Uncle Daniel's Story Of "Tom" Anderson Part 31

never I I do not believe that the All-seeing G.o.d will allow this infamy to prosper.'

"Jackson then said: 'Captain, let us go; they may be waiting for us.'

"They proceeded to the meeting place. Upon entering they found all present, and apparently feeling very much gratified at something. The champagne was flowing freely and the conversation became quite loud. A new face appeared in their midst. They were introduced to him. His name was given as Dr. Mears, formerly of Was.h.i.+ngton City. In the course of the evening it was disclosed that he was the man referred to by Prof.

McCullough as the only man other than himself possessing the secret of the discovery of the great combustible that was to burn up the world.

Jackson excused himself from taking any wine on account of his head not being in good condition. After many b.u.mpers they all sat down to review the situation.

"C. C. Carey said that the first thing now, since the necessary money had been provided, was to ascertain what length of time would be necessary to perfect the arrangements, as well as for Dr. Blackman to complete his collection.

"Dr. Blackman, always loquacious, spoke up instantly, 'I will be ready in two weeks.'

"Prof. McCullough thought it would require a greater length of time for him and Dr. Mears to make proper preparations. He thought that four weeks would be sufficient time.

"So it was finally decided that the three should make their arrangements to be ready to sail within four weeks, and that they would sail on the same vessel for Montreal, Canada. Jacob Thomlinson and C. C. Carey were to precede them and have matters all prepared for taking care of and storing their materials. The time was not then fixed for these gentlemen to sail, but it was understood they should go in advance and make all the necessary arrangements for quick and effective work as soon as the Professor and the two Doctors should arrive in Montreal. The plan was that agents were to be selected from their sworn friends of the Golden Circle, who were known to be tried and true men of great daring and courage. These men were to be placed at different points, where they were to be furnished with the material and instructed by Prof.

McCullough and Dr. Mears on their arrival. Their operations were to be from Canada. The agents were to operate against New York and New England towns and cities from Montreal; also, against Buffalo and interior cities in the State of New York from Toronto, and against Cleveland, Cincinnati and Chicago from Windsor.

"These preliminaries having been settled, the next inquiry was as to how the money was to be placed to defray all the expenses. Mr. Thomlinson made inquiry as to the amount that would be required. The estimates were made at once by Dr. Blackman for his part, and by Prof. McCullough for the 'fireworks,' as Redingson now called them. The two estimates footed up $109,000. Thomlinson thought that would be very extravagant. The Professor inquired if he knew the material to be used. Thomlinson admitted that he did not.

"Jackson saw that Redingson was regarding Prof. McCullough, with a look of intense curiosity. Nothing was said for some moments. The silence was finally broken by Mr. Carey saying that he thought it might be a good plan to have one of the party who was to remain in London to have the amount placed to his credit somewhere, so that he could act as Treasurer for the two divisions of labor, and draw all the checks or drafts necessary. Dr. Blackman spoke to Thomlinson, saying that he thought well of that plan.

"'Well, gentlemen,' Mr. Thomlinson said, 'whom will you select?'

"Prof. McCullough said: 'I do not care; I am willing that Dr. Blackman shall act if he will do so. What say you, Dr. Mears?' The Doctor a.s.sented, and it was so arranged.

"Jacob Thomlinson said: 'All right, gentlemen; on tomorrow I will make the deposit, and then Mr. Carey and myself will take the first chance for getting to Canada, in in order to make the arrangements as now understood.' At the same time he asked Capt. Redingson when and where would his orders take him.

"The Captain replied that he should return to Richmond as soon as he could get through the lines. Speaking to Jackson, he said: 'I suppose you will remain in London for the present.'

"'Yes,' replied Jackson; 'I shall look around the country some little before returning.'

"They all agreed to have one final meeting the next evening, prior to separating for their various destinations. Bidding each other good-night they left.

"Capt. Redingson and Jackson wended their way to their hotel. After arriving at their rooms Capt. Redingson commenced the conversation. You will notice that these two men never talked on the street, or elsewhere than in their room. Redingson said to Jackson:

"'Did you see how loath Thomlinson was to put money in any other hands than his own?'

"'I saw some hesitancy,' said Jackson.

"'Well, sir, he proposes to spend only what is absolutely necessary.

None of it will ever find its way into the Confederate Treasury. He loves money equal to any Yankee. But now, Mr. Jackson, what do you propose? Will you return to New York, or will you remain here for a time?

"Said Jackson, 'I ought to return very soon, but I have learned but little as yet in reference to the sentiments of the people in England, and am thinking of remaining for a short time longer.'

"'Well, sir, if you have no objections, I will remain for a time with you. I would like to see and learn more than I have about several matters. Let us go to-morrow and take a look around. What do you say?'

"'Very well,' replied Jackson.

"'Good night,' said the Captain.

"When Jackson was alone, he wrote again under cover of his mother's name, without signing his own, giving full details of the plan of attack on the cities named, agents to be employed, etc. He gave the names of places in Canada from which the attacks with fire were to be made.

Thomlinson and Carey's headquarters were to be at Montreal; therefore Jackson suggested that I send for Henry and put him on the track, and for him to discover the agents so they could be arrested, etc. This, he thought, could not be risked in a letter to Canada. Hence, I wrote to Henry to come home. He came at once. I gave him Jackson's letter and he studied it, making diagrams, etc., and then returned to Canada, determined to get in with these men and learn who their agents were, etc. I could not visit Was.h.i.+ngton at that time, so I took the chances of a letter to the President. He received my letter and took the proper precaution to have careful watch for the developments of the dreadful wickedness.

"Now, let me return to the Captain and Jackson. According to their agreement when we left them, the following morning they started out and spent a day of great interest to them. While riding in a cab the Captain said: 'I have a proposition to make to you, Mr. Jackson, which I will do to-night. The more I reflect upon what certain men are going to attempt, the more atrocious it appears to me.'

"Jackson looked at him, but with his usual caution made no response, except that he would be glad to hear what he had to say. That night when all the parties met at Jacob Thomlinson's rooms, as per engagement, all were good natured and full of hope and belief as to their success and the future triumph of the Confederate cause. In the conversation it seemed that the Professor and Dr. Blackman had come to the conclusion that they could be ready perhaps a week sooner than they had at first thought. Jacob Thomlinson said: 'All right, gentlemen, the sooner the better.'

"He then revealed to them that he had that day chartered for safety a fast-running steamer called the Will-o'-the-Wisp, to transport them and their supplies of material from Liverpool to Montreal. The Captain and officers were, he said, their friends, and ready to aid them in anything. To Dr. Blackman he said: 'Take this letter; in it you will find full instructions and memoranda, so that you can at any time communicate with the Captain of the vessel. You had better send your material along with some discreet person as rapidly as possible, and leave for Montreal the first moment you can do so.'

"He also stated that he and Mr. Carey would leave London in the morning to take pa.s.sage from Liverpool to Montreal. The Messenger being the first steamer to leave, they were going over in her. After some further talk of no great importance, the Captain and Jackson bade good-by to all and withdrew.

"After entering Jackson's room the Captain said: 'Mr. Jackson, I told you last night that I could not see how the Living G.o.d could allow such inhuman plans to succeed. Now, what I propose is this: for you and me to remain and find if any vessel will leave for Montreal near the time, but later than the Will-o'-the-Wisp, and that we take pa.s.sage on her and follow them. I am resolved that I will prevent this inhuman scheme from being carried out. I do not believe that you will betray me, therefore I tell you this. I do not now know how I am to do it, _but I will do it!_ What say you, sir? Are you a Christian man?'

"Jackson responded, saying, 'I am a man of but few words, and therefore only say, give me your hand.'

"They elapsed hands and pledged fidelity to each other.

"'Now,' said the Captain, 'let us off for Paris to-morrow. We will not see these men any more while here. We can watch the papers and learn about the vessels, when they leave, etc.'

"This being agreed upon, the next day they were off.

"They visited Paris and quite a number of points of interest during the delay of their friends in London. Finally, the Captain came to Jackson with the Liverpool _Gazette_ and showed him the advertis.e.m.e.nts. The Will-o'-the-Wisp leaves Liverpool for Montreal, Canada, on Thursday, ------ day of ------.

"'We must leave for Liverpool at once,' said the Captain, and in an hour they were en route to London.

"Here they took the cars for Liverpool, and arrived the morning of the departure of the parties with their fireworks, poisoned clothing, etc., on the Will-o'-the-Wisp. She was a beauty--very long, with a sharp prow.

She sat in the water like a seafowl, and sped away out of port as if she expected to attract the admiration of the immense throng on the wharf.

They soon ascertained that the Fairy Queen, a very fast-going steamer, would leave the same evening for the same place,--Montreal, Canada,--and at once engaged pa.s.sage and went on board of her.

"During the day the Captain said: 'Mr. Jackson, you are not as much of a talker as our friend Blackman. I do not believe there is one of the friends whom we have met in London who could tell your full name, where you were born, what your business is or has been, or where you intend going.'

"'No, sir,' replied Jackson; 'I never intrude myself upon any one. These gentlemen all seemed unreserved in their conversation, did they not? How did they know that I could be trusted with their secrets?'

"'Oh! they knew that I would not have introduced you unless I knew you were all right. And they do not seem to appreciate the enormity of what they are doing. Oh! I did not tell you the curious dream that haunted me in my sleep last night?'

"'No,' replied Jackson; 'will you tell me what it was?'

"'Yes, sir. It was this: I dreamed that Dr. Mears and the Professor had committed a murder in London, and were tried, convicted and hanged; they were both cremated mated, and that you and I were invited to see it; then their bodies were in a blaze like tinder, and soon became nothing but a small quant.i.ty of ashes.'

"Jackson said that was a very singular dream.

"'But that was not all. I thought that Dr. Blackman was a perfect sight to behold with smallpox, and that he was delirious, and jumped into the Thames, and that you and I rescued him, took him to the hospital, and had him attended to. I then awoke. The whole thing was so vivid to my mind that I believed it to be true for a moment. What say you to this?

I believe somewhat in dreams, and fear that these reckless men will get into trouble with their infernal machines, or fireworks, and poisons.

They must not be permitted to carry out their h.e.l.lish purposes, as I told you, and you agreed that they shall not do it. I will suffer death before I will see these plots succeed and carry the guilty knowledge on my conscience through life. I swear, if President Davis has sanctioned this, I hope the Confederacy may sink into utter nothingness. What say you?'

"Said Jackson: 'I agree to all, except I do not believe in dreams.'

"'Well, well, we shall see,' said the Captain. 'It is a warning of some kind.9

"That afternoon the vessel moved out of port in majestic style. The steamer Fairy Queen was stylish and noted for speed. Nothing transpired to cause any excitement until the sixth day out. They had spoken several vessels on the voyage and found them moving on all right. On this day they discovered a vessel far in advance of them. The Captain and Jackson were on the deck, and concluded that it must be the Will-o'-the-Wisp.