The Daily Ardmoreite

JEFF DAVIS IN HISTORY

WAS NOT DISGUISED AS A WOMAN WHEN CAPTURED BY FEDERALS.

His Garments—Articles in Original Box Sent from Georgia Are in the Government's Care—Splinters from Skull of Lincoln.

The St. Louis Republic's Washington correspondent says:

It has been stated, or misstated, so often as to have almost become a matter of "history" that Jefferson Davis was disguised as a woman when captured by the federal authorities in Georgia in 1865. The illustrated papers of the period contained pictures representing the former president of the seceding states disguised in a bonnet, dress skirt and other female apparel, at the time of his arrest, and similar statements have been made whenever the matter has been discussed. It is a fact not generally known that the outer garments worn by Gen. Davis are in possession of the government and a description of them may be of interest.

Referring to the oft repeated stories of his "disguise," an examination of these garments will give another proof of a statement once made by the late Speaker Reed that much of the so-called "history" is merely a record of lies that have been agreed upon.

Securely locked in a strong government safe is a tin box containing the outer garments worn by Mr. Davis when arrested, and also his riding spurs, one of which is broken. These articles are in the original box in which they were sent from Georgia to Gen. Schofield by the officers making the arrest.

They consist of a shawl, a rainproof coat, without the cape, and the spurs mentioned. The shawl is such as was worn then and is worn now by men of advanced years to protect their throat and shoulders. It is, in fact, a large muffler. Sometimes a shawl of this pattern is worn by women, but its customary use is a man's muffler, either with or without an overcoat.

The rain coat is a man's garment. It is short with broad shoulders and with allowance for the change of mode is a commonplace waterproof coat. It is of soft goods, and if worn by a man of middle age on a rainy day would not attract any special notice on the streets of Washington. How little truth there was in the story of the "female disguise" can be seen by these garments. Wearing them Davis would present the figure of a man with a neck muffler and an overcoat over his ordinary clothing, which would not conceal his trousers, riding boots and spurs.

No remarkable effort at "female disguise" is needed to furnish ample denial of the story. These articles have been shown the Republic correspondent by the official having charge of them, with the statement that they were all the garments worn by Gen. Davis in addition to his hat and usual clothes.

Jefferson Davis' negro body servant, who was present at his arrest, is now an employe of the senate. He has said that no effort at disguise was made, and his statement is borne out by the articles mentioned.

While the question is not one of importance now, if it ever was, it is a fact known to very few persons that these garments are in the custody of the government. The government also has, under lock and key, many interesting relics connected with the assassination of Lincoln. These are not for exhibition, but might be seen occasionally, with a special permit.

These relics include the pistol with which Booth shot Lincoln, the flattened bullet which caused his death, and splinters of bone from the shattered skull of the president. The pistol is a short, single barrel powder and ball derringer of about 45 caliber.

The collection includes also the probe used by the surgeons, the riding boots of Booth, showing the long cut in the top of one made by the surgeon who treated the fugitive's broken leg; the knives used on Secretary Seward and others, and in fact, all the gruesome articles connected with the conspiracy.

The majority of interesting government relics are placed in the national museum, and from time to time are sent to expositions; but, for obvious reasons, the articles named are never included in those kept for exhibition.