The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-08-07
A NARROW ESCAPE.

For a while after the close of the
war, my Office was just opposite to
Captain H--'s, and it was with
great pleasure that l used to GO over
to Captains after business hours,
and listen to his "wa yarns" as he
called them. He seldom spoke of
himself, but the following he told me
Of his own personal experience, which
| give in his own words:
During the war 1 had considerable
duty as a spy, and on one occasion
came near losing my life.
Just after one of our fierce battles,
particular information was needed
concerning the condition of the rebel
troops quartered in our section. I
was fully aware of the risk l incurred,
nor was ignorant of the fate await.
ing me ifI was suspected and taken.
l had reconnoitered pretty thorough
ly, gained all the information
necessary, and was beginning to
think of returning, when the follow.
ing incident decided me: a
While walking along, musing upon
the exciting events which were then
transpiring, ! was met by rebel pri-
vate. a -
"Hello, old boy, you're going the
wrong way," cried the man in an an
imated tone ofvoice. "You had bet
ter go back with me TO camp. Pm
going to get a description of the chap
that has been playing the spy" added
the fellow familiarly. aa#
'What about him? it's all new to
me- l replied, with as little outward
show as possible, although my pulse
beat little quicker than usual at the
mans words.
You must have been deaf, then,
for everybody else has been talking
about him to-day he continued.
s.lis name is Tom Jones, and he's
been skulking around here, listening
to what the officers say, pumping the
men, and trying to find ont what the
next move is to be. But they're on
his track. There's q bounty on his
head, and he's as good as a dead
man, G - BIN t. al sst.
'Good enough for him. exclaimed
l, maintaining the same indifferent
demeanor. His life isn't worth
much, that's fact. But l say,
comrade,' slapping him familiarly on
the shoulder, isn't hanging little to
good for him p J a.
The man replied with a coarse
laugh and an oath, and passed on.
Had the fellow been acquainted with
my description, detection would have
been certain. When | left the rebel
barracks in the morning noticed
nothing unusual; but my absence,
added to other circumstances, awak
ened suspicion. Not moment was
to be lost; my life depended on my
instant concealment, as flight at that
hour tit being tour in the afternoonl
would be attended with extreme
danger. Without further delay |
entered a thick growth of trees near
by, and looked about for some place
of concealment. / could discover
nothing but brush heap; but as
no better could be found, / conceal.
ed myself beneath it as well as
possible. oa 'l. l9silap %
was none to soon, for in a short
time | heard the tramp of horses
feet and the voices of men. Without
halting they passed the point where
| lay. l breathed more freely when
their shouts were heard in the dis.
tance. "i iAs asitt" ~ soatsAhi 90
In my hiding place time dragged
slowly. The ground was very cold
and damp, from the effect of recent
rain, which did not add much to the
pleasantness of my situation. I dared
not stir for fear of attracting the at.
tention Of some persons who might
be lurking in the vicinity. sa
For several days I had not felt
well, owing to the effect of the long
march / had endured before under
taking this business, and ! felt / was
rapidly growing worse. Cold chills
ran over me, my head was hot and
ached badly, and general languor
pervaded my whole system.
1t was now evening; the moon
shone brightly. What shall I do I
feared being seen If I undertook to
leave my covert. But if it was dan
gerous to 60 it was equally so to re-
main. For three hours had lain