The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-31

wait, the first light broke in the east.
Then Captain Hudson turned to us and
ordered US into our saddles.
4" Go after 'em, men, he said, and
we dashed upon the camp while the
party was still asleep. Mt a shot was
fired, but in a few minutes we had
oVerpowered the drivers and soldiers
outside the tents and were ready to
investigate the camp. There were 20
members of the fugitive party Davis,
his wife, three children, two servants,
four teamsters, and a dozen officers.
mo one had come out of the three
tents in the center of the camp. The
middle one was so large that 1 I'M
mediately guessed it to be the abiding
place of the president of the Confed-
eracy end 1 went to the rear entrance
to await developments. While 1 was
there two troopers appeared at the
doorway opposite my station, but left
when told by a. woman, whom [ after
ward learned was Mrs. Davis, that the
ladies had not yet arisen. Mrs. Davis
called from the tent to ask if the ser
wants could go to the stream to get
water, and Captain Hudson replied in
the negative. Then two figures en-
erged from the entrance which l was
guarding
Intercepted the Servants
"AI this happened more quickly
than YOU can tell it. The officer and
the other men seemed not disposed
to interfere with the two servants.
1 noticed that one was a negro woman
and the other, phenomenally tall for
a woman, wore shawl closely
fastened around the head. AS they
strobe away quickly toward the stream
at the bottom of a glade, 1 swung
my horse so as to ride in circle and
intercept them. There was dense
thicket along the stream into which
person might run and lose himself
easily.
Il rode my horse so that I crossed
their path two-thirdS of the distance
between the camp and the stream. In
response to my command they halted,
and the shawl-covered person, glanc-
ing up at me quickly, revealed mus
tache, as l suspected. 1 was not sure,
but determined to try chance shot.
That's a fine mustache for an old
lady, I said.
.'What's that?" he yelled and, of
course, 1 was sure then that it was
Jeff Davis.
Mrs. Davis Approaches.
ct covered him with my rifle. and as
L did he threw the shawl from his
head, and stood looking at me with a
smile. Even while l had
him covered he reached for his back
pocket. If he had ever made a mo-
ton to draw l would have killed
seen him stopped, and was approach |
ing the scene when she saw me cover !
him with my gun. She ran toward us
as swiftly as a young and athletic |
girl.
Don't shoot him, Mr.. Soldier she |
called. Don't shoot. He's unarmed.' |
Il raised the muZzle of my rifle a
little, but l still had him covered suf-
to be safe. While we stood |
there there came a sound of firing. |
The First Wisconsin had put in an ap-
pearanCe, and had mistaken some of !
the Michigan scouts for the enemy |
All of our detail save three hurried |
away. Two of the men guarded the |
unarmed prisoners. I guarded jeff |
Davis, whom 1 had captured. He sat |
en- little log, with his head buried |
in his hands. AS the years go on 1 |
feel more and more sympathy for him |
as he sat there-a man surveying the |
wreck of nation that he had tried |
to build; yes, and facing the ignomini- |
Gus death of a traitor. Occasionally |
he glanced at me as 1 watched him, |
rifle in hand. He smiled that slight |
ly sneering smile and glanced away. |