Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1913-07-08
William B. WernWas.

William B. WerAwag. eighty five years
old, pioneer of Roanoke, Confederate veter-
an. Pythan and Mason, died at midnight
Thursday at the Roanoke hospital where he
had been q patti ut about week. Death
was due to a complication of diseases. The
body is at nm undertaking establishments
awaiting advice from relatives as to dispo-
sition. IL is probable 1t will be sent to
Lynchburg for interment beside the body
of his last wife VI ho died about eighteen
years ago. Mr. Welnwag had no children.
ana the only near relatives of which any
thing is known here, is Charles Johnson. Il
nephew, who is clerk of the court at Charles
Town, w. Va. Mr. Johnson has teen NOT
fed of the death of his kinsmau.
Mr.. Wernwag hiss been failing for some
time. Arrangements had been made for
his entrance into the Confederate soldiers
home at Richmond, but he always seemed
averse to entering the institution and never
signed the neoes AIRY papers. He was "a past
commander of William Watts Camp, Con-
federate veterans. aud for time spoke of
trying to make the trip to the Gettysburg
reunion, but his condition was such when
the Roanoke vetersns started on the iJul-
uey that he could not Jin them.
Mr. Wernwag was II man of broad knowl-
edge and liberal views. He read Il great
deal, aud it is said possessed some tiue vol
unes of history and technical works. He
was master of a fault ess vocabulary and
many younger men of early Roanoke took
advantage of his wide learning aud experl-
q &c to learn from his o n lips lessons and
stor es of adventure such MS rarely are
found l.: writ rages.
Mr. Wernwag was native of Indianapolis
and early in life entered the service of the
government as an exFert gunmaker. be
was in charge of the arsenal gun shop at
HArpers Ferry at tue time of Johu Brown
raid, and his recitals of incidents of this ia
nous period in the country's history Were
always vivid and dramatic He was preseu
when John Brown was captured. and was
sent by Robert E. Lee, then colonel in the
federal army, for a mattress on which to
| p ace the wounded raider.
One of John Browns men escaped into
Pennsylvania, and Mr. Wernwag WAS sent tc
the scene of his capture to identify him
after several o hers had filled. The pris
oner was brought back to Harpers Ferry
tried, condemned and executed. Mr. Wern,
wag's experiences on this trip into theK ey
stone State were thr ling and varied. The
man whom he sought to identify was placed
in jail with large number OF other prison.
ers in an eff ort, it is said. to hinder idenlifi
cation Wernwag picked his man by means
of scar on the prisoners face.
| At tue outbreak of the Civil War Mr.
Wernwag cast his lot with the Confedersey
and was sent to Richmond as chief of this
ordinance shops. He remained there unit
defenders of the city were bard pressed
aud then went to Milled g.ville, Ga, where
the last guns of the Confedsracy were man.
the close of the war.
Later he went to st. Lsuis where he lived
for a number of yeSrs. He came to Roa.
noke in the early eighties and married q
Miss Button, sister of tine late w Button,
of Lyhcnbdrg, once editor of the Lynch.
burg Vrginisn His first wife died early in
life. After he death of his last wife. about
eighteen years ago, Mr. Wernwag has lived
more or less retired life, some times board
ing aud some times looking out for his own
household affairs.
Mr.. Wernwsg was member OF Osceola
Lodge. Knights of Pythias and had been a
member of the fraternity fer forty-eight
years. He also was affiliated with the Ma
sons. 1t is likely Pythians. Masons and
Confederate veterans will have part In the
funeral services il they are held here. or
will look after details of removal if it is de-
cided to send his body to Lynchburg for
burial