The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-30

Sid picked up his pack and found
a place to lodge, and next morning
began peddling his goods through the
camps The rest of his adventures is
told in his own language:
by haEgling with customers over
prices, and by hanging to the goods as
long as possible, I made them last me
two days. In that time 1 had made
Earfy's command, and had also got a
good idea of the strength of his posi-
ton. I had secured all 1 came for,
and wss ready to return and report
but officers stopped me by the dozen
to send messages to friends in WASH
ingtOn or ask that I make purchases
for them. I was handed upwards of
$1,000 in Confederate money, and,
though I would have no chance to re-
turn it. 1t was no gain to me. The
whole sum would not have purchased
a bottle of ginger ale of a Union
settler.
LAS to the man with the sabre cut.
I had seen him two or three times
during the two days, ana L knew
that he was trying his best to work
up a suspicion against me. Some of
the soldiers asked me a few questions
but most of them were satisfied that
] was what I claimed to be. I learned
that the man went to General Early
and stated his case, but as I was not
sent for the general could not have
taken much stock in what he said.
7 had intended to creep out of the
confederate lines in the darkness of
night but observing that the camp
sentinels and pickets had been
doubled, and having met with such
good luck in playing my role, I decid-
ed to go to the general and ask for
regular pass. 1 did not find him, but
his adjutant general promptly hand
ed me the paper, and just at sunset on
the second day left by the same road
I had entered. I had no writing of
any sort about me, and if stopped
q. and searched there was nothing to
incriminate What information I had
secured was all carried in my mem
DRY and I had no fear of forgetting
any of it.
mo one questioned the pass until
I came to the last picket post, and one
of them was he of the sabre cut. As
he realized that was escaping his
clutches he threw his hat on the
ground and shouted:
I don't keer If he has a hundred
passes! I tell 20 he is a Yankee
soldier and a spy, and dod-rot him
he can't git by met
The other three men, one of whom
was a corporal. protested that they
mad no right to stop me, as the pass
was all right and not to be questioned
at any post. and I spoke softly in
hopes of placating the man; but he
grew stin more fierce and handled his
musket menacingly and shouted:
He's shOrely got to go back 70
camp with me I kin tell the gineral
how to trap him. About face and
forward march, or III put a bullet
into yOi'
''Of course, I refused to go back. and
in this was stoutly supported by the
three others, two of whom had pur-
chased goods of me the day before and
been very friendly over it They ar
gued and protested, and just when l
YVES hoping that the man with the scar
would claim down he suddenly drew
up his muSket with the intention Of
shooting me in my tracks As the
weapon came up one of the men sDrang
forward and struck it upwards and an
other seized the man. Just how ii was
done 1 could not follow. but the mus
ket was discharged and the heavy han
struck the fellow under the chin ana
tore the greater part of his face ava
He was dead in 80 seconds, and his
ades were bending over his bodv
with looks of horror on their faces
when I hurried away down the road
Had they insisted on my going back to
camp with them and aiding them ia
make the tragedy clear to the officer
of the day I should no doubt have fall
en- under suspicion and perhaps met the
fate melted out to spies.
THE news gave Gen. Sheridan that
night at midnight decided him on Civ
ing battle a week later-a battle in
which he won glory and renOwn, and
which brought me promotion and other
reward.
ct is possible that the man saw me
at Charlestown, as he said, but I was
not one Of the guards over the few con-
federate prisoners, there for a time.