The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-10-13
THE MAN WHO PUT IRONS ON JEFF DAVIS
Remembers His Experience With the Noted Prisoner, and
Tells Interesting Story of the Historic Affair.

President Jefferson Davis, of the con
tederacy, was ironed with a prisone'
n Fort Monroe. Henry Charles Ar
nold, the village blacksmith of Gran
vile Center, near here, this week
told a newspaper man the interesting
story. He was blacksmith then
and has followed his trade ever since
and he WILDLY remembers his ex-
9rience with the noted prisoner.
He contradicts the story that Davis
submitted to the irons meekly, and
tells how force had to be used to get
them on Said he:
Il am the son of William Arnold,
and was born in New London county,
Conn, on July Ga singular date), in
me year 1910. When the war broke
out l did not hesitate in responding
10 the call to arms, and | became
stationed at Fort Monroe where I
worked as a blacksmith. Well, l re-
member toward the close of 1855
when President Johnson issued a
statement, in which he offered a re-
ward of 100000 for the capture of
Jefferson Davis, president of the con-
derate states, and it was certainly
enjoyable news to the occupants of
she fort when it was announced that
Mr.. Davis had been captured by Col.
Pritchard, of the fourth Michigan
cavalry, at Mitchellville, Ga.
Tells the Whole Story.
' Leading up to the arrival of Mr..
Davis at Fort Monroe, the blacksmith
said: Gen. Nelson Miles was then
in charge in Washington, and it was
Capt. Tidlaw who ordered me to
make them. Capt. Tidlaw was of the
Third Pennsylvania heavy artillery,
which never took part in an active
battle
AS the captain and myself enter
"a the room where Mr.. Davis was
confined the latter was lying upon
an iron bed. He was reading an
Episcopal prayer book Seeing the
shackles in my hands, Mr.. Davis said:
My God, you're not going to iron
10e?" To which Capt Tidlaw re-
piled Yes; it is the orders from
washington
Mr. Davis said: Such is unneces-
sary, for you have everything guard
ed, even the windows
But the captain replied that such
we're the orders from Washington.
Mr.. Davis got up from his bed He
spoke of the disgrace he would ex-
perience if the irons were placed on
him.
= Telegraph to Washington and see
81 the orders are not mistake, said
Mr.. Davis
Capt. Tidlaw, turning to me, said:
60 on with your work
Il got down on my knees and
started to place the shackles, but Mr.
Davis resisted. Several moments
Eassed, during which the president
said that it was unlawful to place
a man in irons, and he turned to me
and remarked: Who made you
spokesman At that instant several
men were passing on the outside, and
! told the captain to call them in,
which he did, and in a few minutes
Mr., Davis was lying on his back on
the floor, while | fastened the shack
les about his ankles.
Would as Soon Be Shot.
Mr.. Davis said: You might as
well shoot me as to put on these
irons, but nevertheless they were
soon on.
About one week later Mr.. Davis
complained of feeling sick Several
physicians were called to attend him,
but he declined the services of all
with the exception of DR.. Craven of
New York, and the latter ordered the
irons taken. off, which was done by
me After the shackles had been re-
moved Mr.. Davis was transferred
TO another building, where he was
strongly guarded"
One of the men who often took
Mr.. Davis out for his daily exercise
was Loren Leonard, VINO corroboratet
the story. Mr. Arnold said that a.
the close of the war he accompanied
Mr.. Leonard to Granville Center
where he has lived as the village
blacksmith ever since E
HIS MONEY WAS MELTED.
Sumter County Mas Was Afraid [,