Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-16
PIECE BLOWN FROM WALL OF
FAMOUS FORTRESS BY GIL =
MoRE's SOLDIERS
SAINT Kirkpatrick, Well Known Inter
nal Revenue Agent Would Pre-.
sent Souvenir to Museum Of
Local Library.

author will easily recognize as truly
characteristic Of SAINT Kirkpatrick
well known throughout Wapello
county and prominent in the nations
secret service, Major Samuel Mahon
has been asked to make an effort to
have placed In the museum Of the
library, a souvenir from FIT. Sumpter
The relic is small block of cemented
brick picked up by SAINT Kirkpatrick
outside of and near the outer wall OF
TT. Sumpter, having been knocked out
of the wall by "Gilmores Swamp
Angela during the war of the rebel.
lion. The we'll known secret agent of
tho internal revenue service tells OF
recent captures of moonshine stills
aud recalls his shooting score OF
years ago when he nearly lost his eye
sight.
Ktrlspatrici's Letter.
The lstter issfuil of interest and fol
lows In full. .
Greensboro, N. c., July 4, 10
S4nI Mahon, Esq, Ottumwa, Ia.,
Dnsr Colonel,
AS evidence of sane moments and
lucid intervals: together with patriotic
motives. am using portion Of our
nations holiday to remind you of the
enjoyable fact that am still drawing
my breath and salary, which. when
combined is about equal to life, lib
erty and the pursuit of happiness
Among the many GASES found in the
desert OF life, we sometimes have to
Cross the Slough of despond, as we'll
as encountering the shifting sands OF
time together with unpleasant con-
tact and association: and as one OF
those peculiar cases, am still receiv-
ing dictation from one of Mosby's
guerrillas Surely 1t is that wonders
never cease" and truth is stranger
than fiction" II has been said that
Conscience makes towards of US all,
but this can only tr.Ithfully apply
when we are all In the wrong.
desire to renew former effort OF
mine-that Of saving small block OF
cemented brick that picked up on
the outside and near the outer wall OF
Fort Sumpter. These bricks were
knocked out Of the wall of the fort by
one of GilmoresF" Swamp Angels
desire to have this souvenir placed in
the library museum of Ottumwa.
I note from the prints that initial
steps have been taken, looking to the
annual meeting of old settlers. to-
gether with reunion of4old comrades.
Owing to my connection and associa-
ton with federal affairs here In south
land. cannot as yet see my way
clear tor q leave OF absence before
October i. and as this date falls due
all your social functions and enjoyable
happenings will have passed into his
tory. But I must tell you of recent
experience on May 10 of each year,
the confederates hold memorial serv-
ices I was invited to deliver me-
mortal address at Winston, N. c., a
town OF $4,000. The novelty Of a
gathering Of the kind since the close
Of the Civil war My subject was,
"Why the Confederacy did not sue.
ceed."
l did not throw any brick bats. and
Of course, made no apologies for never
having missed fight or foot race
while in the union army.
After formal service was given an
ovation. am to- lecture there at some
time in the near future on the subject
of odds and Ends, or Wax and Bees
wax"
Last month I put three moonshine
plants ont of commission. two of these
being the most important captures in
many years. One Of these had
evaded my sleuth vigilance for years.
The entire gin mill was under ground
and could not have been detected ex-
cept by sounding the surface On last
Monday morning. just as the soft
streaks Of early morning were steal
ing over Orange county, N. j., and at
q point near where was shot twenty
years ago, / came upon the largest
plant of the kind seen in many years.
The still had capacity of $40 gallons.
The copper had been removed to a
hiding place. 500 yards away, but we
tracked it by the SCOT left here and
there on, the bushes. We poured out
1000 gallons Of beer ready for distil
1ation.
This is the 134th anniversary of our
American independence The great
American eagle will today spread his
proud pinions and soar away to the
boreal pole, region said to have been
discovered by Admiral Peary and Dr.
Cook, but ere the setting sun. this
proud bird will return looking as
detected and bedraggled rs turkey
buZzard.
With kind membranes.
S. l.. Kirkpatrick.