The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-26
REFRESHING A DEiTH SENTENCE
The brave Man who Turned the Tide OF
Battle ut Mis.ton Ridge.

Egypt. | find the Egyptians here all came from
| Tennessee. The women wear sunbonncts in
the winter and sit in open rooms. while the
men wear buttcrnut jeans. and look like their
dried ancestors. | saw crowd Of Egyptians
this morning who camo over to Tamaroa from
| the Little Muddy. They were saturated with
alcohol and smoked with tobacco till thoy had
| the real mummy appearance
| Hicrogyphios are no, used in'Egypt now. Tho
American Egyptians. as n general Thing. cannot
| write at ALL when an Egyptian wants 10 COM
| municaie anything to another Egyptian living
| at n distance he strides mule. slides through
| the swamps. and with certain words which we
| Americans do not understand makes the other
Egyptian understand what he wants. When they
are sober they are harmless but two drinks Of
whiskcy and plug Of tobacco on AN empty
stomach will mako I'm Egyptian worse than
| Bashi- Bazouk Yesterday saw ono charged
with u full pint Of alcohol and two plugs of to-
bncco. dose that only the rich Egyptians can
| indulge in. He was a terror to behold. phos-
| phoric acid gas poured or OF him. He was
loaded down with moro psychology than George
| Francis Train. lie was the Crushed Tragedian
charged with giant powder
| I'm steamboat from Hick'ry bayou" he
said. " reglar sidcwhcclor. I'm n rattlcsnako
with rattles all the way up. I'm the worst man
on the bayou. an we ha''nt got n. bayou hoy that
| tNll I Wild u EunioNt. III IL
o Bill. be still Don't fght any moro to-day.
faint you-t's the whskey. Come along ~
and u niec,looking man took square hold of
! Bil ana held him ns II in wise"
Lem me 20 Lem me claw somebody. Lem
=, BIT in moment tho ncc-looking man lifted
| Bill into his wagon and drove oil.
n,o VINO Is 'h p brave g farmrr wn9 Akes such IN
Chairman ofthc Incturr Assoriniion.
oh. that's Cap Mason. He used to be hard
,,un hut now he's lined the church. an he's the
| a m IA finn Hhny
What does Mason do ?" askcd
,o NJ Nh, a farmer sra big farmer over on
:, " But what docs he come over with the Bayou
| bows Tor Why does he care whether they get
drqrk ani nglt or whether they keen sobcr?'
Wcl the Cap, used 10 he drinkrr and n
n ng'f IN h ,h ~ was simen TO- be shot
ofliccr-got on y drunken froc. and came near
KILLING the MAJOR Of the regiment-iust as
| WhisKoy Bill wants TO kill somebody now"
How did the Captain cscape2", asked.
| Wi, said the (Dgnel, Mason with n
in my regiment. Hc was Il splendid soldier
| always ready for hnulr-one Of the best men IN
w. mso rc ~ I, 9g ne would layc his sprses
/ Mission Ridge. Masun brought u caniecn ot
/ whisky into camp. and. always generous. won't
d"rs So ordered my MAJOR t. arrest him and
| nut him 4. the guard house. Mason found out
men. and fnll ~ deyiltry. he 10 commcn ' cd
lodging around behind the tentsio keep from
| being arrested. But pretty quick. in trying 10
kr"p,away from the men. he ran square against
!" Here you rascal" said the Major. selling
! him by the coat collar without giving him a
/ chance To- explain. Now. you walk to the guard
| h9nsei III TX you. YOU scoundrev
| But In tn" excitement of the moment Mason
! drew up his nst and knocked the MAJOR Hat. and
! th.n DC went and gave himself up
| What WAS done about II = asked.
! We'll, Mason was tried before u court martial
! for striking a superior officer. sentenced ~
be- shot and the sentence was sent To Gen, Jeff.
| {. Davis 10 be- approved. And then poor Mason
was imprisoned on hread and water with u ball
and chain to each foot"
Rid Cen DAVIS Davis approve tho sentcnees"
But low dii Mason cs,apc being shot?"
! tnrce arrived came the battle Of Mission Ridge.
/ Hni our regiment Was ordered forward Mason.
/ Of ,nqrse. WIS IN the r,nr u, ,rr euari, with q
/ cannon in front al the forenoon. W. know
| tArrc Wa hig haiti" on. AMI wo needed all our
| told Mason that W. would have To- leave him be-
| hind with his bail and chain I'll the battle WAS
e Let mo 20 with the boys Colonel !" pleaded
Mason, don't want 10 re the boys n f.ht
" Bui YOU might csrnpe Mason You know
Their. t. sentence han ing over YOU.
Nv houvHus. COi0n"li you aIlt going - i0t
-" l"y- < into thus as,t without me - and
"..MttD. Mason. snid. Il can't trust YOU"
IT, 'u.' CONTINUED Tie narrator, the order
cam" rom t"u. Davis for our regiment 10
/ in'vo up and chars. rebel rclnuii. and the
!l,,ys dashed forward. Il was an awful fight
IWi'" they cnillad'd us. and the rebel bullets
moved down our mon by dozens. while the
reth"l nag sun waved on the redoubl,'
tn.onrl, you must capture that rodoubtW
was the order that came from Gen. Davis.
Our men Wore now badly tired out, and the
dead and wounded lay all around us; but got
our men together anI made the final charge.
Gods what q charge! My horse was Killed
under me-. The men went forward in a shower
81 huN"ts. thought they Wore goin, straight
inr that nag: then all at once they wavercd
IN. hg,'.,- nrw ike rain. and the advance men
AMI thought al was lost just then saw n
man come rushing w. from the rear. He
pushed right through dead and dying, reached
me- head and pushed up the redouht The
eqys saw nm sw so ,h S9grsse and l9STsd a.
around him on the top Of the rcdOuht. grasp tho
nag SIAN and break II of. while the boys strug
siou up We slie ana emptlcd their guns into
:" TIL Z, day wYa1i ours AZ came up shouted
II WAS Mason :" said tie boys and looking
down. saw a broken chain and shaa kic still
TnentAe narrator'~ vote, clicked him. and tho
tears came into his eyes
- rouldn't help itCqlonel" said Mason. l
AK and pounded IL the hal ana cham. AMI
new. colonel. III 80 back sand put 'eluou tgaln.'
Go back and yut EN- on asain!" almost
CRED ~, SIR! Mas nj Put them, ON myself
iha' this wasnt military pni tod the bravo
Tuat night cont rud TIE Colonel. Il
wrote over to Gen. Davis about Masln- bravery
how b" captured the rebel Jag and lod tho
Regiment tpNctory; ia fact. saved tie hatlle.
and begged him, IL d., had not approved Ma
sons sentence If death. o. scnl II back D., tho
court unHpproVed. Ia an hour messenger
came hdrh With The papers, the s.it.nce. had
been approved l.'lOr" Ga" haiil". hui q "a. Davis
took his yen and wrote across tnr bottom:
The findings o., the court d.samrovrd mil
Private Thomas Mason. for dlstnsuIe shed
bravery in capturing a rebel lug, promoted 10 u
Second Lou NANCY"
what did Mason say when you told him
about MS promotion n asked
Well said the Colonel. a" ! read him tho
death ntence and ts approval first. Mason
sank down, his Fl 20 fell on his arm. and heard
deep sroah. Then he said. t. Ais eyes lliloI
Will teHrs.
" VOL, Colonel, it is hard. hut can stand it if
any ono .an.'
"' Bu here Is another clause Mason | said.
on H.rQunt ol your spl .Llld bravery -t.r-
day 'ou AANe been promoted TO 4 SECOND Lieu
What. mo? Colonel. meg
los. Lieut.. " son. Nou
Thank GOD hurst uut, and the lrav0-t
man in tar Northern army stelrnd into his
tent o. send streak of sunliLlt Ca rheer up
his hrohen-hcarted mother up ia EsYIt.'
AMI limits tine nan vino Just lifted Whisky
Bill into his wagon
Yes. sir, that's the man. and hos brave