Stopping at the house of my
old friend Mrs Scott to get a candle,
I was overwhelmed with her sympathies and regrets at my
misfortune. Hastily arranging my money and papers, I gave
Mrs Berry my office key and returned
to head quarters, where I found Mr
Jno J Berrey who had been brought in as a prisoner during
my absence. I had scarcely taken my seat before Mr
Temple walked in under guard, and in his most stately and
dignified manner. Mr Abraham Cox,
looking a perfect picture of fright, then tipped in as if
fearful that the sound of his footfall, if heard by the
commanding officer, would be visited by instant death. Mr
John H Roberts followed next, tottering alone with his stick.
Taking a seat, he commenced describing to Col
Kingsbury a great variety of complaints, diseases and corporeal
afflication with which he was afflicted, and which he declared
would certainly cause his death within forty - eight hours,
if confined beyond the comforts and arrangements of his
home. The officer heard him through, without interruptions,
and replied at the conclusion that Mr R might dismiss his
apprehensions, as he would find himself, when imprisoned,
under the care of a most excellent physician! Before Mr
Roberts had finished his statement, Dr Cooke, with folded
arms, and an aspect of perfect humiliation, walked in under
escort. The next arrival was Mr Michael
Ames, who, snuff box in hand, and terror written all over
his hirsute countenance, straggled in, and stood as if struck
dumb by the horrors of his condition. Mr
John Coakley followed soon after Mr Ames and the pencil
of a Hogarth would have been puzzled to depict his woebegone
countenance, and terrified, trembling appearance. His face
was visibly lengthened, his nostrils dilated, his lips of
ashy paleness, and his eyes cast in mute appeal towards
the colonel such a look of silent supplication as should
have melted a heart of stone. The inexorable colonel pointed
to a chair, into which Coakley sank, evidently filled with
the idea that the time of his execution was at hand. After
a while, however, he plucked up courage to look around,
and finding nine of his fellow citizens present in the same
predicament, and at that moment, perceiving the mayor, Mr
Montgomery Slaughter, enter the room, under the escort of
a file of armed men, his self - control returned. Slaughter's
appearance was very laughable, he walked into the room with
forced self - possession, and an attempt to smile which
seemed to be hysterical, this, together with a set speech
to the colonel, rather nervously delivered, completed the
picture. I walked up and slapped him on the back, congratulated
him that the "bell weather" had not been separated
from the flock. Some little general, but rather gloomy,
conversation than sprang up during which I induced the colonel
to permit me to return to my house for a few hours under
guard, a very reasonable object as I had been taken away
so suddenly.
