The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-12

TniS book written by Brew. Lit. Col.
John j. Craven, who was the chief
medical officer at Fortress Monroe
during the entire time of the impris-
onment of Mr.. Davis, is republished
at this time when the controversy of
Gen. Miles and Mrs. Davis has made
the matter of putting shackles upon
Mr.. Davis of fresh interest. DIR. CTa-
ven undertakes to give. an account
from personal observation of the ar
rival of Mr.. Davis his incarceration,
the placing of the shackles on his an
kles and sets forth his statement of
the affairs which led up to the pres
ent controversy. 1t contains the SUBJ
stance of frequent conversations be-
tween Mr.. Davis and his physician, to
whom the sick president of the Con-
federacy talked more freely than to
any man at Fortress Monroe. He de-
scribes graphically the suppressed ex-
element at the fort when the propeller
William Clyde, bearing Mr.. Davis
as prisoner. dropped anchor in Hamp-
ton Roads, on the 10Th day of May,
1865. He tells how extremely affecting
was the parting between Mr.. Davis
and his wife and four children on
board the Clyde ''the ladies sobbing
passionately'' DR.. Craven tells the
story of the Stacking on the % day of
May which he calls "a trial severer,
times been inflicted upon any one who
has enjoyed such eminence." Here is
his story:
Captain Jerome e. Titlow, of the
Sd Pennsylvania Artillery, entered the
prisoners cell. followed by the black
smith of the fort and his assistant, the
latter carrying in his hands some
heavy and harshly-rattling shackles.
As they entered, Mr. Davis was re-
oil int on ;eIa nd e..xy
after sleepless night the food placed
near to him the preceding day still
lying untouched on its tin plate near
his bedside.
'WelI?' said Mr.. Davis as they en-
tered, slightly raising his head.
have an unpleasant duty to per-
form, Sir, said Captain Titlow; and
as he spoke. the senior blacksmith
took the shackles from his assistant.
Davis leaped instantly from his re-
cumbent attitude. flush passing over
his face for a moment, and then his
countenance growing livid and rigid
as death.
He gasped for breath, clutching
his throat with the thin fingers of his
right hand, and then recovering him
self slowly, while his wasted figure
lowered up to its full height-now APP
pearing to swell with indignation and
then to shrink with terror, as he
glanced from the captains face to the
shackles-he said slowly and with
laboring chest:
My Godt You cannot have been
sent to iron me?'
Such are my orders Sir replied
the officer, reckoning the blacksmith
to approach, who stepped forward, un-
locking the paddock and preparing the
letters to do their office. These letters
were of heavy iron. probably five
eighths of an inch in thickness and
connected together by chain of like
weights. 1 believe they are now in po-
session of Major-General Miles, and
viii form an interesting relic.
This is too monstrous,'' groaned the
prisoner, glazing huriedly round the
room, as if for some weapon, or means
of self-destruction. II demand captain
you let me see the commanding officer
Can he pretend that such shackles are
required to secure the safe custody of
weak old man, SO guarded and in
such a fort as this?
1t could serve no purpose, re-
piled Captain Titlow; his orders are
from Washington, as mine are from
him.
But he can telegraph interposed
Mr. Davis, eagerly; there must be
some mistake. No such outrage as
you threaten me with, is on record
in the history of nations. Beg him to
telegraph, and delay until he answers.
My orders are peremptory,' said
the officer, and admit of no delay. For
your own sake, let me advise you to
submit with patience. AS a soldier
Mr.. Davis, you know l must execute
orders.
These are not orders for a SOL
der. shouted the prisoner, losing all
control of himself. They are orders
for jailer-for hangman, which no
soldier wearing a sword should ac-
cept! / tell you the world will ring
with this disgrace. The war is over;
the South is conquered; / have no lon
ger any country but America, and it
is for the honor of America, as for
my own honor and life, that / plead
against this degradation. Kill me!
kill mel he cried. passionately, throw
ing his arms wide open and exposing
his breast, rather than inflict on me,
and on my People through me, this
insult worse than DEATH
Do your duty, blacksmith, said
the officer walking towards the en-
brasure as If not caring to witness the
performance 1t only gives increased
pain on all sides to protract this in
terview.'
AT these words the blacksmith adj
vanced with the shackles, and seeing
that the prisoner had one foot upon
the chair near his bedside, his right
hand resting on the back of it, the
brawny mechanic made an attempt to
slip one of the shackles over the ankle
so raised; but, as if with the vehem-
ence and strength which frenzy can
impart, even to the weakest invalid,
Mr.. Davis suddenly seized his assail-
ant and hurled him halfway across
the room.
ION this Captain Titlow turned, and
seeing that Davis had backed against
the wall for further resistance. began
to remonstrate, pointing out in brief.
clear language, that this course was
madness, and that orders must be en-
forced at any cost. Why compel me,
he said, to add the further indignity
of personal violence to the necessity
of your being ironed?'
| am prisoner of war fiercely
retorted Davis; I have been a soldier
ir the mics of America, and know
die. Only kill me, and my
II be blessing on your
sag lille / have life and
esist, for myself and for
~ this thing shall not be