New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-01

How peril made a "gun toter" Of a
Governors wife; how the woman &C
customed to every luxury that beauty
and position can command suddenly
found herself learning the lesson OF
the pioneer wife. to stand by and
keep n stifT upper lip; now she even
went smiling to the dentist every
morning during the riots that her hus-
band might not suspect she was
frightened this is the story Of Sarah
Slaton.
1t sounded like a chapter out OF an
Indian massacre. this tale Of men skulN-
ing in the woods and a wife following
her husband about with gun. IL
sounded doubly impossible as one sat
in the Waldorf-Astoria and gazed at
the aristocratic, modishly gowned wife
Of John NJ. Slaton, whose last net as
Governor of Georgia was to commute
Leo Franks death sentence.
81 was not entirely unprepared Tor
what happened" she said. shrinking
from the melodramatic. MY HUSBAND
had warned me when he told me that
he was going to save Frank that 1t
would probably mean an attempt on MS
life. II was 3 o'clock in the morning
when he came to my room. Dear /
am going to save this man. he said
but want TO tell you, before any one
what it will mean to US. We VIII nav
10 give up my political career anu
they may try to Kill me.
Told Him lie Was Right.
"Of course, / told him he was doing
lust right. that did not care n scrap
for social power at the expense OF
what he thought was right. 80,
81 was not really frightened until
Friday night. the night Of the. big MOP
Monday there was a great deal OF ho"l-
inc and banging. but we felt they were
only an unorganized crowd OF humans.
Friday. however. they we're quiet Iney
stole stealthily about the grounds. We
could sec them skulking in the woods
hack of the house, and we knew they
meant business. We knew they wanted
70 xiii my husband and that It would
he moro Of an achievement Tor them
10 kill him as Governor than as prl-
vate citizen. i was his last night "a
Governor, so it was their last chance.
81 had been warned by anonymous
notes four Of them not TO stay al
the house that night" Mrs. Slaton
forgot this was melOdramatlc. she
Ieanod forward and the fire OF the
pionecr wife burned in her eyes. Her
voice was quiet, but proud, the voice
Of one who was too proud TO be AFRAID.
81 burned those notes up and SAID
nothing about them 20 any one, but l
stuck 10 my post, as woman always
stick when there is real danger.
The thing that troubled me most
was that my husband was so careless
about leaving his revolver about lie
was never afraid, and though he was
supposed 10 have his gun with HIM,
half the time he would leave 1t on the
piano or under his pillow.
Toted Gun Around.
az knew the soldiers were all about
guarding the house, but ! couldn't feel
sure that some mailman wouldn't break
through the line some way and make
his way into the house. / spent my
time going around after him, picking
IN his revolver and handing 1t to him.
| would carry it point downward, hid
den in the folds of my skirt, so as not
20 excite the household by the sight
Of it.
"On Friday night the Governors sis
tet came over 70 spend the night. she
had been informed OF the plot, and
she purposed TO be on hand, too. | sat
in nv room writing letters until about
II o'clock. | had just begun TO IN
dress when | heard the sergeant down
stairs speaking a. the telephone.
About five hundred - / heard him say
in low. stern voice. About l
o'clock? All right. let me know il
YOU can send out any more men later.
81 didn't faint away or cry, or do
any of the things women are supposed
70 do in times Of danger | knew II
was 20 be any comfort TO my husband
| must keep quiet. Anyway, | went on
undressing Then old Lou. our negro
cook. who has been with my family for
years and years. came tapping az my
door
"'Miss Sadie. she whispered. the
men down at the barn done sent me
up here. They say IL amt safe for
nobody TO sleep in dat barn tonight.
They may set it on fire. Old Mack, he's
gwine stay there til they sets il afre,
so as TO let the horses out
Took LOUIS Advice.
81 told old Lou 20 make UP her cot
in the corner Of my room. We both
went 10 bed. Presidently | heard her
whisper: Miss Sadie. hadn't YOU bet
ter get dressed? II them debils starts
to burn this here house
ooh. / don't believe the Governor