The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28
CONDEMNED BY THEIR COMRADES
A "Reminiscences of AndcrsonviIIe, Told by n
Prisoner.


hemfniscence of Andcrsonville, Told by m
Prisoner.
An old survivor of Andersonyille in
talk with representative of the Eye,,-
ing Post says There was an episode
during my life at Audersonville that
stands out in my memory above all 9TH
ers. While Andersonville developed ex-
amples of as noble heroism and SELL
sacrifice as the world probably ever
witnessed, it served also to bring out
upon the part of some of the inmates
many of the most abhorrent and despic-
able traits of human nature. The great
est luxury that could be enjoyed by q
prisoner was warm blanket. Yet men
were found among the prisoners base
enough to rob their fellows of these COM
forts. A gang of robbers was organized
who went around the camp at night and
tore blankets and clothes off from
sick and dying men, kicking and beat
ing those who made any feeble attempt
at resistance. Money was also taken
from the prisoners, or anything of value
that could be found upon them. In a
little while the robberies became so
frequent as to be the worst of our trou-
bles. Aperfect reign of terror existed.
and we did not know what to do.
Finally, after consultation, we asked
permission of Wirtz to investigate and
see who were the perpetrators of these
outrages, and punish them. Wirtz
granted it, and thank him fer it to
this day. We picked out six men for
trial before tribunal of our own selec-
ton. 1t sat outside of the stockade
under confederate guard. A Judge,
jury, prosecuting attorney and clerk
were appointed, together with counsel
for the defence. Evidence was heard
from many Of the prisoners, and the
accused were all identified as among the
parties guilty of the robberies. A ver-
dict of guilty was found, and thew were
sentenced to be hung, and the entire
proceedings approved by Wirtz, who
ordered the lumber to be furnished us
for scaffofd. We built one sufficient
for our purpose in few hours. It con-
sisted simply of cross-beam, supported
by two uprights. A platform was con-
structed about three feet from the
ground, the first plank, laid at right
angles with the uprights and parallel
with the cross beams directly above it,
being SO adjusted that it could be with
drawn from its position at moments
notice. The six condemned men were
escorted to this scaffold by a guard of
about three hundred prisoners, armed
with sticks and clubs. They were
placed on this plank. In lieu of the
customary black cap we encased their
heads in -four sacks.
Notwithstanding this absence of cer-
emony the scene was an impressive one.
The gallows stood near the top of the
hill, and nearly all the thirty eight thou
sand prisoners were gathered to witness
the execution. They maintained per-
feet silence, refraining from any insults
to the condemned, but their hollow ewes,
pale, pinched faces, their savage express
sion of countenance, were q sufficient
indication that not one should escape.
The ropes were carefully adjusted, with
the knot In each case under the left ear,
and, by signal, the board withdrawn
from beneath them. There was drop
OF two feet, and the bodies swung about
a foot from the ground-all but one.
The sixth man, former sailor in the
navy, was perceived to have fallen to the
ground. The rope had broken.
In an instant he was on his feet. He
started to run down the hill. The crowd.
comprehending his intention to escape,
followed with wild yell in pursuit. II
was fight for life. He had the start
by few seconds and he made the most
of it. L never saw a man run as he did.
He went down to the morass with nearly
thirty-eight thousand men close upon
his heels. Not finding him there we
looked up and saw him running up the
side of the other hill. We followed. He
made for one of the huts or sheds. but
as soon as he heard us coming got out
and again started on the run. Widen
ing the distance between us he again
sought refuge in dugout, and sec
ond time had to abandon it as we came
up. 1t was twenty minutes before we
had him fast. He begged piteously for
his life, but we had no mercy. We had
to drag him down the hull through the
sand, thence through the swamp, and
up the other hill to the scaffold. He
was held by three men on the platform
while the rope was adjusted the second
time, after we had spliced the rope. He
trembled in every limb. At the given
moment the men pushed him from the
scaffold, and he swung clear from the
ground two feet. The robberies never
occurred again. st. Louis EyeningP Post.