The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-28

coins Death-Telegram AnnOunc-
ing the Assassination Of the Presi-
dent Wa Received Just as DIR.
Davis Began to Spcak-SpOt is Now
Marked by Iron Table, Near South
ern Express Office-Was then Two
Story Frame Structure.
Joseph q. Ffveash, in h Richmond
Times-Dispatch.
TWO years ago the writer Of this
sketch returning home from q business
visit to the south, stopped over for two
days at Charlotte, n. c., to visit points
with which he was familiar 40 years
before, when the ~Confederacy was has
tening to its fall, and after searching
for landmarks of the war period but
four buildings were recognized as hav-
ing had existence during the eventful
winter and spring of 1865, when tn
armed forces of the Confederacy we've
disappearing SO rapidly. Instead of
the small town, whose principal indus-
try was a navy yard" that construst-
ed no vessels, was found a modern
city, throbbing with life and energy,
the products of whose factories are
distributed TO the uttermOst parts OF
the earth. The desire to revisit the
old spot where Mr.. Davis delivered his
last speech was the chief cause of the
visit, and when the Bates house WAS
sought, from the front door Of which
Mr.. Davis addressed the citizens, re-
fugees and soldiers who had assemh-
Led late that April afternoon to heac
him, it was found to have been re-
placed by an imposing building, the
lower floor being occupied by he
Southern Express Company. A few
feet in front of 1t. fastened on the
sidewalk, was a brass tablet, contain
ing an inscription to this effect: con
this spot Jefferson Davis hears of
Lincoln's death, April IS, 1865 Had
the date April 18th, been substituted
for April 18th, it would have been
entirely accurate. AS the news Of the
assassination Of Mr.. Lincoln was COM
municated to Nh. Davis, just as tie
latter was about to commence his
speech, the reco1lectiOns Of n who
was present may be interesting at
this time. Before proceeding, how
ever, to describe the scene in front Of
Bates house, when the telegram an
nOuncing the assassination was read
to the crowd by Colonel William JOnn-
StOn, it may not be amiss to review the
shifting scenes witnessed in Charlotte
I,-fDo tho proon1inO thpan months
when the coils were being drawn so
tightly about the dying C~Onfederacy.
loss OF VALUABLE STORES
Early in January a fire occurred at
d the principal depot in the town that
destroyed stores of immense value
which were intended for the Army OF
Northern Virginia. The gauge OF the
South Carolina railroad was wider
than that of the North Carolina road;
consequently it was necessary to trans
fer freight and passengers at this de-
DOT. To accommodate the vast guam
titles of -four, meal, meat, and Other
articles needed by the soldiers thai
had peer gathered elsewhere and
u CLuoDoA x " OAAo wv NA
immense warehouses were constructed
of rough pine lumber, and even these
were insufficient to meet the require
mentS of the service. In the earl!
cart Of January rainy weather PFC
vailed for many days, when suddenly
about an hour after midnight, the wint
shifted to the northwest and tempera
tura rapidly fell below the freezing
point. The guard, to protect the prop
erty. was stationed in No. l OF tn
warehouses Of very near thereto, AM
in order to keep warm, put so mucl
fuel on the stove as to set the ware
house afre, and within a few moment!
the flames, driven by the fierce wind
communicated with the other ware
houses and destroyed them all. Wit
their contents, as we'll as other prop
erty in the vicinity. At that tln'
Lees army was actually suffering 10
necessary food and clothing
LIVED IN FREIGHT CARS.
Shortly after this fire Sherman, Wn'
had reached Savannah on the 22d o
December and who was preparing I
move northward to cooperate wit
Grant, commenced his march, SO ina
early in February many refugee
from Charleston, Columbia and othe
noints in South Carolina c~ongregate
in Charlotte. and all the freight train
that could be moved were run UP t
Charlotte-they could go no further
whore they remained until the wa
ended. Many families lived in trelsf
cars and cooked their meals by tn
eide of the railroad tracks. The Mort
Carolina reserves-old men and youtE
were called out for duty and serve
for several weeks. Those III Charlot'
we're under command Of Colonel HoS
If the memoir of the writer Is u