Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-05-11

turc Of the earliest scene in the cell OF
Mr.. Davis. as related Immediately after
Its occurrence by one who was passive
actor therein. my own connection with
MIR. Davis not commencing until two
days after tiay the 24th). when I was
first detailed by Major-Geneyal Miles as
his attending physician.
Being ushered into his inner cclA by Gen.
eral Miles. and the two doors leading into
| it ,from the guard room being fastened
Mr.. Davis, after surveying the premises
for some moments. and looking out
through the embra sure with such thoughts
passing over his lined and expressive face
as may be imagined. suddenly seated
himself in chair. placing both hands on
| his knees, and asked one of the soldiers
pacing up and down within his cell this
significant question: (Which way docs
the embrasurc face?'
| The soldier was silent.
| Mr.. Davis raising his voice a little, re
peated the inquiry.
| But again dead silence, or only the
measured footballs of the two pacing
sentries within. and the fainter echoes of
the four without.
Addressing the other soldier as il the
first had been deaf and had not heard him,
the prisoner again repeated his inquiry.
Hut the second soldier remained silent
as the first. a slight twitching Of his eyes
intimating that he had heard the ques-
ton. but was forbidden to speak,
| "Well." exclaimed Mr.. Davis throwing
his hands up and breaking into a bitter
laugh. Then. rising from his chair. he
commenced pacing back and forth before
the embrasure. now lowing at the silent
sentry across the mOat. and anon at the
two silently pacing soldiers who were his
companions in the casemate. Then he
turned to his sole reading matter. a Bible
and a prayerhook. his only cpmpa Mons
those two silent guards. and his only food
the ordinary rations of bread and beef
served out to the soldiers of the garrison
Ythus passed the first day and night of
the ex-President's confinement.
On the morning OF the 23rd of May, a
yet bittcrer trial was in store for the
proud spirit-a trial severer, probably. than
has ever in modern times been inflicted
upon any one who had enjoyed such
emnence. This morning Jefferson Davis
was shackled.
! Captain Jerome F. Titlow Of the Third
Pennsylvania artillery. entered the prison
ers cell. followed by the blacksmith of
the fort ana his assistant the latter
carrying in his hands some heavy and
harshly-rattling shackles. As they enter
|ed. MT. Davis was reclining on his bed,
feverish and weary after a sleepless night,
the food placed near to him the preceding
day still lying untouched on its tin plato
near his bedside.
"Wcll?'' said MIR. Davis as they enter.
cd. slightly raising his head.
| Il have an unpleasant duty to perform,
sir" said Captain Titlow; and as he smoke.
the senior blacksmith took the shackles
from his assistant.
| Davis leaped instantly from his re-
Icumbent attitude. flush passing over
his face for IA moment. and then his
countenance growing livd and rigid as
death.
| He gaspcd for breath. clutching his
throat with the thin fingers OF his right
hand. and then recovering himself slowly,
while his wasted figure lowered up to its
fun height-now appearing to swell with
Indignation and then to shrink with terror.
as he glanced from the captains face TO
the shackles. lie said slowly and with "A
lahoring chest
My God. You cannot have been sent
to iron me-"
| such arc my orders, sin" replied the
officer. reckoning the blacksmith to an
nroach who stepped forward. unlocking
the paddock and preparing tho letters tn
do their Office. These letters were of
heavy iron, propably fve-cighths of an
inch in thickness. and connected by a
chain of like weight.
This is too mOnstrous.'' groancd tho
prisoner, glaring hurricdly round tho
room. as If for some weapon. or means of
self-destructlon. II demand. captain.
| that YOU Let me see the commanding
officer. Can he pretend that such shackles
are REQUIRED to secure the safe custody of
Il weak old man, so guarded, and in such
II fort as this"'