The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-10-21

.Prison-An EoenguI History
The old saying that "truth is stranger
than fiction" was fully verified last Tues
day on the arrival of the steamboat Nato
ma, for among her passengers was Mr.. Fl.
Fl. Lee, formerly q citizen of Madison, St.
Francis county, in this State, but who has
been prisoner, in close confinement, for
the past six years and a half So close
was his confinement that he never was al
lowed the privilege Of communication
with the outside world, not even his own
family, who were in the greatest distress
at his sudden and mysterious disappear
ance, and that, too, at time when their
worst fears were being realized. From a
short conversation had with Mr.. Lee, we
learned the following leading points con-
nected with his abduction and detention
in loathsome prison in the State of Wis
consin, and in free America In November,
1862, Mr.. Lee went to Memphis, then &C
cupied by Federal troops, for the purpose
of procuring supplies; he was arrested
and thrown into tile Irving Block, then
occupied as prison: he remained there
one night, and that evening, with other
prisoners, was shipped on board the st.
Cleud en- route for Camp Douglas in IL
LIMOS. Arriving there, the officer in
charge of the camp inquired what were
the charges against Lee, and was told
that he was arrested for specializing in
Confederate money The camp officer
declined to receive him, as there was no
law forbidding speculation in money of
any kind. The lieutenant having Lee in
custody said they would take him to Rock
Island, then, as they would take any
one there He was accompanied by seven
men as guards, and they concluded to
have a grand spree before returning to
Memphis for &C i've duty. So they went
to Milwaukee, Wis, and were going to
put Lee in Jail for safe keeping, until
they had visited their friends and finished
the spree laid out for themselves. In the
mean time Lee had resolved on escaping,
in which determination he was heartily
joined and assisted by one of the guards
having him in charge. They made their
escape but were pursued and captured
after few shots had been exchanged.
Mr.. Lee was then imprisoned in the Mil,
Waukee Jail and there kept in close con-
fnement for two years and half without
being brought to trial. At the end of
that time he was taken out and sentenced
(wlthout triaD to four years imprison-
ment in a branch of the State Prison
L Gated at Madison, in the State of Wis
conSln.
During the four long years of con-
fnement at Madison he was not allowed
to write to his friends, never saw news
paper or book of any kind, but was effect
ually excluded from the world as any liv-
ing man ever was before. His health was
good all the time, but he came near freez-
ing with the cold the first three winters.
The fourth he Jared better The time
came at last for his release, and with
heart full of thanks to God for the pre-
servation of his life, his first thought
and purpose was to seek his wife and
child. He went to Cincinnati and there
met with an old schoolmate, who told
him of the death of his wite-his child
He left there Immediately for Memphis !;
arriving there he was received as one
risen from the dead by his many friends
and from one of them he received thejoy-
full tidings that his wife and daughter,
now grown young lady, were not only
living, but we'll ard doing well. Tears
of joy were shed, and renewed thanks to
Almighty God for His protecting care
hl1Cd CuC uCdIG III LuG IGl0dSCO CdpOlFt.
The swiftness of the telegraph was com
manded to flash the glad tidings to the
wife of his hefrt, informing her that he
for whom she had mourned, still lived,
and would meet her at Jackson on the
18th inst. They met, and such meeting
as it was never occurred within our
knowledge. The JOY of the wife at the
sight of her husband was too great, and
swoon after swoon followed in rapid sue
cessiOn.
The news spread rapidly, and very
many of our citizens called upon the hap
Ply, reunited family, to express their Joy
at seeing its members once more Joined
together in the bonds of love. We have
seldom ever witnessed a more affecting
scene.-Mr. and Mrs. Lee left Tuesday
evening for Batesville, their future home.
At church in Essex, England,
lately, the clerk, feeling unwell,
asked his friend. the railway porter,
TO take his place for Sunday. He
did so, but being worn out with
night work, fell asleep. When the
HYMN was announced. a neiphbor