University of South Carolina Libraries
n ' w - _ BY W. A. LEE AND HUGH WILSON. ABBEVILLE, S. C., FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 18G6. VOLUME XIV. NO. 16. f*?? ????????O???B - ' ' EX-PBE8IDEWT DAVIS. Anything that relates to the Ex?President of the lato Confederate States must possess an untiring interest to the people of these States. We have, in order to gratify, as far as possible, this commendable interest, published nearly all concerning the fallen chieftain that we have come acoss in our daily gleanings. From Dr. Draven's book we published copious extracts. Below we give an interesting letto the New York Times, which gives an~ other and a very different view of Mr. D? via' "prison life," from that given by Dr. Craven. With these conflicting statements it is difficult to form any correct idea of the conditions or movements of the ex-President. We can only read them and draw our own conclusions, merely hoping that it will not be long ere justice vrill "open wide bis prison doors" aud bid the captive go free. Here is the article from the Times: Richmond, Va., Wednesday, July 11.? Nothing is morediffioult than for the news paper correspondent to gain even a transient view of the inner life at Fortress Monroe, as the Goveroment has issued an imperative order for the exclusion of this class from the precincts of the Fortress. The nublic must hear about the nriaoner at Fortress MoDroe , they expect it, and .demand it at our bands, and not being able ourselves to Bee Jefferson Davis, we are driTen to the necessity of deriving our knowledge of bim from tbose who bave the privilege. A gentleman of tbis city, of the bigbest standing and character, has recently had a very extended interview with Davie, having spent an entire day wilh him in the Fort, and what I have to say of the prisoner is derived from this entirely trustworthy saurce;. THE J?RE8SNT CONDITION ,of Davis is far from healthy. Hehap.that ^culiar fallowness that i3 the iueviL^.lo jesuk ol long confinement, and his nervous irritability under restraint has natuially .enough taken off and keeps off what little jflosh be ever had. He has no appetite, aod it was noted the other day as a remarkable .event, that be ate the whole of a crab at .one tneaJ. The constitution of the man .seems gone, and Dr. Cooper said as much when, being asked why be did not build .up his patient prompty, he replied that l?iere was nothing to build on. Whether .this state of affairs is a result of his confinement is at least problematical. A man .of seriously impaired, he ?lth for years before he was taken to the Fortress, and a .sufferer from nervous disease, it is the prevalent opinion that the ruin that came up,od bis ambition would bavo brought bim Jo precisely the same physical condition without any confinement at all. He was .not the man to sneer it away, like Benjamin ; or work it away like Lee and JohnMon; or philosophise it away, like Stephens. Whatever might have been, the .plain, simples truth is tbat Jefferson J>avia suffering at Fortress Monroo from the fame nervous diseas to which he was for years constantly subject at Richmond and at Washington. The 'glaring light* it in the abjoining joom on a small table in its centre. Tbe bed is thus in the shadow, and-the direct light does not reack Davis at all; and it is only after it hda traversed the half of one large room, tbe whole of another, and been reflected back from the, opposite plain white jrall of bis room, that it has any power to annoy tbe prisoner. His].eyes are very yeek, aod tbe light doubtless does annoy bim more than it-would any man living; bnt General Miles, conceiving it his duty to have'the prisoner always in sight of tbe sentinels, it is difficult to imagine any plan by wbiob he oan make the light less offensive than it is nnder the present arrange meat; bat.the more sensible course undoubtedly would b& to dispense with sentinels altogether, and leave Davis at night, M at day, to bis parole. . Mr. Davi? does not complain of being disturbed by the noise of the sentinels. , By day, Mr. Davis is at entire liberty under parole within the limits of tjifi -fortress, and generally spends the most of his time in the apartment of his ivife, who has bad one of the casemates assigned her; He is at liberty to receive any books or pspers that anybody Chooses to'sena-bim, and In perutioy thMe, apd in conversations jritlr l:. ?it~ ---? ? ? uw HMfl Mn truQ the numerooa vititora vrho an cdnMantty calling upoa him, ho pt?jN?nU aai? ff^na htngipjf faeavilyMJpon I^htpdi*'. ._.y* 'r S#1?*'* ofcAvjp^ BOOK."' ' /A';AUhoogh Le J^mw mid bo (a to Winy he faM tttfd enough to i^ow tb?t he ho ro?d the work with derided imp*-% tienco and indignation. Ho thinks it a grosa breach of confidence, in the first place, lor Dr. Craven to have written anj book about him at all, as all the informa tion be pretends to give was derived from the confidential and generally considered eacred relation of physician and patient. Having written a book under these circum stances, Mr. Davie thinks he was doubly bound to adhere strictly to truth. Generally, Mr. Davis denies the accuracy of every reported conversation in the book, but as throwing light upon hia thoughts anil feelings, I specify a few of the points he made. Ha prow most inrlicnAnt narhnna over the fact that Craven puts into his mouth on several occasions the expression, "Me and my people," which he says be never used at any time or upon a..y occasion, the form of words used when he had occasion to refer to himself and the Southern people being, "Me and our people." In commenting upon this point, Davis remarked that whatever he might bave been, be bad never been egotistical. Mr. Davis repudates in toto the Craven account of the manacling scene, including the mock beroio speeches Craven represme to bave been made on both sides. Bis ac count la 10 me enect inut Mien the tile ot soldiers entered bis room, and the sergeaoi. had stated in a few direct words the busi neB? upon which they had come, he (Davis) quietly and briefly snid he must resent it to the extent of his power as an insult to 'me and our people.' With the view only of entering this forcible protect, and with no intent of engaging in a childish struggle with the soldiers, he struck ut the man nearest him, when toe soldiers brought their arms promptly to tbe position of 'cliaige bayonets.' Sergeant , however, instantly ordered, 'shoulder arms,' snd bad the prisoner seized and placed upon tbe bed. When there, Davis struggled for a moment with ibe tame intent, but for a moment, and then submitted without remark to what he knew lie could not avoid. The Bergeant (who was the only 'officer present), Mr. Davis Bays, performed his duty as a soldier would do, made no excuse for it, and did not plead orders. In short, all the details of this scene in the Craven book, including trie exclamation by Mr. Davis, 'On, the trhamel oh, the shame!' are upon the authority of the prisoner himself, merely figments of the Doctor's imagination. Air. D ivis is particularly indignant over the fact that he is made to endorse Gener al Hunter a9 a 'Christian and patriotand he says, truly enough, that it would have been grotesquely inconsistent for him to have done anything of the kind after having, as President of the Confederacy, put HuDter under the baii as a robber. All that he ever said to Craven on the 6ubject was, that Hunter was a fanatic, and be gave as his reason for the opinio#, that he bad on two occasions, Rome years ag.-, at TT.? 4?i? 3 L tcuuvu uuuuiriD a a uei, ana luat Doth time?, when all was in readiness for tbe word to be given, Hunter knelt down and prayed, riaiug and firing at the word. Mr. Davis said that be never ottered a word upon tbe question of reconstruction until May last, five months after Dr. Crayen had lett the fort. Then he did, at tbe request of some of tbe officers of tbe fort, express lira views, and it is this con vervation that is attempted to be givea in the book, and is there represented as having baen beld with Dr. Craven himself. Wiib tbe report made of his remarks, Mr. Davis does not find much fault, except that when speakiDg of tbe folly of requiring people to take oaths, be illustrated it by taying that when tbe Fuoiiiwo T -? ?? 0-? - ? M>H*V Mta TT nao I u force, tbe New England members coming to tbe bars of th? Houses of Congress to iwear support to tbe Constitution and the laws, always made a mental reservation against the Fugitive Slave Law. This illustration, which be seems to. consider of great weight, is omitted. Upon one point Mr. Davis rices to the dignity of justice, and puts to tbe blush those of bis self constituted advocates wbo are continually loading Geneial Miles with t- e most opprobrious epethets. Mr. Da? vis bas notie of these for the man whom fate has made bis jailor, but simnlr savs that'to bim General Mile* is an ebigma. He aayshtt knows Miles to be a brave man and a good soldier, and is loth Jto believe that bfa coarse , toward him (Daru) baa baa been pursued only for Che purpose _ of adding to his, phyaipal discomforts, or of putting1 indignity upon bias, and ptofcrs to believe that themen whom be koowa to be a good soldier has puraued from' a sense of duty. Further, Hr. Darn admits that > % i - <1 " * * when lie has made complaint ol anything in his treatment, General Miles lias rectified it ; and the prisoner's only furtlior ground i of dissatisfaction was, that it was not dono at once, the General taking his own time I to work the reform. < PROCLAMATION OF AO STRIA--BATTLE OF 8AIJ0WA. The following proclamation has been is- i sued by the Emperor Francis Joseph: To My Peoples : The heavy misfor? , tune which has befallen tny army of the North, notwithstanding its heroic resistance to the enemy, the increased dangers thereby menacing the fatherland, the calamities of war with which my beloved kingdom of Doncmia is oeing aesoiaied, which threaten other parts of iny empire, and the painful and irreparable losses sustained by so many thousands of families amo"? subjects, have moved to its utmost my heart, which beats with ao warm aud fatherly a feeling for the good of my peoples. But the reliance which I expressed in my manifesto of the 17th of June?a reliance od your unalterable and faithful devotion and readiness for any self-sacrifice?a reliance on the courage of my army, which oven misfortune cannot subdue?a reliance upon God and my good sacred right?this has not wavered for a single iustant. 1 have addressed mvuelf to .* 7 1 the Emperor of the French respecting his good ofiiceB for bringing about an armistice with Italy. Not merely did the Emperor respond to my demand, but with the noble intention of preventing any further bloodshed, he even, of bisownacord, offered to mediate with Pru&sia for a suspension of hostilities and for opening negotiations for peace. Thin offer I have accepted. I am prepared to make peace upon honorable conditions, iu order to put au end to the bloodshed and ravages of war. But I would never sanction a treaty of peace by which the fundamental conditions of Austria's position as a great power would be shaken. Sooner than that this should be the ease, I am resolved to carry on the war to the utmost extremity, and in this I am sure of my peoplu's approval. All available troops are Neitig concentrated, aud the gaps in the ranks of the army are being filled up by the conscription which ban be?n ordered, and tlia large enrolment of volunteers called to aim* by the newly awaked spirit of patriotism. Austria has bten severely visited by misfortune, but ebe is not humiliated or bowed down. My peoples, have confidence in your Emperor. The peoples of Austria have never 6hown themselves greater than in misfortune. I will follow the example of my forefathers, and will lead you on with determination, perseverance, and unshaken confidence in God. FRANCIS JOSEPH. Given at my residence in the capital a Vienna, this*10th day of July, 1860. The Times remarks': We have never read sadder words than rtbo?n which the Emperor of Austria addresses to his people. The reverses of his army, the occupation of his cnpital, have (fllllUOb UVVT V>U ut?nu UJlilt ^lUUU nuu Willi"" dent spirit. Knowing what manner of man Francis Jo-eph is by nature, wo may judge of the humiliation he must have felt in doing what he has done, and saying < what he has said. The London Timet" correspondent, writing from the Prussian headquarters, gives ' a long description of the great battle of Ladowa. We have only space for bia account of the rout of the Aurtrians and the scenes niter the battle: /\ - ? un gaming tne top ot tbe Lipa slopes, > the retreatilng battalions of tbe Austrians were seen running across a hollow in the ground, which lies' between Lipa and the i village of Streselits, which lies about two railepjfurther South. Tbe,Pru8sian Artillery baited on tbe summit of the Lipa bill and fired sheila rapidly, which burst with terrible precision over tbe heads of tbe fugitives. The cavalry flew forward in pursuit, but the Prince, after leading a abort 1 way, Dad to go to spperintend the general movement, for the Austrian batteries bad takeD post in tb* Ttreeelitt ridge, and were firing bear ily.Bgainflt the pursuing Prussians. Then the cavalry got out of hand, i and by email detachment* rushed on the Austrian battalions,sbut these, though retreating fast, were not-routed, and in many inst&pees beat off the cavalry, who al-,: so f uttered roach from the Austrian artillery, for the shells burst repeatedly among ?' tbe squadrons, andJcilled many men and 1 hortes. But the Austrjtn aana ware iri-' veo off their ridge by tij? heariw Are ?f i the mow numerouA JPrgM jap then ptirtuit wm reticw?<i. r\ "* } 8oroe of tb? retreating AaaUhtos ???* 1 y * for the fortress of Koniggratz, others for Pardubitz, and troops were sent in pusuit along both roads. The wounded, who were lying on the ground, shrieked with fear, when they raw the cavalry galloping down towards them, but Prince Frederick Charles took caro that they should be avoided, and at one time checked the pursuit, in order to move his sqadrons around, and not go through a patch of standing corn, where several wounded Austrians had tuken refugo. Those, when they saw Lancers coming, thought they were going to he massacrcd, and cried piteously, waving white handkerchiefs as a si^b of truce; but they had no cause to fear. Large numbers of prisoners were taken, for the pursuit was continued to the Elbe, and it was nut till 9 o'clock that all firing had set, but the main body of the army 'ted about 7. As the Princes returned, tho battalions cheered them for their victory, but they left the pursuit of their enemies and the cheers of their own victorious troops to look after the hospital accommodation* pro vided for the wounded. These lay in immense numbers on the field. The dead, too, laid thick, hut all that they require will | Kft rlnriA fn?marr.?tr IT* - 11 tuviivn. UTCIJf 111 LUti | neighborhood that has not been burnl is full of wounded. Austrinoa and Prussians lie side by fide, but tlie Krankentragf r are still out, and will not be collected till late to-morrow morning. Conspicuous in the hospital?, working diligently in their vol untary labor, are the Knights of Saiu John of Jerusalem. This order of knighthood1, renewed lately for the succor of the weak and suffering, has sent bere a Inrge hospital establishment, under the direction of Court Theodore Slralberg. From the voluntary contributions of the knights, hospitals are main??.: i it. - ? taiucu iu mo uonresi towns ana in Itio field, nil neoessHry hospital stores are carried by the order, and means of transport accompany the annyr hospital nurses are provided, and by their aM many wounded are carefully attended who could not be looked after by the ordinary arrangements. The battle of Sadowa has been a great victory for the Prussian army ; the trcps fought with the most determined courage; they Btood for hours under a terrible fire^ for there are supposed to have been nearly 1,500 gucs in action, of whicli 750 were Prussian. The immediately cause of the victory was the Crown Prince's attack on the Austrian left ilatik, which turned the position, but the attack in front had a great effect on llie issue, as, unless it had been steadily maintained, the Austriaos might have repulsed the attack in flank. It iB the opinion of the Prussian generals that the Austrian retreat was most skilful, and that their artillery was excellency bandied. The nu mber of troop9 engaged on the Prussian Bide wrh about 260,000. The Austrian? are 6Unnosed to h?r? !>?/! nlmr>?f an equal Dumber. Bell l-'oyd is acting badly in England? playacting. Turnips are now made into paper. Oil baa been struck in Overton County, Tenn. Horses are brusbed by steam in England. LindRey, the murderer of bit child, the xtocnesier u oiod 6ays, baa been a very ardent Radical. Bunches of white.currants for the ears nd cherry ear-ring are in vogue in Faris. Mt. Washington was crowned with mow last Friday. The best motive for leaving the city-^the ocomoiive. A dark oloud, financially speaking, is one that has no silver lining. - There are nine bundered Steam railroad a!.. fT. . 1 oyipuiuuuiJS 111 IU8 UUUbU otales. A Memphis lady recently renounced her religion and married a Hebrew in the synagogue. The St. Joseph Union peak* of a ouriosity in the shape o( chicken with four legs and five wings. .* v; r A young mao w?9 eaten by abarka while bathing in^JoVile. The N?w Y^rkera ara beginnrng to agitsfe.the ouettioh of 4- free ntibfto libra. r/r . y *' - < - 'V\ ".r , . New Orleana has thrse or four draft* u many negro? m U hfd be for* thow^r. . Oownor -Pajtoto,^ Alabama, ft in Hifsote, oKchfog oofciribatfon? of oorn for Iho taffwibjf p?opto okhii StaU. 4 ??. * . * ? ' * "V , . - x A WIDOW FOR ME. Let youth ping the praise of blusher. And thrill with the rapturous bliss That rises unbidden and flushes The brain at the thought of a kiss. It is til very well lo be laden With passionate joy when you seo The innocent blush uf a maiden, \ But the glance of a widow for me. Not a fie would I eiv? for tlie ranture Tlint swells in llio breast of a boy, "When Cupid lias helped him lo capturo A boarding-school casket of joy. I don't care for bloom and fine dres9ep, But Paradise comes whon 1 bco A widow in weeds and fine tresBcs, Oh I that is a charmer for die. Then let youth sting the praises of beauty. And kneel before maidenhood's shrine, To ringlets an<1 blushes pay duty, And dream that such things are divine. But give me the flush that entrances, The heart that was bound and is free, The eye with a soul in its glances? Oh I a gentle young widow for me. SMILES. Sunlight o'er the mountain, Moonbeams on the sen, I Starlight in tho fouutaio, Dewdrops on ihe tree, Lightniug in the heavens, Floweret of the tales, Rainbow, Goil'? pledge given, These are Nature's smiles. Smiles of beauty dancing, On the lips wo love, Smiles from br:ght eyes glancing, Lead the thoughts above? Where the smiles eternul From the Angel-baud, Shed their sunlight vernal O or celestial Lauds. Thie world would bo so dreary WilhouL the smiles of earth ; Our heart h would soon grow weary, Hud human souls no birth, Like Angel-spirits near ua, They seem, iu brightness dressed, Go<] seudB them here lo cheer us, Uutil we find our rest. A OIFSY DIVORCE. A writer on the habits of ihe Gipsies gives the following account of the ceremonies of divorce. Hestiys; Divorce in common. It is performed over the body o( a horse, which is sucri ticed for tbe occa-ion. The ceremony must take placo, it' possible, "when the sun is at its height." All the parties con cerned in it enrry long slaves in their hands. A horse without blemish is led forth, and a member of the coiup-uiy is chosen by lot to act as priest on the occasion, lie walkB round the animal several times, re* pealing the names of all tbe persons in whose possession it has been, and extolling its rare qualities. It is then let loose, aud several Gipsies set off in pursuit of it. If it is wild and intractable, leaps ditches, kicks, and will not allow iuelf to be easily caught, the guilt of the woman is looked upon as enormous; but if it ia tame and docile, her crimes are thought to be leas heinous, and the death of the horse is suffi cient to wash ihetn away. But sometirnos both woman and horse used to be sacrificed together. The individual* who catch the hor6e bring it before the priest. They repeat to him all the faults and tricks it haa commit' ted; laying the whole of the crimes of which the woman is supposed to have been guilty to its charge, and upbraiding and scorning me Uuiub creature in an angry mHnoer for its conduct. They bring, as it were, an accusation Against it, and plead for ita condemnation. When this part of trial is finished, the priest takes a large knife and thrusts it into the heart of the horse; and-its bloood is allowed to flow upon the ground till life is extioct. Ttie dead animal is now stretched out upon the ground. The husband then takes bis stand on one side of it, and the wife on the oth* er by the hand, repeat certain appropriate . I. - /-?- ? u?uiwiv,oo iu mo vxipsey language. _Ttiey then quit hold of eucb other, and walk three times round tho body of the ho/se, 1 contrawise, passing and crossing each otbi- ; erat certain poiuts as tbey proofed in bp- 1 posite direction!. . At certain, parts of the ' animal (iba corners of the hur?o was the 1 Gipey's-expression.) sacb as the hind inid ford feet,, the should era and batiodbe'^ the 1 b?ad and'taili the parties bait and faoe 1 each other, and again repeal the sentences 1 in. their own speech at eaeh time tbev halt. - . ?. ; The two last stops tney make, in (.heir circuit round tbe ftorr&ce, at tbe bead and tail. At tbo head, they again face each j oihdr and speak; and lastly, at ibe lt.il, tbey Sgain confront eaoh other, otter some \nore Gipsy expressions, shake hands, and 4 fioaliy psn, tbe one'??irTg Horth the other.1 South, never again to be united in this JifW Immediacy after tha teparation tdw I pUoe, the women receives a token, wWeh ? a. * V ? .* * e f- . " V ' ?i^??1 13 made of cast iron, about an inch-and-a* half square, with a mark upon it reeembling tbe Roman obaracter T. After the marriage bas been dissolved, and tbe woman dismissed from tbo sacrifice, the heart of the horse is taken out and roasted with fire, then sprinkled with vinegar or brandy, and eaten by the buoband and friends then present; the female not being allowed to join in this part of the ceremony. The body of the horse, fkin and every thing about it, except tbe heart, is buried on tbe spot; and years after the ceremony has taken place, the husband and his friends vi3ii mo grave ot tbo animal, to Bee whether it has been disturbed. At these visits, they walk round about the grave, with much grief and mourning. The husband may take another wife whenever he pleases, but the female is never permitted to marry again. The token, or rather bill of divorce, which she receives, must never be from about her person. II she loses it, or attempts to pass herself off as a woman never before married. she becomes liable to th? ? of denth. In the event of ber breaking this luw, a council of the chiefs is held upon her conduct, and ber fate is decided by a m?j irity of the members, and, if she is to suffer death, her sentence must be confirm* ed l>y the king or principal lender. The culprit is then tied to a Blake, with an iron chain, and there cudgeled to death. The executioners do not extinguish life at ono beating, but leave the unhappy woman for a little while, and return to her, and at laBt complete their work by despatching her on the spot. Thb Comical Troubles op Ma. Jontf* son.?Our usually quiet city has given birth latoly to a first class sensation, in the shape of the Pollard and James difficulty. [ of which you have doubtless been duly informed. * Pollard was arrested ; but James has succeeded up to this time in eluding the police. Tbeir efforts to arrest him have occasioned the most amusing farcer of the season. On the arrival of the Northern train at 2 12 A. M., a day or 80 since, a Mr. Johuson, engaged in the 'iron front' business, who boars a striking resetablance to James' brother,was arrested as Mr. James, notwithstanding his earnest assertion that Johnson was bis name. Not wishing to alarm his wife by appearing before her unuor police escort, be requested to be carried to sundry bars on Broad street to prove bis ideality, when, to b? great surprise aod horror, be was invariably addressed as James, and the police were convinced that tbey ha>1 the right man, but in compliance with bis urgent entreat* ies, they went with him to several more bar? and hotels where be was alway? called Jamas. At last, porfectly fuddled, he was carried by his captors to the St. Charles Hotel, on the way to the atatiori bouse, where the proprietor spoke to him as John* son, and Mrs. Jobnson rushed to bis arm*, claiming him as her husband, but unfortunately be had not previously stated that he was a married man, and the 'myrmidon* -f ?t I ? ? * * ui iuo.mw smeit a rat, ana, saying that game could Dot be played off on them, marched their prisoner to the lock-up, where he sweltered until breakfast time, for the weatHr waa hot enough to boil a man in his own perspiration. Ha then induced tho officers to allow him another chance, but the people having got wind of the joke, insisted that be was James. So,at 10 A. M., perfeotly bewildered by the denial of bis name by acquaintance* aud friends, and doubtless affected by frequent visits to the bar, he appeared before the Major, and id answer to the inquiry who be was, replied be really did pot know. That hebadnlwaja thought himself-Johnson, but now be coud not say whether be was Jaroe* or Johnson. At thU point, amid the laughter of the orowd, some'persons i^ine-forward add identified the gentleman that didn't know himself, and' delivered brim from limbo. Since then be baa been 10 persistently ignored as Johnson, that be itays at home, learing that Pollard will. ilioot hitn with & double-barreled abotgun for James. Wo understand be propotee raining.a novel legal question in trying to aave Pollard bound over to keep the peaoo 11 far a* ha is concerned.?Neva York Newt* . , . A hump-back wbale, 14 feat in length, visited the Portsmouth {N. ff,J navjr yard laet week, and waacapturad, ' a mnu iq x-fnj?o?pn?* aiwrapiea to me* jiate joa. quarrel betweea a man aad wife, todi bad hia b*4 P,it open for hie paiiia. v A brother-in-law qf the 8ultaabarpro ted him with & gold ioketend ornament* kJ with diamond*. It ooet $40,000. m \