The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-02-20
A NEW YORKER
IN MARYLAND.
Notes by theWaY On the Western Shore
OF the Chesapeake Historical
"reminiscences Social and
Agricultural Condition.

Plata, III Charles County, | was
entertained at a home where
Wilkes Booth sought shelter when
he was fleeing from justice after
he had shot President Lincoln,
and from which place he was guild
ed through the bed of stream to
a thicket, where he was hidden
for four days under a screen of
brush. The swamp where the
horses were shot and their bodies
sunk in the quicksand was pointed
out The fugitives were fed by a
cOlored man named Henry, who is
still is living. He was in the en-
ploy of Confederate sympathizer
named Jones. The county was
filed with Union troops looking
for the assassin. They traced him
to the door of my host, but then
lost track for the reason given
above, nor did they find any until
after Booth had crossed the PotO-
mac in boat provided by Henry.
This boat is said to be still in eX-
istence. A gentleman suggested
Henry that if he would show the
to boat and tell the story in the
North he would make a lot of
money. He replied: No sab,
Fust thing sumbody shoot me; den
what good dat money do Henry?"
After the finding of the boat and
the owner by the Union scouts
they traced out the place where
Booth was hidden. Henry was
strung up to tree, but 50 vehem-
emily did he protest his lack of
knowledge that he was finally re-
leased. Doubtless he really did
not know who Booth was until
after his escape.
Jones and my hosts father were
arrested and imprisoned in the
government prison at Washington
Jones was finally released, nothing
being proved against him. He
has written a little book telling
the whole story. The life of Mr..
Cox, my hosts father, was saved
by the mistaken testimony of a
little colored girl, whom l saw
now, OF course, grown woman
who insisted: 'Massa Sam did not
take him in.
These stirring times are long
Since past, l found there people
very ready to talk of them when
they discovered | could look at
things from their point of view.
Mr., CoX-the younger paid what
| consider one Of the highest tri-
butes to President Lincoln | ever
heard. Remember, his father was
in the Confederate service and was
long imprisoned. His brother
met his death as the result of a
wound received in battle. He
SAID: II was brought up to con-
slider Abraham Lincoln a monster
and to despise a Northern man as
| would a rattlesnake; today CON
slider Lincoln the greatest and best
man this country has ever produc-
ed. Had he lived through the re-
construction period our condition
and that of the whole South would
have been far different" It is de-
lightful to hear such tributes to
Lincoln all through the South
When l read again the history of
those troublOuS times, when sec
tional feeling ran 50 high, and see
conditions that prevail here today
after more than forty years, large
ly the result of the unjust course
then pursued, | can appreciate the
real tribute conveyed in the state
ment.
In all this county there are no
large towns. The old mansion
houses were built in the centre OF
the plantations, often a mile from
the main road. Until ten years
before the war there were gates on
all roads except the main highway
One lady told me they had to open
eleven gates in going to church
four miles distant; most of the
travel was on horseback. When
they went by carriage a negro boy