Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-08-01

lated following the war members ~
the Rankin family, of whom there
were four aside from the parents, |
made every effort to ascertain what
had become of the brother and Oldest |
son. The parents died shortly after the |
war. never knowing of the fate OF their |
oldest child John Rankin, Orville Ran
kin, James Rankin and Miss Agnes
Rankin came to Indianapolis. Here
they interested government ofnclals III
an effort to learn something or the
elder Rankin's end. Senator voorhees,
of Indiana became interested In the
search and carried it to the govern
ment, where the archives of the war
department were overhauled. 1t was
found the spy had borne Invaluable
dispatches into the enemies lines, but
after he crossed all record ceased.
Curtis is making visit to relatives
in Indianapolis, and few days ago
while walking along Washington street
he met a man whose face was strange
" familiar. Each looked closely at the
other. Then they grasped hands.
"Curtis"' exclaimed one.
"Cecilr' said the Otner.
Link In Fate's Chain.
The meeting was link in the chaip
fate was forging. The two men had
not met for twenty-five years. Cecil
was himself Il resident of Putnam
county during war days, but before the
end went south He admits of Confed-
crate sympathies then.
But few days ago when he grasp
ed hands with Curtis they spoke of old
days and then of other things. Cecil
said that he was going to the Deacon
ess hospital. He is under the care OF
an Oculist his left eye being affected
and an operation necessary. 1t was at
the hospital that Curtis visited Cecil.
Those We're good old days-good old
DAYS" remarked Curtis when the con-
versation had turned to reminiscent
grooves. when the Lewises and the
Rankin boys were young-by the way,
Lew, no one ever knew what became
of Rankin, the Union spy"
Cecil turned his unbandaged eye to
look reflectively at Curtis.
Rankin" he said, Il was there
when he was killed"
Curtis was speeChless for a moment.
Then he said, What
The story as Cecil tells 1t carries one
back to the dark days of the war In
Kentucky and Tennessee. 1t was just
prior to the battle of Chickamauga.
Then. he says, he was within the Con-
federate lines himself with friends.
He was attracted with soldiers by the
capture of a man, Cecil states, to a
farmhouse near the home of General
Pillow. the Confederate commander.
Cecil himself took no part in the af-
| fair, he states, but on reaching the
| farmhouse he looked on the bed where
the alleged spy lay. and he states he
recognized him as Rankin. He heard
| the order given, he declares, that the
| spy be shot, and he saw Rankin, who
was either sick or was pretending ILL
ness, carried away.
| He was taken to the meadow on the
| Pillow farm, Cecil says, and the fol-
| lowing morning General Pillow was
| heard to remark that he'd found the
body of a dead man in his meadow.
| Further than this Cecil says it was
generally understood the body was
buried near where it lay by servants
at the Pillow home. The battle which
followed In few days erased the I'm
preston the incident" had made.
A letter conveying to John Rankin at
| Washington the first news of his broth
er's death after almost fifty years has
probably left Indianapolis.