The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-03
TWICE HANGED.
A wretch Running TOR his Isfc with $4,000
Men NJ his Heels.
From ne ~ Lons rod

Prom ne ~ Lons roa
There was an episode during my life at
Andersonville that stands out in my memory
above all others. No man can conceive OF tho
demoraizAtion that comes upon mon confrant-
ed on all sides with 50 much misery Tho
oner was a warm blnnket Yet men were found
among the prisoners base enough to rob their
bnrs was organized, who went around the camp
ut night and toro tho blankets and clothes on
from sick and dying men. kicking and beating
those who made any feeble attempt ut resist
crs. or anything Of. value, TINT could be found
came so frequent M to be the worst VI our trou-
blcs perfect rcgn Of terror existed. and wo
Sa not snG ss w to do FnG% s r To- nss
iE S o $1% ss aTa SsS sTan e
him for i to this day. We picked out six men
II sat outside Of the stockndc under q Conicd-
crate guard. A Judge. jury, prosecuting atior
ney nd clerk ,s wGrG nnpopsdd osener With
wers ali idcntiacd as among the parties guilty
turned. and they were sentenced to be hung.
The pr2c.ecdings were approved by Wirts, who
scSoI Sn one smcpn for o Ss ' pn
pose. i consisted slmply. OF crossbeam. sup
ported by two uprights. 4 platform was con
first plank. laid at right angles with the upright
and parallel with tho cross beam directly above
Il. being SO adjusted that II could he withdrawn
from its position NJ n moments notice The six
condemned men were escorted To this scaffOld
by q guard Of about 800 prisoners, armed with
sticks and clubs They were placed on this
plank. In lieu Of the customary black cap. their
heads were cnrnscd In -four sacks.
Notwithstanding this absence OF ceremony.
the scene was an impressive one; The gallows
stood near the top of the hill. and nearly all the
thirty eight thousand prisoners were gathered
to witness the execution. They maintained
pcrfect silence, refraining from any insults to
the condemned. but their hollow eyes. pale,
pinched faces. their savage expression OF
countenance were asuflceni Indication ofther
determination that not one should escape The
ropes were carefully adjusted. with the knot ip
each cnse underline left ear. and, by a signal.
the board withdrawn from beneath them. There
was drop OF two feet and the bodies swung
about n foot from the cround-all hut one. The
sixth man. a former sailor in the navy. was per-
ceiyed to have fallen to the ground. The rope
had broken.
10 run down the hill. The crowd comprehend:
ing his intention to escape. followed with a wild
yell in pursuit II was flight FOR life. He had
the start by a few seconds and he made the most
Of it. never saw man run as he did. He
went down to the morass With nearly thirty
eight thousand mon close upon his heels. Not
running MP the side Of the other hill. We fol-
lowed. Ho made for ono Of the hut- or sheds
but ms soon a. he heard us coming got out and
lance between us he again sought refuge in n
dugout. and n second time had to abandon II AS
we came up u was twenty minutes before we
ha M hm fat No ne begged GS5 i'T r ms h s
down the hill through tho sand. thence through
the swamp and m the other hill to III" scatfod
He was held 10y three men on the platform VIII lie
the noose was adjusted the second time after
We had spliced the rope. He trcmbed in every
limb. At the given moment the men pushed
the ground two feet The robberles never oc
CURED again