Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 21.djvu/340

 332 Southern Historical Society Papers.

one of her little daughters with her, and during the interview the little one climbed upon the knee of the General, and looking wist- fully into his face said, "save my father, won't you?" The appeal touched his heart and he wept. On another occasion one of the little boys went to Lieutenant Roberts and most earnestly addressing him, said: " Can I not die for my father?"

Another incident occurred just before the execution, which reflects great credit upon the devoted daughter, who planned and so success- fully executed her part of the programme. Having heard it related by many, but always with some variation, I give it is it appeared in the Old Dominion three days after it happened.

"ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE."

"The Doctor made a bold attempt to escape from incarceration and its consequences last Wednesday night. Few can penetrate the deep sagacity or subvert the determination of woman. Seeing the desperate circumstances of her father, Miss Penelope, the eldest daughter of Dr. Wright, resorted to an expedient that, in most cases, would result in perfect success, but the readily observed dispropor- tion of the Doctor and his daughter foiled her most sanguine expec- tations. It has long been the custom of the family to visit the Doctor every evening, and that evening Miss Penelope came as usual, but soon after entering the cell, the light generally used by the Doctor on such occasions was extinguished, which aroused the sus- picion of Lieutenant Cook, who has special charge, and he placed a detective fronting the door to watch their movements. But there is no penetrating the mystery of an intelligent woman's deliberate purpose.

"Although the eye of the detective apparently scanned the cell's interior, she managed, in the shadow, to transfer to the Doctor the guise of woman, and so to veil and otherwise conceal his person that in passing through the building there was no recognition, until one of the turnkeys, named Garrison, after he had got out of and some fifty yards from the prison, suggested that that lady was very tall for Dr. Wright's daughter. Lieutenant Cook immediately hurried after the figure, lifted the veil, and discovered the person of the Doctor. He exhibited but little embarrassment, simply observing to the Lieutenant ' that desperate means were pardoned under despe- rate circumstances,' and, turning, walked back to his cell as uncere-