The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-07-15

NMNN CUE NMANhAN uAAnNNNANNt NiA"H
told her ! was the first officer captur
ed from the Dahlgren raid, and was
sentenced by courtmartial to be
hung in Richmond on the lth OF
March, 1891 ind that felt sure she
saved me She asked. 20. are YOU
one Of those horrid Dablgren men that
was going to kin Mr. Davis and all
his cabiuet?' mo Mrs. Davis said
"you are mistaken. DO ! look as
though I would kill anybody now9"
She burst out laughing and said:
What a question to aski OF course
you don't" said: Il would do It
now Just as quick as / would then
At this time l handed her the letter
from Col. Grant. She adjusted her
glasses and read t. Turning to me.
she said: "Then you are a friend
Of the Grants?" / replied: Hardly,
in the way you mean. am only an
army friend OF the coloneps, and felt
at perfect liberty to go to him for
letter Of introduction" This letter
placed me in more favorable light
with Mr.. Davis, and we had a very
pleasant hours conversation, mostly
trying to directly connect her with
my not being hung. ! told her about
Mrs. Brooke; how ! had found them
starving and helped them, and that
Mrs. Brooke had told me she had been
at school with her in Philadelphia, and
about the letter one OF my men said
he had put over the river directed TO
her and also about Capt Waller COM
ing to me. In answer to my state
ment she said. she did go to school
in Philadelphia for three years when
young lady, and that one of her
most intimate friends, and a part of
the time her roommate, was a young
lady from Virginia, but she could not
recall her name, nor could she place
her as Mrs. Brooke. she said that
Capt. Waller was on Mr.. Davis star.
and without doub, it was he that came
to me; also that Capt Waller was
her brotherin-law, having married
her Youngest sister said to Mrs.
Davis that she had proven beyond any
doubt in my mind the direct connec-
ton between the letter that Mrs.
Brooke had written to her and which
one Of my men had put across the
river, and Capt. Waller coming to me
as he did, and was equally sure that
Capt. Waller was sent through her
influence, and that was now positive
II was she who saved my life She
answered: Capt. Harris, it looks as
though your conclusions were correct.
When you get home. if you will write
me fully about Mrs. Brooke and Capt.
Waller and send me the maiden name
OF Mrs. Brooke, ! think can recall
most, if not ALL the facts" She said:
You must remember that it Is over
thirty years since this has happened,
and ! have passed through a great
deal Of trouble" bade her goodby,
and, taking the next train. returned to
Chicago, feeling that had solved the
mystery OF what, and who, saved me
from being hung.
| learned that a daughter of Mrs.
Brooke was the wife of John c. Wise,
surgeon L. s. navy. stationed at the
Navy Yard, Washington, d. G. / i'm
mediately wrote to him and soon re.
ceived an answer, dated October 5,
1895, stating that Mrs. Brooke had
died in the year 1888, and that her
maiden name was Maria Ashby.
October IS, 1895, wrote Mrs. Davis.
giving her a concise statement about
Mrs. Brooke, the letter, and Capt.
Waller. also enclosed a copy OF the
letter from DR.. Wise.
About the goth of November went
to New York. Calling on Mrs. Davis.
| found her In her sitting room with
my letter before her to be answered.
We talked over all the circumstances.
Mrs. Davis said my letter had brought
back to her memory many Of the in
cidents related in it. She wen remem-
bered Miss Maria Ashby as her school
from Virginia, and had an indistinct
recollection Of receiving letter from
her, referred to as Deing put over the
river by one Of my men. She had
recalled the incidents Of the 4th OF
March 1864, very distinctly. Will
give them as stated TO me by her
She said the day was very warm, and
they had the doors and windows all
open in the house; that Mr. Davis had
his presidential offlco IN the house,
and that her sitting room was direct
ly across the hall while she was sit
ting there Capt. Waller came in quite
excitedly aud said; MIR President,
they are going to hang a Yankee Of
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