The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-05-17
SOMERSET, OHIO, MAY IL, 1877.
A Renaissance OF Libby PrisOn-How
Brave Woman Went Through the
Lines to SuccOr the Distressed.
fFrnm ana cineinnati Commereial.l

The wife of General Ricketts, has just returned
from Boston, where she has been making visit
Mrs Ricketts, beside being the eleverest and one OF
the handsomsst Of our society leaders Is the hero
Inc Of series of such spirited adventures that
cannot refrain from giving few Of them as heard
them from her husbands lips.
Az the breaking out Of the war Captain Ricketts,
was ordered 10 Washington, whence he proceeded
almost Immediately to the front. His command
was Of the few that stood by their guns during
the Bull Run disaster until the gray wave OF battle,
with its crest Of smoke and blood, dashed up the
little height on which the battery was placed, over
wholming the gunners with death, and turning the
stlll hot cannon the retreating soldiers, The
captains horse killed. and at the same moment
ball struck his right Leg breaking it, and Obliging
him 10 fall helplessly With the horse, the broken
limb bearing the weight of the dead animal. AS a
matter Of course he captured, and as they
dragged him along to an ambulance, his spurs
canght at every step in the grass and earth jerking
the wounded leg and causing exquisite agony
Finally, he groaned aloud, and young lieutenant
loosed the spurs and took them Off and he tainted,
waking up some time after to find himself in Libby
prison, confined in a small, close room With four.
teen other unfortunates. There he lay day after
day, his wound undressed, himself unwashed, un-
kept, uncared-for, listlessly watching the light
creep out at night through the window-bars, and
scarcely caring whether he saw 1t return next
morning, for death seemed the only release from
this living grave, until one morning he heard lit.
tie hustle at the door, and few minutes after his
name called in a voice he had ceased hoping to hear
again, and then bis wife threw herself on the floor
beside him. and gave way to uncomfortable emo
tion for few minutes,
But like the brave woman she is, she tha
tears would not help the case, and drying her eye
she set about making him more comfortable. I'm
rolling q heavy travelling shawl she spread it OF
some straw, and with the help of two or three o
her husbands fellow sufferers laid him on It, Ther
she unpacked a bundle and took out some cleal
linen, in which she dressed him; then a bottle o
cologne, with which she bathed his head and face
then pair Of scissors, with which the wild beart
and hair we're clipped, and brush and comb will
which they were well dressed; then clean hand
kerehief, which she saturated with cologne am
put in his hand and when all this done he felt
as he says, "as happy as a king" Leaving the pri
son for half hour she went and bought tea an
coffee, stove with spirit lamp, milk, bread, au
dozen little things called on a surgeon, forme
intimate friend Of both, secured his services, an
was back before the captain had persuaded himsel
II was not all dream.
And then began her ministry among those foul
teen prisoners, several Of whom had bad fes
wounds, in a horrible condition from want ofatteI
tion, and 10 all Of whom she was a faithful sste
Declining the invitations showered upon her b
former friends, camly meeting all objections an
romonstranees offered to her plans, she lived In II
prison for three months, sleeping on the floor, wit
only shawl between her body and the boards, d
vided from the rest of the room. by a screen
blankets, and subject TO the demand Of her sci
chosen patients at any and all hours Of the day
night, washing and dressing disgusting wounds tV
or three times day, and making sunshine f
them all until an exchange of prisoners set h
husband and herself free. Two years afterwa
she got into a car at the corner of Broadway al
Fifth avenue in New York, with her mother.
was full, and she stood moment without sea
Suddenly a great six-footer sprang up at the +
end Of the car and sang out: "Gentemen, star
up, every one of you, and take off your hats, +
this Is Mrs. General Ricketts,, who nursed fourte
Of US in Libby Prison for three months. God BILE
herr And they did stand up, and, led by h
former patient, cheered until the street rang 5
in the meantime half provoked, half amused, a
wholly embarrassed.