Year: 1865

Iue SpOU. lNelT Olu PiSyooiCcS dSdlus'
me became intensified. They said had
killed Widow Wormly to get her proper
| ty, ak Ih.ld married her niece with the
saupjobject. They laid great stress on
the fact that | was unhurt while she
was killed. They would not listen to my
explanation, and said / had contrived
the blast purposelyto kill her.


: This occurred just as the war began
to loom upin the horizon. alter the elec-
tiOn OF Mr.. Lincoln, and at time when
the enmity of theSOHthern people against
Yankees vas aroused to the highest
pitch


"They swore TREY would hang me OF,
the spot, and put rope roud my neck
for that purpose. Ny young wife, who
was naturally gentle and timid as fawn,
was aroused. The most timid animals,
rush to rescue their mates or offspring
when they are in emminent danger. Ell
len cling to me as ifnothing would sep
arate us, weeping piteously, and implor-
ing nv cruel enemies at one moment and
defying them the next Twas astonished
TO see her exhibit 50 much force of char.
acter For my own part / was in great
terror l was not prepared to die; and
to be hanged like dog was an excruci
ating thought. 1 could have faced death
on the battle field orr in any fair encoun-
ter; but to meet it then, under such cir
cumstances, terrified me extremely.


:"Just as the mob were about to put
their threats into execution, in spite of
the tears aud pleading of my wife, gen
tleman Of some influence i'll that part Of
the country, and more moderate than the
rest, rode up. AS soon rs he saw the ag-
ony of MY poor Ellen his heart was
touched. He heard their accusation aud
my explanation, and he finally prevailed
upon them to send Inc to Jail and let me
be tried by the laws.


81 was taken to Jail, committed Tor
murder, and after some time tried on that
charge. Although the prejudice of the
community was so strong against me,
the want of evidence to convict compell-
ed the Jury to acquit me according to the
instructions of the judge.


by this time the war had commenced.
My enemies and the enemies ofmy coun-
try, would not permit me to remain in
the State They still pretended to be-
lieve was guilty of murder, though ac-
quilted for the want of evidence Be-
sides, | was Yankee, not long settled
among them, and that was offence enough
to cause my expulsion.


''It was heartrending to leave my
young, inexperienced and unprotected
wife, and the bright prospects our gold
mine promised, but there was no alter
native | was allowed to remain only
twelve hours Ellen implored me to
take her away, but | could not; l had
no means to do so; and knew not how
/ should be able to reach the North my
self Then, thought the war would
not last long, and that it was necessary
she should remain to take care of the
property / left with heavy heart |;
my wife was almost distracted; but /
did not leave without hope nor without
inspiring hope in her.


After passing through many difficult
ties | reached the North, and when l saw
the war was going to be on much
larger scale and last longer than l had
supposed l joined the Union army. |
have seen a great deal of hard service, as
these scars (pointing to his face) will
show. / have not been able to cOmmu-
nicate with my wife since we parted
And now, sir, there may be an oppOrtu-
nifty of knowing if she be alive or dead
in the way / have suggested. | am so
diSiigured by these wounds received III
the war that the people who knew ME
formerly will not recognize me. | know
every road in the country and am not
afraid to venture within the rebel lines.
| believc | can perform any important
service for our Generals in the approach
ing campaign in North Carolina, while |
shall be gratifying myself and relieving
my own anxiety. I have told you my
story, sir may l repeat my request that
you will have me sent rs % spy to the IN
terror of the State"


"Iwas SO satisfied" the Colonel added,
with the truth of this mans story and
his sincerity, as well of his capacity for
the service he desired, that recommend
ed him to the General He was employed
accordingly Not long after Lee and
Johnson surrendered their armies. l
neither saw nor heard anything of Hatch
in the interior but after the surrender
while l was in the neighborhood of
Greensboro, he came to my quarters. be
said he found his wife married to anoth-
er man when he reached home. She did
not know him, he was so much changed;
and, as he was in an enemy's country, he
thought it wonld be prudent not to make
himself known at that time As soon,
however, as the rebel armies were sur
rendered'and we were in possession OF
The country he returned and claimed his
wife She told him she had not heard
from him for more than four years, and
understood lie was dead, and that she
would not have married again other
wise He found, however, that she pre-
ferred her last husband, who was a good
looking young fellow. Hatch, looking at
his own changed appearance, and de-
spairing of reviviRg Ellen's love again,
he very coolly and philosophically
thought he had better make compro
mise He could not get his wife without
trouble, if at all and lhen she might not
be contented to live with him. By sac
riticng his feelingsa little he would part
with her. But the quartz rock-the gold
that lay beneath 1.-THE precious gold
mine-he would not part with. He pro
posed. therefore, to let the last husband
have Ellen with the house and portion
of the land, if she would give up to him
the other portion of the land on which
was the supposed gold vein She accept
ed the terms. They live friendly togeth-
er, and he is as intent as ever on finding
the hidden treasure.





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