Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1878-01-03
DEATH SENTENCE REVERSED.
A Thrilling Incident I'm the Life of q
Brave Illinois Soldier.
lBy Eli Perkins.]


George Francis Train. He was the Crushed
Tragedian charged with giant powder
''Im steamboat from Hick'ry Bayou"
he said,-''a regular side-w wheeler I'm a
rattlesnake with rattles all the way up. I'm
the worst man on the Bayou, an we ha'nt
got Bayou boy that can't whip gunboat.
Una"
20 Bill, be still. Don't fight any more to-
day. 'Taint you-tis. Come along!" and
a nice looking young man took square hold
Of Billand held him as if IN wise.
"Lem me go! Lem me claw somebody.
Lem me"
But in a moment the nice-looking man
lifted Bill into his wagon and drove off.
"Who is that brave farmer who takes such
an interest in Bill ?" l asked Col. Baker,
the chairman of the Lecture association.
30! that's Cap. Mason. He used to be
hard 'un, but now he's jined the church, and
he's the father of every bad man in this Sec
ton. They all just love Cap. Mason"
''What does Mason do p I asked.
''He's farmer, sill, "a big farmer over on
the Muddy"
Bayou boys for? Why does he care whether
keep sober?''
"Well, the Cap. used to be drinker and a
fighter himself. He was sentenced to be
shot once in the army, for fighting. He struck
an officer-got on drunken trolic-and came
near killing the maj jor of the regiment, just
as Whisky Bill wants to kill somebody now"
''How did the captain escape?" / asked.
''Well," said the colonel, ''Mason, with a
dozen fellows from the Little Muddy, enlisted
in my regiment. He was splendid soldier,
always ready for battle, one OF the best men
in the regiment, but he would have his
sprees. One day, about three weeks before
the battle of Mission Ridge, Mason brought
canteen of whisky into camp, and, always
generous, went to giving it to the boys. This
was against orders so ordered my major
to arrest him and put him In the guard house.
Mason found out that the ma jor was after
him with squad of men, and, full of devil
+ry, he commenced lodging around behind
the tents to keep from being arrested. But
pretty quick, in trying to keep away from the
men, he ran square against the major.
''Here, you rascal - said the major. seiz-
ing him by the coat collar, without giving
him a chance to explain. 'Now, you walk
to to Il the e, guard house! I'll fix you' you scoun-
''But, in the excitement of the moment,
Mason drew up his fist and knocked the ma
jor flat, and then he went and gave himself
up"
''What was done about it !" l asked.
"Well, Mason was tried before court
martial tor striking superior officer, SEN
fenced to be shot, and the sentence sent to
Gen. C. Davis to be approved. And then
poor Mason was imprisoned on bread and
water, with ball and chain on each foot.
s'Did Gen. Davis approve the sentences?
s.Vas he annrOved II !"
''But how did Mason escape being shot"
swell, the next day, before the approved
sentence arrived, came the battle of Mission
Ridge, and our regiment was ordered for
ward. Mason, of course, was in the rear,
under guard, with ball and chain to his
ankles. We heard the rebel cannon in front
all afternoon. We knew there was big
battle on, and we needed all our men. SO l
rode over to the guard house and told Mason
that we would have to leave him behind with
his ball and chain till the battle was over"
LET me 60 with the boys, colonel!'' plead
ed Mason. II don't want to see the boys in a
fight without me"
"'But you might escape, Mason. You
know there is sentence hanging over you. -
"By heavens, Colonel! you amt going to
let the boys 60 into this fight without me?"
and the tears came to his eyes,
''Got, to. Mason" said. Il can't trust
YOU"
''Then," continued the narrator, 1.-The Or
der came from Gen. Davis for our regiment
to move up and charge rebel redoubt, and
the boys dashed forward. 1t was an awful
fight. Twice they enfladed US, and the rebel
bullets moved down our men by dozens,
while the rebel flag still waved on the re-
doubt"
''Colonel, you must capture that redoubt!
was the order that came from Gen. Davis.
''Our men were now badly tired out, and
The dead and wounded lay all around us; but
| got our men together, and made the final
charge. Gods what a charge! My horse
was killed under me. The men went for |
ward in shower of bullets: l thought they !
were going straight for that flag; then all at |
once they wavered. The bullets flew like |
rain, and the advance men were all shot I
down. There was no one to lead, and
thought all was lost. Just then saw man |
came rushing up from the rear. He grabbed
i dead soldiers repeating rifle, pushed right |
through the dead and dying, reached the
head, and pushed up to the redoubt. The
boys saw him, took courage. and followed.
[n moment saw the brave fellow swing |
his rifle around on the top of the redoubt,
rrasp the flag staff and break it off, while the
BOYS struggled to the side and emptied their
guns into the retreating rebels.
, The day was ours As came up shout
ID:
.sWho took the flag, boys?"
1T was Mason!" said the boys, and, look