The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-25
other papers had been publishing sensa-


populace were so excited that they pro-
posed lynclling me. We had to change
cars, and the people damned up against
me with all manner Of threats. Many Of
them displayed arms, and for a time it
looked as if a general engagement be-,
tween them and my guards was GER tain.
One bully succeeded in getting close to
me and encouraged me witt. threat to
cut my heart out. 1t was more than l
could stand, and I struck him full in the
face. Wild commotion followed, and I
was pretty roughly handled, and, when
We gained a new car, was very thankful
for having escaped alive.
IN THE OLD CAPITOL PRISON.
when wereached Washington was
taken at once to the Old Capitol Prison
and locked in cell, with 4 silent guard
before the door. I could look from my
garnet window and see the Goddess OF
liberty on the Capitol dome, TO one in
my situation, imprisoned while innocent,
it seemed a wild travesty on genuine
freedom. Could you blame me? I sat
there in this condition until one day
heard noise below me, and thought
there might be fellow prisoner there
who could serve NE. So happened to
have piece of twinc in my pocket, and I
found scrap Of writing paper in chink
in the cell wall. rubbed my finger in
the iron rust on the CRATE bars, and wrote
request for reading matter, and lowered
it from my window. Pretty soon felt a
little niDble, and little after loud
whisper, haul away and found a cooy
Of the Washington Chronicle on my
hook.
AN ODD INCIDENT.
"The first article that hit upon was
an account Of the capture and incarcer-
alton Of the mysterious prisoner who
was supposed by Baker, chief Of the de-
tectivc corps, to be no other than John
II. Surratt, the conspirator against Mr.:
Lincoln's life, but who, the Chroaicte ed
itor thought, was one Fuller, a fellow
who had been floating about Washington,
and who looked not unlike Surratt. 1t
vas little amusing that on the margin
of the paper l found written. The COM
pliments of j. W. Fuller, your fellow
prisoner the very man the Chronicle
supposed me to be.
II then for the first time discovered
my identity. I was John II. Surratt.
Delighted visions of speedy punishment,
and nervous sensation about the left
ear, as though the hansman's knot was
there, came over me. Powerless to de-
fend myself, because unable to COMMUNE
cate with any one,
GAVE UP IN DESPAIR,
and fell down on the stone floor of my
damp cell and cried like child. The
thought Of my situation absolutely par
alyzed me, The guard noticed me as
lay there, and when recovered myself |
noticed him gazing upon me intently.
Finally, as If he could contain himself no
longer, he broke out: is not your name
Ryan?' yes, SIR answered in great
surprise at finding one who seemed to
know me. Were you in Forests COM
mand in Mississippi he continued.
Yes DO you remember on such day
saving young prisoners life at such
place, IN such manner? When he told
me the story, I recalled the incident
family, and the recognition was complete.
After that he could not serve me 100
often, and was constantly pressing me to
call upon him for favor. Very soon l
borrowed his note, book and pencil, and
scrubbed
A LINE TO SIR FREDERICK BRUCE,
the British minister. An uncle of mine
had served with him in India, a fact to
which l called his attention: I related
my experience and asked him to aid me-
made one most unfortunate mistake;
forgot to mention that our guard had
smuggIed the letter to it's destination.
The result was that he received AL open
letter, which the prison authorities rc.d,
and thus my communication with the
out>ide world was discovered. The pris.
on keeper called me out and ordered me
to disclose the name OF the person who
had taken my Tote from the Jail. Of
course, I refused. vas then
PLACED IN THE SWEAT BOX,
a neat device for the punishment Of the
refractory. It was pen just large
enough to admit my body, standing, and
on the floor was the register through
which came the steam from the kitchen
combined with the efRuvia from the uri.
nails. When cntcred.it.I had no idea
of ever escaping alive, but was determined
to die rather than divu}ge the name of
my benefactor. endured this thing for
three weeks, although often felt very
near death. as I now believe I was. My
suAerings were somewhat mitigated by
my guard, who. when unobscrved, would
open the door and give me breath Of
air. AS reward of $750,00Q was offered
for Surratt. have no douff that Baker
purposed killing me with the idea that
he could bury me as he had Booth, that
the real Surratt would never turn up,and
that he could get the reward without
question. Imay be wrong, but l think
not.