Connecticut western news., 1878-02-14
} A RACE FOREdFE.
A Wretch Running for Life with 3S,OOO
 Mon at His Heels.

, ts lssW EE hs | A Wretch Running for Life with 38,OOO II
 McR at His Heels. ~ l. s@Fl@ " There2was an episode during my life | at Andersonville that stands out in my | memory above all others, No man can conceive of the .demoraization that comes upon men confronted on, all sides l with so much misery. The greatest lux ury that could be enjoyed by prisoner was warm blanket. Yet men were found among the prisoners base enough to rob their fellows of even these com forts. A gang of robbers was organized, who went around tic camp at night and tore the. blankets and clothes off from sick and dying men, kicking and beat ing those who omade any feeble attempt at resistance.-@ Money was also taken from the prisoners, or anything of value that could be found upon them. In little while the robberies became so fre- quent as to be theeworst of our troubles. 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. WirtE granted it. We picked out SIX men for trial before tribunal of our own selection. It sat outside the stockade under confederate guard. A judge, jury, prosecuting attor-. ney, 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 guiltyof the robber- ies. A verdict of guilty was returned, and they were sentenced to be hung. The proceedings were approved by Wirtz, who ordered the lumber to be furnished us for a seaffold. We built one sufficient for our purpose. It consisted simply of a crossbeam, supported by two uprights. A platform was constructed about three feet from the ground, the first plank, laid at right angles with the upright and parallel with the crossbeam directly aboveit, being so adjusted that it could be withdrawn from it's position at Q mo- ment's notice. The six condemned men were escorted to this scaffold by e guard of about 300 prisoners armed with sticks and clubs. They were placed on this plank. In lieu of the customary black cap, their heads were encased in flour sacks. R.
 Notwithstanding this absence of cere- mony, the scene was an, impressive one. The gallows stood near the top of the hlll l, and nearly all the thirty -elghts thousand prisoners were gathered to witness the execution. They maintained perfect si- lence, refraining from any insults to the l condemned, but their hollow eyes, pale, l pinohed faces, their savage expression of countenance were sufficient indication of their determination that not one should escape The ropes were carefully ad- iusted, with the knot in each case under the left ear, and by assignal, the board withdrawn from beneath them There was drop of two feet, and the, bodies swung about a foot from the ground but one. The sixth man, former sailor in thenavy, 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, comprehend1ng his intention to escape, followed with wild yell in pursuit. Il was flight for life. He had the start by few seconds and he made the most of it. I never saw a man run as he did. He went down to the morass with nearly thirty thousand men close upon his heels. Not finding him there we looked up and saw him running up the side of the othen hill. We followed. He made for one oi the huts or sheds, but as soon as hs heard us coming got out and again started on run. Widening the distance be tween us, he again sought refuge in dugout, and second time had to aban don it as we came up. It 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 hill through the sand, thence through the swamp and up the other hill to the scaffold. He was, held by three men or the platform while the moose was adjusted the second time, after we had spliced the rope. He trembled in every limb. Att given moment the men pushed him from the scafold, and he swung clear from the ground two feet The robberies nevel occurred again.
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