The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-04-23

In an hour or more the cavalry escort
which had accompanied them was seen
returning with the cart, but the cart was
enpty--the tragedy had been consumma-
ted!
On that evening aud the following
morning the prisoners learned from the
provost marshal aud guard that their
comrades had died, as all true soldiers OF
the republic should die. In the presence
OF its enemies. Among the revolving In
cidents which they mentioned IN connec-
ton with this cowardly butchery, was
the fall of two of the victims from the
breaking of the ropes, after they had
been for some time suspended On their
being restored to consciousness, they
begged for an hour in which to pray and
prepare for death, but thin was retus' d
them. The ropes were re.adjusted, aud
the execution at once proceeded,
Among those W o perished was private
Alfred Williams, company 9, 2lst Ohio
volunteers. He was a mechanic from
Cincinnati, who. In the exercise of his
trade, had travelled much through the
States north aud South, and who had
greatness Of soul which sympaihised ia
tensely with our struggle for national
life, and was in the dark hour filled with
joyous convictions Of our final triumph
Though surrounded by scewling crowd
impatient for his sacrifice. he did not
hesitate while standing under the gallows
TO make item brief address.
He told them that though they we're all
wrong, he had no hostile feelings toward
the southern people, believing that not
they, but their leaders were responsible
for the rebellion; that no was no spy, Is
charged but soldier, regularly detailed
for military duty.
He did not Hgret to die for his country,
but regretted the manner of his death I;
and he added, for their admonition. that
they would yet see the time when the
old Union would be restored, and when
it's flag would wave over them again
And with these words the brave man
died. He, like his gonzales, calmly met
the ignominious doom Of ielon: but hap
pills, ignominious for him and for them
only so far as the martyrdom Of the patri-
et-snd the i-rsrp rrrrrr be ri-gr~ded by the
hands Of ruff rms and traitors
TIE remaining prisoners. now reduced
q fourteen, we're kept closely confined
under a guard. in the jail at Atlanta, un-
til October, when. overhearing oonver-
sation between the jailer and another off
Ger, they became satisfied that il was the
purpose of the authorities to hang them,
as they had done their companions. This
led them to form plan for their escape.
which they carried into effect on the even
ing Of the next day, by seiziug the jailer
when he opened the door to carry away
the bucket in which their supper had
been brought.
This was followed by the seizure also
Of the seven guards on duty, aud before
the alarm Was given eight ctthe fugitives
were beyond pursuit 4 has been since
ascertained that six OF these, after long
and painful wanderings, succeeded in
reaching our lines OF the fate of the
other two nothing is known.
The remaining six OF the fourteen, con-
sisting Of the FIVE witnesses who have de-
posed, and Mr.. Mason, were recaptured
and confined in the barracks until De-
cember, when they were removed TO
Richmond. There they were shut up in
room in Castle Thunder, where they
shivered through the winter, wilhout..fir
thinly clad, and with but two small blan-
kets, which they had saved with their
clothes. to cover the whole party.
So they remained until few days since,
when they we're exchanged. and thus, at
the end OF eleven months, terminated
their piti,ess prosecutions in the prisons
Of the South i; prosecutions begun and
continued umid indigniricS md snfferings
on their part, and at'o@.tys on tie part
Of tl.elr traituruus fees which illustrate
far more faithfully than any human Ian
guage could express it, the demoniao spin.
it of revolt every throb Of whose life is
a crime against the very race to which W.
belong.
Very respectfully.
Your obedient servant,
l. HOLT