James Kellan
A Confederate Spy

The life of a man who died yesterday in the city hospital is a thrilling romance. That man was James Kellan, a Confederate spy. Of all spies he was one of the few trusted by President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet. For cool-headed daring there were few men his equal, and he became a valuable man to the Southern cause. Keelan was the one spy relied upon for conveying important information from the Confederate cabinet to different army commanders. As the scene of the conflict shifted he was transferred from one section of the South to another.

This remarkable man was born at Caseyville, Ill., August 25, 1844. His father was a section boss on the Ohio & Mississippi railroad, the first railroad to enter St Louis. It connected that city with Cincinnati and the East. Keellan's parents removed to East St. Louis, then but a station, a few years after he was born. When he was but 5 years old his parents died of the cholera and he was left under the care of some friends of his father. In 1855, when but 11 years old, he began life as a newsboy on the Baltimore & Ohio, running between St. Louis and Cincinnati. After three year's work on this road he began running on the Missouri Pacific, which was then completed to Jefferson City. He continued in that place until the breaking out of the Civil War.

Claiborne F. Jackson was then governor of Missouri. He strongly sympathized with the South in the cause of session. He supported those in the legislature who were in favor of Missouri withdrawing from the Union.

Beginning His Career

While carrying papers between St. Louis and Jefferson City, Keelan became a favorite among the politicians at Jefferson City, and when the faction in the legislature which favored secession was beaten and forced to leave the state, Keelan, then about 15 years old, began carrying mail between the Missouri secessionists, who had taken quarters at Memphis, Tenn., and their friends and relaives at home. Through Keelan Missouri mothers sent money to their husbands and son in Gen. Price's army. For these services Keeland was arrested in 1861 at Jefferson City. He was taken to St. Louis, tried before a court martial and, on account of his extreme youth, his sentence was limited to banishment from the state. Notwithstanding this, he continued to transfer mail from men in the Confederate army and people in St. Louis and Jefferson City. IN 1863 he was captured at St. Louis, just as he was stepping aboard a steamer bound for Memphis. During the excitement, which ensured he managed to thro into the Mississippi River a bag of mail from people living in and around St. Louis. The mailbag sank before it could be recovered. If it had fallen into the hands of the authorities it would have been found to contain correspondence, which would have place d many prominent people of St. Louis, who sympathized with the Confederacy, in perilous situation. Some might have been summarily executed. Keelan was court martialed and condemned to be shot. He was locked up in

McDowell's college, then used as a military prison. The night preceding the day, on which he was condemned to be executed, he managed o escape from the college and make his way back to Memphis. It was reported that his friend aided in his escape, but whether or not this was true he would never say.

Enters The Confederate Service

From Memphis Keelan went to Richmond, where, it is said, on recommendation of some of his Western friends, he was employed as a spy, by the Confederate president. His daring enabled him to furnish the cabinet with much valuable information. About his time the steady advance of the Federal army was threatening Richmond. It was necessary that something decisive should be done to check the approach, and Keelan and Cavalry Office Harry Gilmore of Baltimore, Md., were selected to place torpedoes under the tracks of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad in such a position that they would explode when a train would pass over them. Several trains loaded with Federal troops were blown up and many soldiers were killed and injured. It should be stated that this method of warfare did not meet with the approval of General Robert E. Lee or Jefferson Davis, though many members of the Confederate cabinet approved it.

Secrets Safe With Him

Keelan was of slender build, about five feet seven and on-half inches in height. His hair was raven black and was always worn long. He was a delicately featured man and was as modest as a schoolgirl. He never alluded to his past history. To his grave he carried, not only the secrets of the confederate cabinet and congress, and he was said to be the repository of many of them, but also the secrets of many old Missourians who actively sympathized wit the South.

On these matters he was as silent during life as in death.

At one time he had considerable wealth ye he died penniless, and his body now lies at Newcomber's undertaking establishment. He leaves no relatives and unless his friends respond his body will be buried in a pauper's rave.

Since the war Keelan had not been engaged in any legitimate business. At first he lived on his means and afterwards he degenerated into a professional car player and was always to be found wherever a new railroad was being built.