Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-10
" JEFF" DAVIS CAPTOR
TELLS OF ARREST
Casper Knobel, War Veteran,
Describes Famous Incident.
"Hoopskirt" Story a Myth.

The man who captured jefferson Davis.
President Of the Confederate States of
America. on May TO- 1885, In little camp
near Hawkinsvillc Ca, told his story to-
day. lie is Casper Knobel, a Phadel-
phian, now an inmate of the Soldiers and
Sailors Home at Erie Pa. Fifty years
ago this morning. when only 1s years old
he rode through underbrush to the sleep
ing camp and opened the flap OF tent
in which jefferson Davis and his family
had taken refuge. There was at the time
a reward of 100000 for the capture OF
Davis.
Knobel and George Rinke, Of Detroit
Mich, who was with him. received a
share of the money. The rest went to the
members OF the Fourth Michigan Calvary,
knobers company, which had been sent
out from Macon to find Davis. Rinkc
and Knobel went over the story Of the
capture of Davis the last time they met.
In order to agree as TO details
knobel described hoy he and Rinke had
been separated from the company to
avoid Confederate soldiers I'm the neigh
borhood. 1t was early on the morning
of May 10, 1865. They were riding along
country road Knobel astrlde n mule,
which replaced a horse that had been
shot from under him.
DISCOVERY AND CAPTURE.
"Our party had traversed but short
distance when we discovered a dying
campfire" says Knobel. I'VE rode along
silently and soon made out through the
trees the tents Of the Davis party Tho
hrst person we discovered was y sleep
ing colored man who had evidently been
left to guard the small camp. The mill
tarN guard was nowhere in sight As
soon as we made out the tents we
charged and, even II do say so. II was
a good one. once alongside of the col
ored man we discharged our pieces in the
air as signal to our comrades.
81 dismounted while George Rinke held
my mule knobol's narrative continues,
"and tore open the flap of the first tent
II proved to bc the one occupied hv Mr.
and Mrs. Davis and their family.
reached in and took from the tent pole
a satchel and handed 1t to George. We
found in it later shirts, collars and baby
garments, etc"
After describing a mistaken attack
upon each other by two of the Union
scouting parties. Knobel continues his
story. He was left on guard with Jerrer-
son Davis. his wife and the children. and
clears up the celebrated story tnat Davis
tried to escape by Disgusting himself in
women's clothes
"HOOPsKIRT" STORY FALSE
"It was just at this time" says
Knobel, that Mrs. Davis seized a shawl
and threw it over her husbands should
ers. and out of this incident grew a
cruel story that the Confederate Presi-
dent tried to escape in women's clothing
Mrs. Davis, l think. had no idea of aid
ing her husband to escape. 1t was
simply thoughtful effort to protect him
from the raw morning air"
Jefferson Davis and his wife were
taken to Macon. and later to Washing
ton. Knobcl continued In service until
June II of that year. when he was mus
tered out. He left his home in Swltzer-
land on learning of the Civil War in or
der to get chance to fight. Knooel has
son, Charles c. Knobel OF 6O2i Torres
dale avenue, Wssinoming.