2
THE TIMES, NEW BLOOMFIELD, PA., APRIL
A Tragedy of the Potomac.
IN the fotoniao river, opposite (lie
National Capital, aud close to the
Virginia shore.llesasmall Island of some
twenty acres In extent, ond which takes
the name of " Mason" from Its former;
owner. It Is also known as Analostan
Island.
Since the war It has been a place of
oenslderable resort for pleasure parties,
the uiaiiBlon and a large pavilion erect
tid at a little distance from It affording
ample room and accommodation for
picnics, excursions and the like.
During the continuance of the great
struggle between the North and South,
the Island (then united to the sacred soil
of the Old Dominion by a narrow cause
way, but which has since been partially
destroyed), was occupied by the govern
ment, but the dwelling remained vacant
at least it was tenantless In 18(11, and
up to the time when the Army of the
Potomac embarked for the Peninsula.
There was a deserted appearance about
the pluce when I first knew it, remind
ing me of various stories of horror over
which I had shuddered in my youthful
days ; but little did I think at that time
a deed as dark and terrible as any of
which I had read, was destined to be
perpetrated within its pteclncts-a deed,
too, of which I should be a witness.
The fearful scene of nearly twenty
years ago has been freshly called to
mind by a notice, recently published In
one of the leading papers of the day, of
the death of the principal actor in the
tragedy ; and this event having absolved
me from the promise exacted at the
time, I propose to make the facts public,
In the hopes that, by disposing of my
secret, I may, at least to some extent,
relieve myself of the burden It has for so
long a period inflicted upon me.
After the first battle of Bull Run the
regiment of which I was a member did
garrison and guard duty upon the Vir
ginia side of the Potomac, directly oppo
site the cities of Washington and George
town. I was at that time a sergeaut, and, as
it happened, was frequently In charge of
the guard stationed at the upper end of
the island, where It was joined to the
causeway already meutloned.
The post was an important one on
account of its being Immediately at the
landing of the rope-ferry, which did
duty until the steamboat Tallaca fur
nished a more convenient means for
transportation to aud from the city, and
the detail never comprised less than" a
dozen men.
The ferry-house close by was used for
guard-quarters as well as for the accom
modation of the boat-hands, who were
civilians.
The Mason House, as old Washing
tonlaus and all who were members of
the Potomac army will know, stood, as
it yet stands, but a short distance from
the causeway, from which it Is, or was,
secured from view by a vigorous growth
of shade and ornamental trees, and its
appearance Is, I presume, pretty much
the same now that It was on a certain
memorable night lu the first year of the
war.
Shortly after crossing Into Virginia I
had taken occasion to explore the man.
siou, aud a queer old house it seemed to
me.
The rooms upon and above the ground
floor were cut up Into curious little
nooks and corners, with cupboards and
dark recesses scattered about In the most
unexpected localities. The basement,
or more properly cellar, was divided by
heavy walls of solid masonry into
numerous dungeon-like compartments,
lighted from without through heavily,
barred openings, the tops of which were
flcarcely above the level of the grounds
surrounding the building. Communi
cation between the cells and with the
outer world was cut off by oaken doors
of massive construction and enormous
strength, supplied with locks and bolts,
but which from long disuse had grown
fusty aud Immovable.
Those claiming to be well posted In
the history of the place maintained that
in former years the cellar had been used
for wiue and coal vaults and other gen
eral purposes, but to me it presented
very much the appearance of a prison.
As already stated, I was frequently
stationed at the ferry landing (alternat
ing between that post and the Aqueduct
bridge), and it nearly as often happened
that the officer of the guard would
obanoe to be Lieutenant G , of an
other regiment iu the brigade from
which the detail for guard duty was
made up, headquarters being located -at
or near Hall's Hill, my own regimental
headquarters near Fort Corcoran. The
lteuteuant was generally accompanied
a his rounds by a youth of apparently
not more than sixteen or seventeen
years of age, and whom he introduced
when an introduction became necessary,
as his brother. No two persons could
be more unlike. 'The lieutenant was a
well-developed and stalwart specimen of
manhood, with a blonde complexion,
light brown hair, aud roguish twinkling
eyes, were always upon the lookout for
something to laugh at, beside which he
had a frank, hearty manner of meeting
folks that was continually making new
acquaintances aud winning him new
friends.
His companion on the contrary, was
quite small for one of his apparent age,
even, with dark curly hair, shading
features perfectly regular, yet inclined to
thinness, of the brunette order; and
such eyes 1 No one ever succeeded In
getting near enough to them, save the
Lieutenant himself, to determine their
color, but the Judgment generally ren
dered was that they were a rich, dark
brown. There was a shy, retiring dis
position manifested by their owner that
prevented any advunces toward an Inti
mate acquaintance being attempted, and
hence It came about that wo knew as
little of the Lieutenant's brother in
October as we bad in the early part of
August preceedlng, when he first made
his appearance la our midst.
The battle of Ball's Bluff was fought
upon the 120th or L'lst of October, and
during the night succeeding that event
the greatest confusion prevailed. All
the troops that could be spared from the
fortifications were ordered up in the
direction of Chain bridge, and those
upon guard, myself Included, were forced
to remain on duty for more thun forty
eight hours.
About midnight, or shortly after, lieu
tenant G. came to me at the ferry land
ing, stating that be had beeu ordered
out with his regiment, and was to start
at once, aud requested me to bo inform
his brother when he should arrive next
morning from the city, whither he had
gone the day previous on business. He
also suggested that his brother should
recross to Washington, and there re
main at their "old stopping place" until
the return of the troops. Receiving my
promise to see his wishes carried out, he
departed.
The next day I was much occupied by
the throngs of troops, citizens and teams
crossing the ferry, and it was not until
evening that I remembered my pledge
to the Lieutenant; and then, when I
came to think of the matter, soon satis
fled myself that his brother had uot
come over. To make sure, I Interrogat
ed the man stationed at the wharf, and
who examined the passes In my absence,
and he corroborated my belief.
Supposing that the youth had entered
Virginia, if at all, by way of the Aque
duct or Long Bridge, I gave the subject
no further thought.
The next morning Lieutenant O.'s
regiment returned to camp, and he im
mediately sought me out (I was still on
duty at the ferry); and upon learning
that his brother was yet in the city,
Immediately crossed over.
In about two hours he returned in a
high state of excitement, with the infor
mation that his brother, had left for
camp the morning previous, and had
not since been seen by any of his ac
quaintances. He questioned myself and the men
closely, and then went to the post on
the Aqueduct, thence to Long Bridge,
aud about 3 A. M. returned to me, look
ing so haggard and broken down that I
scarcely recognized him.
About 0 A. M. I was relieved from
duty and through the ageucy of the
Lieutenant, secured a pass to the city
for forty-eight hours.
We Immediately crossed by way of
the Aqueduct, and beginning In George
town, entered upon a most exhaustive
search for the inlsBlng one. We visited
every knowm place of resort, inquired at
the provost marshal's office, of the
guards stationed throughout the two
cities, of every soldier we met, and of
citizens most likely to have observed the
young man, but no trace could we
obtain of him after he left the hotel
where he had temporarily put up.
On my way back we began at the
arsenal and followed along the wharves,
making inquiries at every step, but
without avail, until we had nearly
reached the foot of Twenty-sixth street.
We had Just passed the Naval Observa
tory, when we encountered a contra
band, who in answer to our questioning
informed us that the evening before he
had seen a small boat containing three
men and a boy put off from the grounds
south of the Observatory toward the
Virginia shore. His description of the
boy tallied exactly with that of the
missing party.
Our Informant was evidently conceal
ing something, and to make him tell us
all he kuew, the Lieutenant threatened
to put him under arrest and take him to
the Provost Marshal as a suspicious
character. Thereupon he admitted hav
ing occasionally done a little business
with the soldiers on the sly, by taking
over whisky and other good things in
his boat; that the evening previous,
when it was quite dark, two men bad
come to him and offered five dollars for
the use of his boat au hour. This he
refused unless he could go with it. Then
they offered ten, aud as the boat was an
old one at the best, he let them have it,
himself taking It down opposite the
Observatory, where he found the two
who had hired It, with the two others
Indicated. Neither the men nor boat
had returned.
One of the men lit his pipe before
starting, and by the light of the match
he was enabled to gather the description
which he had given us of the Lieuten
ant's brother, as we were now convinced
the boy was. But why was he in suoh
company ?
After these details we hastened to the
ferry and embarked without delay.
When about half way across I caught a
gleam of light, which seemed to come
from the basement of the old Mason
House, aud called my companion's
attention to It. At first he thought it
might be a lantern, but as we had suc
cessive glimpses of It through gaps In
the foliage of the tree and shrubbery we
finally convinced ourselves that my first
conclusion was right.'
Upon landing I proposed that we in
vestigate the matter. My familiarity
with the habits of those whose duties
took them Into that neighborhood, add
ed to the fact that there were stringent
orders against trespassing upon the
property, led me to believe all was not
as it should be.
At first the lieutenant demurred, but
finally acceding to my wish, we passed
down the carriage drive underneath the
overhanging trees, and, making our
way up to the building with the utmost
caution, found that the light came from
a small window on the side nearest the
river, and which opened Into one of the
largest of the dungeon-like apartments
in the cellar.
From the Interior came the murmur
of voices. Falling upon our hands and
knees', we crept up until we could look
through the cracks between the boards
partially covering the window, and
gazed within.
Had It not been for my hand placed
hastily, ad I fear rather heavy, over
my companion's mouth, he would have
cried aloud, and I must confess that it
required all of my self-control to keep
from uttering an exclamation of horror
at what we saw.
In the further corner of thelungeon,
partly reclining upon a pile of army
blankets, lay the one for whom all
Washington had been searched through
and through. His hand? were bound
fast, and a short piece of wood, wrapped
with canvas, was firmly held between
his distended jaws, preventing any suc
cessful attempt at outcry.
There was a wild, pleading look in
his eyes, coupled with a settled expres
sion of horror, which it seems to me
must have moved the heart of even the
most relentless savage. His face was as
pale as the face of a corpse, and there
were marks of violence visible upon it,
giving fearful evidence of most brutal
treatment.
In front of him, at about the centre of
the cell, around a box upon which burn
ed two tallow dips, were seated four
men, or beings having the forms of
men, playing cards. A black bottle
stood near at hand, from which each in
turn helped himself.
I heard the click of the lock as the
lieutenant cocked his revolver, and was
just lu time to prevent him from shoot
ing the miscreants, or one of them at
least. My next step was to withdraw
him, almost by main force, from the
scene. When we had retired a short
distance, a hurried consultation was
held, and it waj decided that an effort
should be made to capture the gang.
I went to the guard-house and easily
procured the services of the men olf
duty, and led them back to the mansion,
posting a sentinel wherever there was
neceBBity for so doing, in order to pre
vent an escape.
The lieutenant, with the remainder of
our force, passed around to the rear,
where there was an outside entrance to
the cellar, prepared to arrest any who
might attempt to flee by that route ; or,
if necessary, to break in the door and
gain admission to the interior. I re
sumed my station at the window, and
when satisfied every arrangement had
been made, called out : " You are Sur
rounded ; yield yourselves prisoners or
you will be fired upon." In an instant
the lights were extinguished, and the
next moment I heard a deep groan and
a gurgling, half-suppressed cry of mortal
agony.
There was a confused rush toward the
back of the house, succeeded by a few
heavy biows, a short, sharp struggle,
curses, groans, a thud, a fall, and when
I reached the lieutenant he was bending
over the prostrate body of one of the
villains, clutching his throat with what
would have proved a death grip had I
not Interposed.
All four of the rascals were now
securely fastened (one of them hud been
bayoneted through the body In his
endeavor to escape and died in a few
minutes) aud our next thought was of
their victim.
Groping my way inside, I struck a
match and relit one of the candles. As
I did so the lieutenant, who was close
beside me, gave one hound to the side of
bis brother, who was lying back upon
the blankets, and took him in his arms.
Then be became senseless. I hastened
to ids side and unlocked his arms from
the slender form, aud as I did so saw for
the first time what appeared to be
an ugly knife wound In the youth's left
breast.
Hastily tearing open the garments to
discover the extent of the Injury, I made
another discovery, which sent a thrill
through every fibre of my being. The
lieutenant's supposed brother was a
woman. But the cruel knife had too
well done its work. She was dead.
! Gathering the bloody clothing over
the pulseless heart, I laid the unfortu
nate creature down, and, calling in one
of the men to help, bore the lieutenant
outside, where he soon revived.
"Lulu I Lulu I Oh, God 1" he moan
ed. I' Dead I dead I" He seemed for
several minutes completely overcome by
his great grief, and with no more
strength than a child.
Suddenly be aroused and sprang to his
feet with the leap of a panther. Walk
ing to the side of one of the villains,
lying prostrate and helpless upon the
earth, he brought the heel of ' his boot
down In his face, crushing the features
out of all semblance of humanity. Be
fore I could Intervene he had reached
the second, who, turning his head just
in time, received the iron-shod heel
upon the cheek, which was laid open to
the bone by the glancing blow. Then
giving way to another fit of weeping,
the lieutenant entered the cellar; I fol
lowed close behind. He took the dead
form in his arms, removed the cruel
gag, kissed the swollen lips, the ashen
cheeks, the dark curly hair, and, spurn
ing my proffered assistance, bore her
out beneath the stars and laid her ten
derly down upon the grass, not far
removed from her murderers. Then he
flung himself down by her side and
wept as strong men Seldom do.
After some little time I went to him,
laid a hand upon his shoulder, saying:
"Lieutenant, what are we to do with
these men?" He sprang to his feet at
the sound of my voice like one sudden
denly awakened from sleep.
" Yes, it Is time for vengeance," he
grated out between bis set teeth. " I
am ready."
"But what do you intend doing V" I
queried. " Shall I turn the prisoners
over to the guard V"
" No, no," he hastily responed. "This
night's work must remain a secret with
ourselves, and call up the men and
inetruct them that not a word be whis
pered of what has transpired."
I did as he commanded, and, at his
request, sent bsck to quarters all but
two, upon whom I knew reliance could
be placed, and these were despatched
after a small boat kept by the ferrymen
for use on occasion, and which was soon
moored at the edge of the island to the
northward of the mansion. Still acting
under the lieutenant's instructions, the
prisoners, including the body of the one
who had been slain, were borne down
aud placed in the yawl, and the Lieu
tenant himself soon followed, bearing
their victim.
I brought up the rear. When all were
embarked, the soldiers took the oars
and pulled steadily up the river, keeping
near the centre of the stream, and ob
serving the utmost caution in order to
avoid detection.
Passing under the aqueduct, we struck
over toward the Virginia shore and kept
on our course until we reached the
rapids just below the Chain bridge.
There we ran the boat into a small
sequestered cove on the south side of
the river, and made a landing. The
lleutenaut was the first to step ashore
with his ghastly load, after which the
rest of us followed and lifted out the
prisoners.
The darkness was intense, but by the
aid of an occasional match we succeeded
in groping our way to the base of an
overhanging cliff of rocks, and there,
with our hands and the bayonets of the
two soldiers, we at length managed to
dig a shallow grave, well above high
water mark, in whlcn we burled the
poor creature whose life had gone out
under such traglo circumstances.
The sad duty accomplished, the lieu
tenant, who had thus far spoken scarce
ly a word since leaving the Island, ad
vanced to one of the prisoners and,
before I had time to interfere or utter a
word, placed his revolver against the,
man's head and pulled the trigger.
I sprang forward and caught the hand
holding the weapon, but it was wrench
ed from my grasp with such force as to
nearly throw me over backward into the
water. "Stand back I stand back!"
cried the lieutenant, "or by Heaven I'll
kill you ! Stand back, I say !"
I called upon the two men to assist
me In disarming the madman, as he
seemed to be; but before we could gather
around him two more pistol shots rang
out upou the night air, and there were
four corpses where there had been but
one upon landing. '
" Now help me to dispose of this car
rion," said the lieutenant, in a strangely
altered voice. " Into the river with
it."
We loaded the bodies down with rocta
and sunk them In the deep water of the
cove, aud entered the boat, hastened
from the scene, reaching our quarters
about daylight.
Our comrade of the night previous,
, who had witnessed the first act of the
tragedy, were anxious to know the
ending, but we were dumb.
Rumors of the affair reached head
quarters, and we were ordered up and
closely interrogated but divulged nothing.
The occurrence had begun to die out
of mind somewhat, when the heavy
freshet succeeding the Ball's Bluff affair
brought many dead bodies down upon
its turbid tide. One day I was on the
Island in command of a squad engaged
In retrieving the corpses from the water.
One caught upon the ferry-rope and I
went out with a boat to bring it in. As
the line was being made fast to the body
the face came uppermost, and I recog
nized one of the victims who fell
beneath the lieutenant's avenging bul
lets. That same evening two others came
floating by, were dragged to land, and
all three were burled near the centre
of the island, not far from where the
crime for which they suffered had been
committed.
I soon lost sight of the lieutenant
altogether, he going up the valley with
Shields, I to the peninsula.
Before we separated I approached him
on several occasions with a view to dis
covering a key to the mystery envelop
ing the affair in which I had played
an unwilling part, but could get no
satisfaction.
" It is nobody's business but my
own," he would reply. " You may rest
assured, however, that she was worthy
of any man's love and respect. Sh did
not cast off her right to either when she
cast off her woman's garments."
He would make no further explana
tion. One thing seemed to puzzle him
as much as the whole matter did myself.
He could not conceive what led his
companion into the association which
proved so fatal, nor could I. To me it
was a mysterious affair throughout, and
remains so to this day. My belief is
that the unfortunate woman was the
lieutenant's wife. I can give no reason
for thinking such to be the case further
than this: One day I came upon him
suddenly and unexpectedly. He was
in the guard tent waiting for grand
rounds.
I entered to notify him that the men
were ready, and found him sitting, his
elbows on the table, his head supported
by his hands, and lying open before him
a letter, the writing that of a woman.
I barely noticed the caption. It was
dated July SO, 1801, and addressed to
" My Dear Husband."
Upon becoming aware of my presence
he quickly folded up the missive and
placed it in an inner pocket over his
heart. Within a week we parted never
to meet again.
Now t,hat be is dead I am, if anything,
more than ever inclined to cast over his
memory the mantle of that charity
which believeth no evil ; and yet in this
narrative have simply given the outline
of facts which brought us two together
in one of the most thrilling episodes of a
not uneventful life an episode, too,
which helps to prove the old saying that
"truth is often stranger than fiction."
Traveling In Louisiana.
Traveling has its drawbacks in certain
parts of the country, and of no other
section does this remark hold more true
than of the small towns in the neighbor
hood of New Orleans. A gentleman
who has just returned from a trip across
the lake gives his experience of how he
was treated during his stay In one of the
towns near the lake shore. He stopped
at the " hotel," so called.and was shown
his apartments by "mine host," who
assured him that he should have the
very best his house afforded.
The gen.tleman feeling as if soap and
water would not be at all Inappropriate
after his all-day ride, asked for the nec
cessary materials for an ablution. The
proprietor disappeared, and shortly
afterward returned with a tin basin and
water, aud a small piece of the com
monest soap manufactured, that looked
as If It had been preserved as a curiosity.
The old fellow said: "You can wipe
your face on the sheet," poiuting to the
bed, as the towels have given out."
The supper, what there was of it, was
very scant, and consisted of one Irish
potato, an egg, and a piece of bread and
a half cup of milk. In the morning the
traveler woke up after a long tussel with
specters aud Insects, and called for his
bill, resolved to vacate the premises at
the earliest moment. The bill amounted
to Ave dollars.
-
Be Wise and Happy.
If you will stop all your extravagant
and wrong notions in doctoring your
self and families with expensive doc
tors or humbug cure-alls, that do harm
always, and use only nature's simple
remedies for all your ailments you will
be wise, well and happy, and save great
expense. The greatest remedy for this,
the great, wise and good will tell you. is
Hop Bitters rely on It. See auother
columu. 7Ve. 17 it