The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-24

, me?' Those are my orders Those
are orders for a slave. No man with
soul in him would obey such or
ders. shall never submit to such
an indignity.' Mr.. Davis then asked
if Gen. Miles had given the orders,
and said that he would like to see the
general. Davis asked that the execu-
ton of the order should be postponed.
and that l should telegraph to the
President in his name. l said, MT.
Davis, you are an old soldier and know
what orders are Davis replied that
he was a soldier and knew how to
die, and pointing to a sentinel said,
Let your men shoot me at once.
AS the blacksmith stopped to place
the clasp of the shackle around his
ankle Davis struck him a violent blow
that threw him on the floor. He re-
covered at once and made for Davis
with his hammer and would have
struck him had not caught his arm.
A moment after that l saw Davis and
one of the sentinels struggling, both
having hold of the musket, Davis just
below the shank of the bayonet. The
next instant the sentinel had wrench
ed the gun from Davis hands. l at
once ordered the soldier to his post
and reprimanded him for leaving his
post.
Il now saw there would be trouble,
so I ordered the officer of the guard
to go out and get four of the best
men without sidearms and have them
report to me at once. A few moments
later four stalwart soldiers made their
appearance. AS the men advanced
Davis struck the foremost, but all four
instantly closed on him and showed
him on the cot. The prisoner showed
unnatural strength 1t was all the
four men could do to hold him while
the smith riveted the clasp around his
ankle, his helper holding a sledge
hammer. The other clasp was locked
with a brass spring lock. Just as i
was going out Davis raised from his
cot threw his feet on the floor, and.
with the clang of the chain, he gave
way. Davis shed tears. but not a word
| had he to say. Two hours afterward
l called to relieve the guard and found
Davis lying on his cot 1 then I'M
locked the shackles, he taking off his
| clothes, and locking the shackles back
| himself. He seemed to be entirely
broken down. The next morning 1
| found Davis was very much indispos-
| ed. I suggested to Gen. Miles to have
a doctor. The general gave his consent
| at once. On the 9th or 18th of May
the shackles were taken off of Davis,
and he never wore them after that.
guards were removed from the prison.
er's quarters. On the Gath Of June Gen.
Miles gave permission for the prison
ers to have books out of the post IL
brary, and on that day Gen. Miles ac-
companied me to Davis quarters. AS
we entered l remarked to Davis that
the general had given. him permission
to have books from the library. Davis
then deliberately turned his back on
Gen. Miles, and said. suppose the
works are chiefly on military mat
ters.' l felt embarrassed at the way
was addressed in the presence of
| Gen. Miles, and answered, The gem
eral is here and is conversant with the
library Davis paid no attention. and
said to me, Captain. l suppose you
! have Bancroft in the nbrary?' Gen.
4 Miles then remarked, Who Is Ban
croft? Davis turned his face toward
| the general with the very picture of
| contempt on 1t. l at once said, We
have Bancrofts History of the United
| States Davis said ne would be
pleased to have II to read. Time and
again when / came to Davis quarters
| afterward he would make the re-
mark, DO you suppose you general
has found who Bancroft is by this
timep"