The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-26
THE TIMES DsPATc RICHMOND VA, SUNDAY MAY g. 1912


decided for me next morning by n
little Jewish boy. While 1 was stroll
Ing after breakfast along Pcnnsyl-
vania Avenue. which was boiling with
excitement over the last thrilling
events OF the war. now fast approach
ing It's crisis. my name was called by
boy about fourteen years of age
whom Immediately recognized as one
OF Jewish family 1 had left behind
me among the refugees on the south
crn bank of the Potomac. Drawing
me aside, he blurted out that detec-
tives were looking for me- In re-
sponsc to my inquiry as to what he
was doing there, he gave me the de-
tails, saying that when II was learned
that my party had been taken across
the river Il storm OF indignation broke
out. licensed by their feeling of
helplessness, the next morning from a
headiand at the point the people left
behind hailed passing steamer. which
took them Off and brought the whole
party up to the Washington Navy
Yard. He further informed me that
the night before a rebel bearer of
dispatches had crossed the river, and
upon the strength OF her information
party had been sent out from Port
Tobacco TO try to intercept us af-
fected to treat the matter lightly, but
seeing in the morning paper = news
item corroborative Of many of the
details of tho boys story. l realized
that If ] would make sure of my own
safety 1t was incumbent upon me to
act quickly and decisively. According
iy. having the official dispatches Sc
creted on my person, l at once sought
an acquaintance whom / had pre-
viously known in Richmond. obtained
from him and ordinary business en-
velopc. tore off the official covering
from my dispatches wrote in pencil
the words. send inclosed to Hon.
Colin J. MacRae. Care Frazer, Tren-
holm e. Co, Liverpool on a strip OF
newspaper margin, which 1 Enclosed in
the envelope with the dispatches
sealed the envelope and addressed 1t
to a brothcr-in-law in London, and,
Fastening to the post-ohicc. dropped
1t unstamped into the box, knowing
that. according to the law and treaty
then In force, unstamped foreign let
tiers would be forwarded and double
postage be collected at foreign dcsti-
nation, | thought 1t best not to take
the risk of furnishing n clue for my
detection by buying stamps at the
window. The package reached its dcs-
tination. and It's receipt was acknowi-
edged in an earnest letter of thanks,
as 1 subsequently, learned from my
brother-in-law.
The surrender of General Lee fol-
lowed quickly. and few days there-
after the world was startled by the
assassination of Mr.. Lincoln. The ar
rest of Dr.. Mudd and some of the peo-
pie whom L had met, and In whose
company l had doubtless been seen, as
we'll as the arrest OF many strangers
at that place. put me in a quandary.
1t seemed to me that my safest course
was to return to Virginia as early
as possible. The war clearly was over.
the situation facing the South. with
it's problem arising from the eInanci-
pated slaves. appeared serious. and
my refugee wife and child placed in
these circumstances filled all my
thoughts. Facing the situation boldly,
/ went to the passport office. then in
charge of Colonel PclouZe, asked to
see that officer. had a short but pleas
ant interview with him, in VIII CHI
informed him that l was British sub
ject that had never taken an oath Of
allegiance to the United states; that
had a wife and young child in the
interior OF South Carolina, for whose
safety I felt much concern, and that
] desired a passport to enable me to
join them. Being apparently i'm
pressed with my statement, he ordered
passport for me to petersburg. ~
large crowd of seekers of passports
almost besieged the office. With sew
eral of them I was personally ac-
quainted. as 1 was also with their
reasons for leaving their country. One
of them, whom l knew very well, and
who afterwards became prominent
Republican politician and officeholder
in his city government. asked me IN
strong language what was my pull.
The way then appeared smooth for
me. but washington was in fearful
turmoil the discovery of the assassins
OF Lincoln filling and exciting the
minds OF the whole community, ar
rests being made hourly with or With
out cause. and every exit being close
" watched. Apprehension arose again,
but at the hour of the starting of the
steamer l was on board. and sought
the seclusion OF my cabin The last
alarm came about midnight on the
steamer. At that hour l was awak-
ened by a command for all passen-