get
no answer or reply of any kind, no more
than if it was phantom ship.
Presently three well-dressed gentlemen
walked down to where we We're, saluted,
and asked where we were from, and l.,
them, frankly told them the true situation.
One of them, who acted as principal
spokesman, asked where we wished to go,
and On being told that we wished to board
that boat and 60 to Memphis, the three
men retired for short distance and held
a consultation, when they again advanced,
and one of them said, young gentlemen,
we have decided that we cannot permit
you to go on board the boat" Now, hav-
my tongue. than in that of COmrade White,
| had said to him. at their first approach,
LET NE do all the talking" / still had
hopes of getting help from the steamer,
and said to them, 1--WE do not propose to
be detained by civilians" The one ad-
dressing me, replied, "Oh, sir, we are not
civilians, but are Confederate soldiers.
This pointing to one of the three, is Col.
White, of the Confederate army" / then
said, with some emphasis, neither do we
propose to be detained by unarmed sol
diers." The Colonel then replied, with a
smile, "My dear sir, we are not unarmcd,
and suiting the action to the word, pulled
medium-sized revolver from his pocket,
showed it to US and returned it to his
pocket.
IN THE HANDS OF SMUGGLERS.
was not yet wholly without argument
or subterfuges for delay, and Immediately
said. "Sir, if you insist on OBTAINING us,
shall signal that boat, and they will not
permit you to take us back to the hills. "
l said this in voice that sounded Ito mel
as though l was in complete command of
the situation. However it did not nonplus
the Colonel, who replied, Gentlemen,
| beg to disabuse your minds of the Illusion
that you can go to Memphis on that boat.
This gentleman (pointing to the third man
| is Government Aid on that boat and he
will not permit you to go with him. The
Colonel must have been considerably in
liquor or he would Fever have made that
statement.
Now it 50 happened that some two
months previously / had, while al
Memphis, made the acquaintance of Gov
ernment detective, whose chief duty it was
to ferret out the contrabaEd trade along
the river. He had explained to me all OF
the rules and regulations governing the
traffic with the people of the South along
the river, and these rules were fresh in
my mind. l then turned to the man re-
ferred to and asked if he was Govern
ment Aid for that boat. He replied that he
was.
l said to him, 81 demand of you protec
| ton from these men," He answered, 81
am myself n prisoner, and cannot helI
you" / then fired my last and most eff
fective shot, saying to him, 81 thoroughly
understand the rules and regulations under
which you are working. j know that you
have no right to step your foot on shore, Oh
permit civilians to board your boat; neither
can you land your boat except in the pres
ence Of gunboat. / know that you mus
be in collusion with people in a contraband
trade, or you would not be on shore. Now
If we are taken back to the hills, it viii
only be question of time when we vii
escape, or be exchanged. | know the name
of that boat and the day of this month
and the records will show who had charg,
of this Illegal business, and | shall certain
ly report the whole matter"
/ then thought / had said all that wa.
necessary, and turned to Col. White ant
asked him where he would have us go. ii,
told us to go back up to that only house
before referred to, and there await him.
said we shall want something to eat, an,
! he told us TO order what we wanted, an,
, he would settle the bill.
! By this time the levee above us wa
lined with 40 CT 80 unarmed soldiers, VIII
had overheard my remarks l though
from their friendly salutatiOns. that W
, had their sympathy. No one accompanie
, us, no guard was placed over us, but W
went up to the house, as directed, an
went in, where we found that it was TEN
= porarily occupied as a sort of tavern.
few soldiers We're seated around the fire
place, who made room for us, so that W
could also warm ourselves
l The proprietor of this house proved t
! be Mr.. Allen, gentleman whom / ha
e several times met in Memphis, and who
! undoubtedly, was a successful smugglel
D At any rate, rs soon as he got an oppol
tunity, he asked me not to appear to recoe
nize him, either here, or if l should eve
meet him again in Memphis. Which, i
T view of the fact that he treated us 8
: well and interceded for our final releas,
e We readily agreed to do. We were 500
( joined by q very genteel young man, VIII
j seemed to exert himself to make our Sui
!. roundings pleasant for US. We notice